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A world record price of ￡100,100 ($A181,180) for a Lancer Evolution VI Tommi Makinen Edition in the UK may set the scene for rising prices of other Mitsubishi WRC cars in Australia, says Shannons Auctions.
The Evo VI, with only 10,000 miles (16,000km) on the clock, was one of 51 of its UK Heritage Fleet of vehicles sold at auction by Mitsubishi Motors as the brand quits the UK market.
It broke a record previously set by a “delivery mileage” Evo IX that sold in the US in 2017 for the equivalent of $A179,190.
And the UK auction has now set a precedent for Mitsubishi models in future auctions.
Shannon’s national auction manager Christophe Boribon told CarsGuide that there’s growing demand for Japanese sports car with increasing prices being seen particularly in the past three years.
He said the price for the Evo VI was very good given the low mileage and near-new condition, and the fact that model was a favourite among the Evo range.
But though he said another Evo – a IX MR – achieved a strong price (￡68,900 or $A124,700), others among the fleet failed to reach his expectations.
The auction, which wipes out Mitsubishi’s heritage in the UK and diminishes its European exposure (it will remain in Europe as part of Renault), was driven by the interest in the rally cars and expected given the continent’s love of the World Rally Championship (WRC).
Mr Boribon said some disappointing results included the ex-works Lancer Evo IX Group N that won championships in 2007 and 2008 driven by Guy Wilkes and co-driven by Phil Pugh, which sold for only £61,700 ($A111,680).
“That price was a little soft. I thought, given the history and provenance,” he said.
“Others, like the classic Mitsubishi Lancer, Galant, GT3000 and Pajero, were just okay in what they fetched.”
He said the Australian market was seeing good demand for the brand’s sports cars including the Starion and GT3000.
Shannons saw a 1982 and 1985 Starion Turbo coupe fetch $29,055 and $26,000 respectively at a recent auction.
A 1991 3000GT went for $42,001 late last year and a 2015 Lancer Evo X for $82,222 earlier this year. The Evo X’s price compares with the near-new UK example that sold for p￡58,100 ($A105,160).
Shannons will show a 1984 Starion at its upcoming winter auction, which is expected to fetch between $20,000 and $30,000.
Mitsubishi UK sold its collection for a total of ￡627,100 ($A1.14 million). It included the first Mitsubishi registered in the UK, a 1.4 standard two-door Colt Lancer, which went for ￡15,000 ($A27,150) and a Colt Galant 2000 GLIi for ￡11,600 ($A21,000) while a rare Galant GLSi rally replica found ￡12,500 ($A22,625).
Others include a rare, pristine and completely original Mk1 Mitsubishi Shogun (Pajero) that went for £16,000 ($A29,000) and an even rarer Mitsubishi Jeep J27 for £20,600 ($A37,290).
A 7/10 scale working replica of a 1917 Mitsubishi Model A, the first vehicle made by Mitsubishi, sold for £13,700 ($A24,800) and sparked the comment that this was undoubtedly a world record for 7/10 scale Mitsubishi Model A models.
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