Welcome to this week’s FC Throwback, where we take a look back at some of our favourite previous features. This week it’s Jon Livermore’s tuned Mitsubishi Evo IX from back in 2013… Is it a Time Attack monster, a show car stunner, or something else? This Evo is not what you’d expect…
Feature taken from Fast Car. Words Stav
First impressions can be deceiving in the car scene. We’ve all seen sleepers that look fairly standard but are insanely fast, and we’ve all seen the complete opposite where a car looks like a beast but, is in fact a feeble engine’d replica. But what’s usually obvious, regardless of the car, is whether it’s a low-budget home build or, a big-buck tuner special. Let’s face it, you can’t create a tuner-demo standard car yourself, can you?
When we first saw this mighty Evo we assumed it’d been created at huge cost in a fully-equipped workshop. But we couldn’t have been more wrong! The vast majority of the work, including all of its carbon-clad exterior, was actually done by Jon and his friends.
“The main build started after a bad weekend which ended in me blowing the rear diff in spectacular style while out hooning around,” says Jon. “It took out not only the diff, but the propshaft, rear subframe, and even the Blitz exhaust.”
After the spectacular rear end explosion, Jon’s enthusiasm for it hit an all time low and he was seriously contemplating breaking it. Thankfully, his mate Lance, convinced him to keep going. “Lance actually knocked on my door one day holding a carbon wing and said ‘come on, let’s go fit it’, and the transformation began from there really,” Jon laughs.
This car wasn’t done by giving a tuner a blank cheque, though. It wasn’t even done in a fully-equipped workshop. This stunning Evo was built by a bunch of determined mates, with limited tools, in a barn.
“Working in the winter was grim, there was no heating at all, and I swear sometimes you’d end up with icicles forming on your legs. I wanted to give up so many times, it seemed like madness,” Jon explains. But, despite the conditions Jon and Lance kept each other motivated, even through the three solid weeks of twenty-hour days constantly fitting and tweaking and re-fitting the carbon bodywork.
“I don’t think it’s worth doing a car unless it’s done to the max, so while most people might think some of the things I’ve done are over the top, I love it; it’s how cars should be done,” says Jon.
Not only has every removable exterior and interior panel been replaced by perfectly fitted carbon fibre items, but every nut and bolt is brand new. It’s also running countless rare and expensive parts, such as the one-off Volk Racing CE28 wheels that cost as much as a decent Evo IX would, the awesome interior with full Safety Devices roll cage, and custom Cobra Misano carbon seats. There are even custom made billet rear camber arms, allowing Jon to run as wide and low as possible; giving it those show-winning, looks.
While some people don’t like to admit it, Jon happily says he built this car to be a jaw-dropping show car. But all it takes are a few simple changes and it’s ready for its monthly bit of tarmac terrorism. “Wind in the rear camber, remove the spacers, swap to my other set of Volks, and it’s ready to go. As you can see from the spec, it’s got serious performance if I want it, and eight foot flames from the anti-lag too,” he laughs.
He’s not wrong either. With the car packing massive Alcon brakes, every Evo item in the Whiteline suspension catalogue, and a very healthy 430bhp, Jon and his mates have created a stunning car. So what’s next? Well, more trophies for sure and a figure of 750bhp has been mentioned. Fair play!
TECH SPEC 2005 MITSUBISHI EVO IX
Tuning
4G63 MIVEC engine, JMF tubular exhaust manifold, HKS Superflow induction kit, 3in turbo back exhaust system consisting of a custom turbo elbow, modular downpipe, and Blitz Nur-spec downpipe back system, Koyo alloy radiator, AMS race intercooler, braided turbo oil lines and filter, HKS Kansai carbon sparkplug and cambelt cover, Link ECU with speed density conversion and anti-lag system, custom boost and coolant pipes, Tial BOV, battery relocated to boot, Spec-R custom alloy tanks, carbon dipped rocker rover, Ralliart cooling plate, Ingalls torque damper, Blox engine mount kit, Tomei oil filler cap, Ralliart radiator cap, Ralliart Thermostat, Blitz turbo timer, Apexi AVCR Black edition boost controller, remapped by Indigo GT to 430bhp, 435ft/lb, Evo RS diff conversion with AYC delete, Evo RS Prop shaft, twin plate Exedy clutch, braided clutch line
Chassis
Evo X FQ400 365mm Alcon front brake conversion, Brembo rear brakes, Carbotech XP10 brake pads, Tein Monoflex coilovers with custom spring rates and adjustable top mounts, Whiteline roll centre correction kit, Whiteline adjustable drop links, front and rear Whiteline anti-roll bars, custom adjustable rear camber arms, adjustable rear toe arms, HKS Kansai strut braces front and rear, fully polybushed with Whiteline and Powerflex bushes, 9.5x18in ET22 Volk Racing CE28 alloys in silver with a polished dishes, 225/40×18 Goodyear Eagle tyres, 20mm front and rear spacers for show, 9.5x18in ET22 Volk Racing RE30 alloys in bronze, 255/35×18 Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres. for road.
Exterior
USDM rear lights, Daibutsu-R vortex generator, APR carbon mirrors, Daibutsu-R carbon wings, Daibutsu-R front and rear carbon doors, Daibutus-R carbon bonnet, Daibutsu-R carbon boot, Daibutsu-R carbon side skirts, Daibutsu-R carbon side spats, Daibutsu-R Carbon Diffuser, Voltex Carbon fibre exhaust surround, Ralliart front splitter, Rexpeed side spats
Interior
Daibutsu-R Dry carbon interior parts with single coat lacquer, including the front and rear door cars, A,B,C, and D pillars, front and rear kick plates, and parcel shelf, Rexpeed carbon steering wheel, Rexpeed carbon speedo surround, Rexpeed carbon arm rest cover, Ralliart pedals, Ralliart carbon gear surround, Ralliart window switches, custom roof lining, AMS gear knob, Coltspeed carbon gauge and stereo pod, full Safety Devices RBU037 6-point roll cage, Takata 4-point harnesses, Cobra Misano Anniversary Edition carbon seats with carbon leather