Not every day we get the chance at shooting such a unique build. On this car we were fortunate enough to have it in our home town of Killeen, Texas.
First time I laid eyes on his car it still didn’t have the widebody Aero. That didn’t stop it from breaking necks everywhere it went.
When I first shot the car I would get all kind of people asking me how he imported an Evo 5. Even though I knew the story behind it, it wasn’t my place to put it out their so we gave Michael the chance to do it himself.
Michael, Why this specific platform?
Michael: The Evo 5 has been my all time favorite car after flipping through an old school JDM Option magazine. Only way to legally have one as close as possible to the real deal in the USA was to convert a 1997-2001 Mitsubishi mirage sedan which shares basically the same chassis (minus a few additional stitch welding throughout the chassis that Evos 4-6 have to make a more rigid chassis in preparedness for rallying). Won’t be able to import a real one until 2023, and I’m not a very patient person.. Lol
Exterior Mods:
OEM Jdm Evo 5 Front & Rear Bumpers
Evo 5 Rear Spoiler
Evo 5 Side Skirts
Rear Floor Swap to hold Rear Diff.
Evo 5 OEM Fog Lights
RHD Evo 5 Dash
Evo 5 Momo Steering Wheel
Digital Climate Control
Evo 5 Specific CF Canards
Custom Front Splitter
Was there a specific story behind this build?
Michael: Always wanted to do the conversion, but it is very expensive and time consuming trying to source all the JDM parts required to pull it off. So after an unfortunate accident took my K24a2 swapped EG Si hatchback from me, I happened to come across a 1997 mirage rolling shell for sale with a majority of all the parts required for the conversion already installed. Called up the seller, negotiated a price, and had the shell shipped to me. The rest is history!
Interior:
Custom Limited Edition CW Motorsports Evo 5/6 Gauge Cluster
USDM Evo 8 Front & Rear Recaro Seats
Varis Asso Widebody Fenders & Rear Over Fenders
Damd Carbon Fiber Side skirt Extensions
Paint Matched ViS Evo 5 CF hood
Any future upgrades you are wanting to do?
Michael: Exterior is almost where I want it to be. I do want to get a set of JDM Ganador side mirrors, CF roof and trunk lid, CF vortex generator, CF DAMD rear bumper extensions, LED conversion for the tail lights, and wrap the car a satin metallic purple. For the interior, I would like to get a set of CF door panels and CF dash. Performance future upgrades include a fully built 2.0 long rod motor, FP zero turbo, 2150cc injectors, additional external fuel pump, supercharger setup for twin charging, along with all the supporting mods and aim for 800whp.
Engine | Drive Train:
(Unfortunately No Engine Bay shots)
Evo 7 4g63T long block
Evo 5 Transmission & Transfer Case
Evo 5 Driveshaft
Evo 9 Rear Diff & Axles
Evo 9 Turbo
ETS Lower FMIC Piping
Short route upper FMIC pipping
Universal 4″ FMIC
Tial Wastegate
Custom 3″ Turbo Back
12 Gallon Fuel Cell
Aeromotive AFPR
-8 Fuel Supply and -6 Fuel return Lines
AEM 400lph External Fuel Pump
FIC Fuel Rail
FIC 1300cc Injectors
AEM AFR and Boost Gauges
Anyone you look you look up to or builds that motivated you to push and get yours done?
Michael:Archie Concon and his 2 door mirage to Evo conversion along with Brian Calbero and his mirage to Evo 6 conversion.
Wheels | Braking | Suspension:
Evo 5 Brembo Calipers front and Rear
D2 Full adjustable Coilovers
18×10 Enkei RPF1 Custom powder coated Magnesium Blue/Purple color shift..
Even though we did miss a bunch of stuff and couldn’t get all the photos we wanted due to time. Believe us when we say this car is all what it looks to be regardless it being a conversion. The car is done correctly and definitely Clean Car Alliance Material…
Drop a comment below and let us know what you think ..
Owner: Michael Dee
Car: 97 Mitsubishi Mirage LS
Photos By: Merv Hernandez Photography
Michael:
Follow my IG @evil_evo5
Be on the lookout and subscribe to my youTube channel JDM rEVOlution coming soon!