2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR - Damaged Daily

A few months after taking ownership, Najeeb had added a carbon fiber lip, hood and sideskirt accents, a JDM rear bumper, and wheels. And just as it was starting to look right, the inevitable happened: it was hit. This time, sandwiched between two SUVs while waiting at a stop sign, by a 16-year-old girl without an affinity for paying attention to the road. The car spent the subsequent winter at a body shop, and Najeeb spent the months working overtime to pay for its mix of Ings+1/C-West/Voltex/JDM Mitsubishi exterior components, and Bride/DEFI interior bits. Just one day after the re-applied Wicked White's clearcoat had been sanded and buffed, the EVO was taken in for its Pioneer DVD/navigation and JL Audio/Kicker/Polk/Momo audio. And the day after that, it was out for the go-fast bits: the aforementioned AMS upgraded turbo and manifold, along with supporting mods from HKS, Greddy, ARC, and others; fuel courtesy of Walbro and Precision Engineering; driveline reinforcement thanks to Cusco; and even some modest Hawk brake upgrades, before being shipped off to EVO/DSM guru Sean Ivey for a custom reflash of its stock ECU. "Maybe the only reason it wasn't in an accident during that time," laughs Najeeb, "is because I didn't give it enough time!"

Now, having lived out both of his dreams with this car, he's not sure what's next. With projects like this, he says, the temptation is to either re-do them completely, or move on to something else. He's definitely looking for a daily driver he won't strain to take such good care of. "The next challenge," he says, "is going to be for me to keep it stock!"

Behind The Build

Name.
Najeeb Faridi

Age.
24

Hometown.
Suffolk County, NY

Occupation.
Assistant E-commerce Manager

Build time.
Three Years

Feedback.
illegalakkord@aol.com

Hobbies.
Photography, interior design, business

Quote.
"I've always dreamed of building a car for the world to see!"

'06 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR
Output: 447 whp / 410 lb-ft of torque

Engine AMS intake, turbo manifold, 50-trim turbocharger, lower intercooler piping; JDM EVO bypass valve; Tial 38mm wastegate; HKS EVC-6 boost controller, DLI-2 ignition module, Circle Earth grounding system; Precision 780cc injectors; Walbro 255Lph fuel pump; ARC titanium gradient spark plug cover, silver oil cap, radiator cap; Samco radiator hoses; FAL radiator fans; Greddy titanium exhaust; custom test pipe, Ferrari wrinkle-red painted valve cover, polished A/C lines; Sean Ivey reflashed ECU

Drivetrain Cusco twin-disc clutch, flywheel

Suspension Buddyclub coilovers (front and rear); Cusco rear sway bar; Carbing front upper strut tower bar; GT Spec rear upper strut tower bar

Wheels/Tires 18x9.5 +15mm offset Volk Racing CE28N Limited Edition Formula Silver wheels (2008 special finish); 245/35-18 Yokohama S-Drive tires

Brakes Hawk HPS stainless steel braided lines; ATE Super Blue racing fluid

Exterior Ings+1 front bumper, side skirts, front canards; JDM EVO IX rear bumper, headlights, taillights, side markers, window wind deflectors; Voltex carbon fiber diffuser, rear wing, carbon fiber B-pillar trim; C-West hood; AMS carbon fiber roof; Ganador side mirrors; Wicked White paint; Fender Benders bodywork; vinyl by GrafX by Nicky

Interior Bride Vorga front seats, signature Gradient upholstery; custom-wrapped silver carbon fiber dash panel; JDM Ralliart Edition shift knob; custom white Willans harnesses; Broadway mirror; Defi BF-series gauges (boost, EGT, oil temperature, oil pressure), hoods, Control Unit V2; Apex'i FATT; AEM UEGO wideband O2 gauge; RMR carbon fiber steering column gauge pod

Electronics Orbital Performance double-din dash kit; Pioneer AVIC-D3 head unit; JL Audio 500/1 amplifier; Kicker ZX650.4 amplifier; Polk/Momo MMC650 co-axial 6.5-inch speakers, cross-overs; Monster wiring; Stinger one-Farad capacitor; Dynamat sound deadening

Gratitude Allah; family (mom, dad, brother Nabli); friend and better half Sadia; Ali and Majid; TSE (Tri-State-EVO) family; NIM (New Image Motorsports)