1981 Mitsubishi Lancer EX 2000 Turbo Group 4

Model History

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Rally Car   A high-performance turbo rally car for international and domestic rally's. A successor to the first Lancer, this model won 3rd prize at the Finland 1000 Lake Rally and was the two time winner (1983 and 1984) of the ALL JAPAN CHAMPIONSHIP RALLY sponsored by the Japan Auto Federation. In the 1970s the Mitsubishi Lancer established impressive records of success in international rallies. In the early 1980s, the second-generation rally car was developed by MMC. Similar to the production Lancer 2000 Turbo, the Group 4 rally car was engineered to exceed the extraordinary demands of international stage rallies. Under-body production was added in the form of a lightweight alloy shield covering the underside of the engine and gearbox. The single overhead camshaft, eight-valves, two-liter engine featured newly developed electronic fuel injection plus an intercooled turbocharger. The result: a claimed 280 horsepower. Needless to say this was a substantial increase over the output of the stock powerplant. In the interest of maximizing acceleration, the gear ratios were also changed and a limited slip differential was also added; for the same reason, the final drive ratio was also changed. It is alleged that no less than 12 different types of Yokohama tires, ranging from extra wide, hand-cut racing tires to narrow deep-mud tires were also available to the team during the season to cope with the varied terrain. The lightweight alloy wheels are enclosed within special wheel-arch extensions and both the front and rear suspension systems incorporate gas- and oil-filled shock absorbers. In order to provide maximum protection for the occupants, a special steel safety cage and full seat harnesses were provided for both driver and navigator. In addition, a special fireproof bulkhead spans the rear of the car between the trunk and passenger compartment. Finally, the trunk-mounted long-range fuel tank was filled with plastic foam to prevent fuel spillage in the event of a tank rupture. Finally, interior and exterior ignition kill switches and a competition fire-safety system round out the safety equipment. Many of the advancements that were introduced in the Lancer EX 2000 Turbo Group 4 Rally car would eventually find their ultiamte application int he Lancer Evolution WRC cars of the 1990s. This particular vehicle survives as a living example of an important link in the chain of history between the original Lancer 1600 GSR and the newest iteration of the Lancer Evolution.

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