1995 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III RS (Japan)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III RS is documented here as a Japanese factory grade, with its own equipment reference and a carefully scoped rarity record. The RS qualifies here as its own domestic grade, rather than through the workbook’s 7,000-car reference for the whole generation. The distinction is material: the EPC-derived dataset records substantially more GSRs. Keeping the grade explicit allows this scarce RS specification to be covered without misrepresenting the production scale of every Evolution III.

Where this grade fits

Evolution III developed the CE9A platform into a particularly recognisable early rally-era sedan. The front bumper, side extensions and large rear aerodynamic assembly give this generation a much more explicit competition appearance. This profile concerns the Japanese RS road specification. A works rally car, a privately prepared competition car and an original RS are related subjects, but they require different kinds of evidence and separate histories.

Mitsubishi original Japanese III factory brochure (digitised original)

Engine, transmission and equipment

Mitsubishi’s Japanese brochure specifies a 270 PS 4G63 intercooled turbo engine and a five-speed manual. The underlying four-wheel-drive layout remains central to the car’s identity. Read the RS column rather than transferring the equipment shown for the GSR into this profile. In particular, a photograph of a well-equipped road car cannot establish the original trim or options of a competition-oriented RS.

Mitsubishi original Japanese III factory brochure (digitised original)

Design and identification

The more assertive body treatment is an important part of recognising Evolution III, but it is also readily copied. Compare the entire aero package with the period brochure and look for evidence of replaced panels. Motorsport use can explain missing trim, extra holes and altered interiors. Those changes should be recorded as an individual car’s history, not silently treated as the specification of every factory RS.

How many are recorded?

1,264 Japanese-market RS records in the cited ASA/CAPS-derived dataset. This is a catalogue record count, not an independently audited completed-production total, a manufacturer-announced cap or a worldwide survivor census. The grade is kept separate from other specifications within the same generation. Do not add a market record count to a previously quoted generation total without reconciling their coverage. The original workbook figure is preserved in the evidence register, with any difference explained rather than silently substituted.

JDM Catalogues: independently compiled ASA/CAPS-derived Japanese record counts

Documentation for an individual car

Begin with the full chassis and model information, then match it to the relevant dated Japanese brochure. Retain original documents and a chronological account of major changes. A short chassis prefix can be shared by multiple grades or generations, so it should not stand alone as proof. For a competition-prepared car, add the preparation and event history as a separate layer of provenance. A competition logbook records a use history; it does not automatically authenticate every claim about the original road specification.

Understanding originality and modifications

For a useful comparison, separate three questions: what the factory offered, what this particular vehicle was originally built as, and what survives on it now. The brochure answers the first. Original model information and contemporary records help answer the second. Inspection and recent photographs answer the third. Disagreements between those sources can reveal modifications or repairs, but they need to be documented rather than resolved by choosing the most attractive specification.

Specification and identity reference

Rarity and production scope

1,264 Japanese-market RS records in the cited ASA/CAPS-derived dataset. This is a catalogue record count, not an independently audited completed-production total, a manufacturer-announced cap or a worldwide survivor census.

What the photograph represents

Evolution III shown as a generation reference for the RS profile; grade authenticity is not established by the image.

Comparisons and related profiles

Continue through these connected Mitsubishi records, each with its own factory identity and production scope.

• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution II RS (Japan)
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV RS (Japan)

Frequently asked questions

Is the rarity figure a worldwide production total?

1,264 Japanese-market RS records in the cited ASA/CAPS-derived dataset. This is a catalogue record count, not an independently audited completed-production total, a manufacturer-announced cap or a worldwide survivor census.

How should an individual example be authenticated?

Match the complete original model information to the appropriate dated documentation, then record the present condition and modifications separately. A badge, colour scheme or stripped interior alone is insufficient evidence of a factory grade.

Sources and further reading

1. Mitsubishi original Japanese III factory brochure (digitised original)
2. JDM Catalogues: independently compiled ASA/CAPS-derived Japanese record counts

Research checked 15 October 2026. Factory literature, independent EPC-derived records and photographic evidence are identified separately. Design readings and documentation guidance are editorial interpretation.