Those too young to remember a time before the Fast & Furious are luckier than they realize. They haven't had to live in a timeline where they didn't have access to the greatest JDM cars of all time, like the older generation had to endure.
Long before the days of Brian O'Conner and the crew came along, those living stateside had to witness one of the best period of automotive design and performance from across the Pacific. Specifically, the iconic Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
We didn't receive the Lan Evo in the states until 2003, over a decade after the car debuted in Japan, and many argue by the eighth-generation, the Evo had lost its true spirit. But now these rally legends have progressed past the superfluous 25-year ban rule and have made their way to the states, with three examples landing under the ownership of YouTuber Adam LZ and his professional racer girlfriend, Collete Davis.
Larry Chen, the world-renowned automotive photographer, who's been lingering around the LZ compound now for quite some time, gave us the full-access pass.
Three's Company For This Racing Duo
Ask the die-hard Mitsubishi fans (those who remain, anyway) which generation is the best Lancer, and chances are you're going to hear a mix of the Evolution V and Evolution VI, with the holy grail of Lan Evos being the Tommi Mäkinen Edition (TME).
For those unfamiliar with WRC history, the infatuation with the mid-generations are largely related to Mäkinen claiming four drivers' titles in a row thanks to the Evo III, Evo IV, Evo V, and Evo VI.
Due to a mix of factors that include Mäkinen's success, The Fast & Furious, and the world's current infatuation with JDM, these once monstrous rally cars are now fetching classic car prices.
A Tale As Old As Time Itself
Thankfully, there are people like Adam and Collete taking ownership of these classic rally cars and using them for their intended purpose: driving like your hair's on fire. Because once Adam and Collete prep the Lan Evo engines, Adam takes Larry on the ride of his lifetime.
If you're familiar with Larry, then you know he's photographed some of the most important motorsport events over the last decade, always directly in the middle of the action. But even he appears to look slightly uneasy as Adam literally bombs around the compound in his Evo VI. Delivering a glorious harmony of delicious boost sounds and an anti-lag firing system that would put neighbors on alert there's a mad man with an AK-47 on property, Adam effortlessly maneuvers the tight concrete, barely wider than the Evo itself.
Unfortunately, we don't get to see Collete's skills on display, this time. But with Adam's high hopes to build a time attack course on the property, it won't be long before we do.