Wheels of Lisbon
Julien
series 1
Where did this love for classic cars come from, was it something you grew up around?
As far as I can remember, I have always been fascinated with cars. My dad likes his cars and is a keen driver. He has had his fair share of sports cars which seems to have picked with an Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV. Throughout the 90s, I was drawing cars and devouring magazines about the tuning scene. I was mesmerised by the creations of German tuners like Hartge, Brabus and Clarkson. There was a trend of "sleepers" at the time. Some tuned cars would only differ in appearance from production models by different rims and a lower stance. The rest of the body being stock. But the engines often saw their power output multiplied 2 or 3 with upgraded suspensions and brakes. It was new and nuts and I was loving it.
Can you tell more about this car, and this particular model?
This is a Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution. The homologation special model that won the Paris-Dakar race 12 times. It did 7 consecutively earning it the nickname: “King of the Desert”. Around 2,700 were made. This particular model is a 2 owners car (including me) which was imported from Japan to the UK in 1997, its year of production.
How did the car end up in Lisbon?
I bought the car in the UK without having seen it before. I trusted a local garage to make all the checks though. Once I got their green light, I flew to London, then took a train to take delivery of the car 1 hour north of London. I then drove it back to Lisbon the following day. It was an expensive journey because of the ridiculous fuel consumption of this car. And not the most exciting. This car is not designed to drive on the highway.
Why this is you perfect car for Lisbon?
First it is a 4x4 which comes quite handy in Lisbon. Lisbon is not Dakar of course but I’m sorry to say that some of its streets feel like they could be in Dakar! Second, it is a race car, meaning that it has enough torque and power to overtake easily. I did not want to have a diesel 4x4 or something that takes 20s and a cloud of black smoke to get to 100km/h. Plus it has a stainless steel exhaust line which makes for a nice sound track. Third, you can fit 4 surfboards and their owners in it. Which is perfect for a weekend in the south or just a trip to Caparica. Finally, I love how it looks. I already liked the design of the Pajero mk2. With the Evolution body kit, it is epic. At first I found the wings on the roof were a bit over the top but now I like them.
Can you tell us what cars/motorcycles do you have in your garage?
In my garage and next to the Pajero you will find: a 1997 Maserati Ghibli Cup which is my forever poster car, the original Autofabrica Type 10 based on a 1992 BMW R80 RT, a 1976 Honda CB750 Four and a 2019 Yamaha Tenere. The Pajero came in replacement of a 1996 Ferrari F355 that I kept 3 years in London and sold before to move to Lisbon.
How would you describe your taste in cars?
The 90s clearly dominate my automotive passion. That is the era I felt in love with cars and that left me with the strongest memories. It is also for me the golden age of analog motoring. Electronic assistances were at the minimum and aesthetics could be sporty without being agressive. My 76’ Honda is an anomaly in the collection but maybe not for long. The 70s are also a great era for motoring, It is a unique bridge between the beautiful designs of the 60s and the improved reliability of the 80s.
