1998 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V GSR (Japan)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V GSR is documented here as a Japanese factory grade, with its own equipment reference and a carefully scoped rarity record. The Japanese Evolution V GSR fits the rarity policy at the clearly defined grade level used here. Its count sits relatively close to the threshold, which makes scope particularly important. The number does not describe the combined GSR and RS programme, every export derivative or the number of original-condition cars surviving today.

Where this grade fits

Evolution V brought the wider CP9A body into the road-car sequence. It is the natural comparison point for the narrower Evolution IV and the revised Evolution VI that followed. The original Japanese catalogue offers GSR and RS specifications, which remain separate entries here. Their shared platform explains their relationship, while their grade identities prevent two different specifications being flattened into a single generic Evo V.

Mitsubishi original Japanese V factory brochure (digitised original)

Engine, transmission and equipment

The brochure specifies the 4G63 intercooled turbo engine at 280 PS, four-wheel drive and a five-speed manual. Its equipment matrix is more useful than a modern list of common modifications because it distinguishes standard equipment from options. For an individual car, record the fitted brakes, wheels and differential specification alongside the model code. A later upgrade should be described as an upgrade, even when it uses genuine Mitsubishi parts.

Mitsubishi original Japanese V factory brochure (digitised original)

Design and identification

Wide wheelarches and the substantial rear spoiler create a recognisable silhouette, but a detailed comparison should include front wings, rear arch treatment and the relationship between wheels and bodywork. The catalogue’s photographs provide a period reference for these elements. Current photographs are valuable evidence of condition and presentation; they cannot by themselves establish that paint, wheels or aerodynamic parts remain original.

How many are recorded?

7,087 Japanese-market GSR 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

7,087 Japanese-market GSR 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.

Comparisons and related profiles

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

• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V RS (Japan)
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI RS (Japan)

Frequently asked questions

Is the rarity figure a worldwide production total?

7,087 Japanese-market GSR 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 V 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.