Let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t an SUV. Not by modern standards, anyway. The three-letter acronym gets slapped on anything that sits 20mm taller than a ‘normal’ car and, frustratingly, seems to have encompassed cars that aren’t afraid of getting muddy. SUVs are so ubiquitous, in fact, that it’s becoming harder to tell what cars are capable of taking on the elements and what majors on ‘lifestyle’ and ‘grass parking’.

So I present to you this marvellous Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution as a reminder of a time when rugged looks meant genuine off-road ability and, in the Evo’s case, proper motorsport pedigree. It’s not often you see homologation specials take the form of a 4×4, usually because manufacturers don’t take cross-country events like the Dakar rally as seriously as, say, the WRC or GT racing. Mitsubishi, however, had used the Dakar rally as a proving ground for its first-generation Pajero in the 1980s and early 90s, racking up several victories in the process. So when manufacturers were banned from producing turbocharged prototypes for the 1997 event, Mitsubishi set about building a homologation-spec version of its second-gen Pajero for the gruelling rally.

The Pajero Evolution was every bit the road-going Dakar racer you’d want it to be. Blistered wheel arches concealed chunky off-road tyres and new fully independent suspension (double wishbone up front, multi-link at the rear), complete with rally-grade springs and dampers. A large shroud at the back likely served little purpose on the road car, but would have no doubt helped clean up the airflow at the rear of the car on rally machine and, therefore, made its way onto the Evo. Even the extra armour needed for the brutal nature of the Dakar rally was carried over to the road car. It’s surely among the most capable off-roaders of its era. 

No fire-breathing rally-grade engine up front, just Mitsubishi’s tried-and-tested naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 with 280hp (in line with the gentleman’s agreement between Japanese carmakers of the time). It’s coupled to a very un-homologation special five-speed automatic gearbox, although you do get two Torsen differentials front and back, as well as a locking centre diff for a 50/50 power split. True, it won’t deliver the sort of driving pleasures a Lancer Evo might, but it’s rather good at getting from point A to point B – where B is the other side of a mountain range.

Yes, this is another JDM special that never officially made its way to the UK. However, Mitsubishi built a fair few of them (nearly 2,700 units according to Wikipedia), meaning values haven’t ballooned to the extent that many of the JDM specials have. This example is up for £25,995 with 110,000 miles on the board, which is a tad on the high side but it does come with a full service history and is allegedly completely stock. It’s hard to see how you could make a Pajero Evo any racier, but Japanese tuners will always find a way…

Rust can afflict Pajero Evos that have been exposed to the UK’s salty winter roads, so it’s a good thing this car is a fresh import and, therefore, should be corrosion free. Hopefully. Being a 1997 model, it’s now fair game for rally fans in the USA – and we know just how much American buyers are willing to spend on a JDM rarity. Best grab it before they do. 

Engine: 3,497cc V6
Transmission: five-speed automatic, 4WD
Power (hp): 280@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 257@3,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 1997
Recorded mileage: 110,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £25,995