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My FTO GPvR

Introduction

Well i've taken the plunge and gone Japanese (it may have something to do with Aaron's GT4 :)), but not to worry I'm keeping the Sei, and the Cinq project until a time comes where I need money! :rolleyes: and Aaron has the integrale, and my Dad has his 500, so we haven't completely descended to the Jap side there are still Italian cars lurking to keep us sane :devil:

It's a 1997 Mitsubishi FTO GP Version R.

It's not the most well known of the extensive FTO range, but the most raw and sought after now.

There were only 350 GPvR made, all facelift FTO's between 97-99. It has the same 2L V6 MIVEC 200PS 145lb ft as the GPX model, but where it differs it has less sound proofing, loses the digital climate control and goes for manual air-con in the pursuit of weight reduction, but gains a LSD, uprated anti-roll bars, front and rear strut brace bars, lowered uprated suspension for better road holding, a high rise spoiler, HID headlamps (can't think of many cars in 1997 with HIDS), MOMO SRS steering wheel, and different coloured front seats dependent on colour of car to distinguish from other models.

Mine also has the 5 speed manual gearbox, so no silly TipTronic so quicker, more economical and ultimately more fun to drive.

It is standard apart from Wilwood 4pot uprated front brake callipers mated to EVO4 brake discs.

Pics



Emma.
Missed this.. Always liked these cars (y) would love a ride in it, my mum almost bought one many moons ago but as already mentioned it didn't really seem to turn its power into speed with the silly gearbox, I never knew about this model either..

jamie86 said:
I'm sure that and the GT4 were seperated at birth?
LOL, indeed. Think some pics of them together would be nice ;)
 
the best model in the best colour, nice! (y)

love the wheels too.

are you sure the HIDs were factory fitted?
 
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the best model in the best colour, nice! (y)

love the wheels too.

are you sure the HIDs were factory fitted?

Sure are, the discharge unit is an integral part of the headlamp unit, try searching on ebay motors genuine FTO HID headlamps are about $700 2nd hand from Japan (most stuff from Japan is listed in US $), just sourcing 2nd hand genuine Mitsubishi discharge units in UK are about £100 each from Japco!

Many folk actually change to cheaper after market units if they break as long as standard Xenon D2S bulbs are used as even these alone when made by Osram or Philips OEM manufacturers are £55+ each new :eek:

Really can't think of any cars in 1997 being offered with HID's though it was only GPvR models that got them.
 
Nice! They built them because they got fed up with honda's and thier type r's. Think you should get some red bride bucket seats, HKS pods on the a-pillar, tint the window's and (although i do like white alloys) i'd go for some split blitz rims . . . but saying that, gpvr's are rare! any plans for it?
 
Just saw this thread had some recent action.

The car was sold last year to first viewer within 10 days of being put up for sale on the FTO Owners Club.

We never updated this thread, but as is our M.O. it didn't stay exactly as we got it.

We fitted Cusco Zero2Zero height & damping adjustable coil-overs with solid top mounts and pullow-ball beatings, fully camber adjustable at the front. Which were compliant on soft setting, in fact the ride was better than OEM. But turned up to 5 the stiffest setting the car was remarkable around Silverstone GP Circuit where Emma tracked it twice.

I rebuilt the front suspension wishbones with PolyBushes & the full independent rear suspension with mixture of PolyBushes & OEM Mitsubishi parts, it was knock & rattle free with all the rear fully adjustable for toe & camber as it was when new.

We ran -2degrees camber at the front with about 10mins toe out with -1.5degrees and parallel at the rear making the car turn in with real precision, it was brilliant to drive.

We swapped the Wilwood 4 pot calliper 285mm EVO4 disc conversion on the front to massive Mitsubishi GTO twin-turbo Satimoto 4 pot 325mm Nissan 350Z disc conversion, the braking went from brilliant, to fecking epic!

It had a very rare ARC Super Induction chamber and inlet pipe which looked amazing & sounded even better that I sourced in Japan before ARC went bust.

The genuine Mitsubishi Enkei EVO6 GSR wheels were professional refurbished by The Wheel Specialist in Birmingham and then fitted with new Enkei blue centre caps that looked brilliant.

Emma was sad to see it go but with our first born on the way, it was replaced by a Civic Type-R EP3 Premier Edition, which she's slowing starting to love but just not like her GPvR.
 
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