1996 Mitsubishi Mirage LS Coupe in Innsbruck white
CA5A chassis employing a 1.8L 4G93 engine.
If you have ever seen any of my other cardomain sites you know what a fan of the Triple Diamond I am. I owned a 2004 Lancer Ralliart in the past and got rid of it when my wife and I had our second baby. I have been without a front wheel drive manual "Lancer" (I know this is a Mirage but in a nutshell they were the same thing) for a while and when the chance to buy this car came about... I had to jump on it. My buddy and co-worker traded it in when he bought his new Galant and for years I said I would buy it if he traded it. Well, careful what you wish for... you just might get it. Well I got it! My wife and I also owned a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport before we bought our current 2006 Mitsubishi Endeavor. I also drive my works Evo IX Ralliart in Central PA autocrosses and take it to select car shows and meets. So you can tell I love Mitsubishi. I am also an avid collector of Mitsubilia. You can see some of my collection here but most of it is on my old Lancer Ralliart page.
My plan is to only make a few more changes to it, lowering springs and maybe an "H" brace to stiffen it up, and run it in a few Susquehanna Region SCCA Autocrosses and Road Rallies. My Lancer Ralliart was a great autocross car in stock form and I think all I really need for this are some stiffer springs and it should be good.
You can also view about 300 photos from previous "Mitsubishi Motors Club of York, PA" Meet & Shows I have attended on my Evo and Lancer page. From now on I will post future event pics on my Mirage page.
Exterior Photos:
Here are some pictures of the Mirage as it appears right now.
Alterations:
Doesn't need much. The 1.8L with the manual transmission in these cars is pretty quick. Especially since it is so light. Plus, I don't want crazy performance with this car, that is why I have the Evo. This is a great Mitsu to drive and have fun with. Besides just like I enjoyed with my Lancer, a front wheel drive normally aspirated car can be a blast!
MMNA factory hyper ground cables
MMNA factory mudguards
Ralliart oil cap
Ralliart Spirit of Competition badge
Side turn indicator lights
Factory Mirage LS wheels painted white
Reinstalled stock stereo
Replaced shift knob with factory correct Mirage knob
Interior photos:
It is very neat on the inside. The previous owner took great care of it. The e-brake was a bit funky and I had that touched up. Other than that all I had to do was clean it a bit. I re-installed the stock stereo and the stock shift knob. I also took off the brake pedal and the clutch pedal that were on it and replaced them with the stock ones from my old Lancer Ralliart. I had put the high grip Ralliart pedals on my Lancer and they can not be taken off so I kept my stock Lancer pedals. That way it may only be the pedals but I have a little bit of my old Lancer with me on the Mirage.
Photos under the hood:
It was fairly clean under the hood considering the miles it had on it. It took some quick cleaning and it looked great. I put on my old Ralliart oil cap from my old Lancer and it also has the factory MMNA hyperground cables.
Photos of me working on the car:
The term "me" is used rather loosely here. I have to thank Mark, Mike, Merl, Eric, and Josh because they have actually helped accomplish most of the work on "Sophie" along with me. Thanks guys.
Only really major work that needs to be done for now is getting the "B" pillars sprayed black. They look a bit old and ratty right now being all faded.
Here is my buddy Josh doing the headlight re-finish. It is amazing what difference it makes.
The mudguard install. I like the factory correct mudguards below with the triple diamond and the Mitsubishi Motors on them.
My buddy who owned the car before me had a Ralliart badge on the back and a "Mitsubishi" badge on the back. They both looked good but I wanted to make it mine and add a different touch so with some quick work with a heat gun I got the badges off and added the new genuine Ralliart Spirit of Competition badge.
Here it is after I removed all the badges.
Here is the Ralliart badge upclose and far away.
Photos of my Mitsubilia including Ralliart items, my 1996 factory Mirage brochure, and other Mitsu "weenie" stuff :
This was a great find on ebay. I love having the original 1996 Mirage factory brochure.
Yes, I am a weenie for having these but I love my Ralliart driving gloves.
The Ralliart badge that I installed on the Mirage.
Ralliart keychain from when I had my Lancer
The following link will take you to my full collection of Mitsubilia (diecast Mitsui models and books/brochures, etc.):
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/449039/4
My old Lancer and current Evo IX Ralliart
Here are some pictures and links to info about my old 2004 Lancer Ralliart and my current Evo IX Ralliart. I have owned and driven Mirages, Lancers, and Evo's in the past and all of them have their pluses and their minuses.
Here is my Lancer and the Evo on the morning of an autocross getting ready to head out. It was the last autocross I did in my old Lancer before I got rid of it. After that I ran the Evo and soon I will also be running my Mirage.
For my cardomain site about my Evo IX you can go to here:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2372808
For my cardomain site about my old Lancer Ralliart you can go here:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/449039
