Brian Calbero: 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage

TUNER BATTLEGROUNDS COMPETITION
Hot Import Nights: Honolulu (Dec 23, 2017)
WINNER

Brian Calbero's previous build, a Mitsubishi Evolution 9, was damaged in a flash flood night the week of Thanksgiving, with just less than a mile from home. Calbero hit a flooded road and ended up into a flash flood basin which almost killed him. It took almost 2 years to heal, and during the time Calbero took himself away from cars. For 2 months straight, the local transit was his main transportation to work before he had the courage to drive again.

While going through his old pictures of SEMA, a photo of Archie Concon's 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage surfaced and a lightbulb switched on. "Why not build one of my own! I have the parts! All of it," thought Calbero. Having an auto body background from college, Calbero took on the challenge. "I dug the internet for tips or leads but to my surprise, no one completed the build themselves or even knew of a shop that completed the step-by-step conversion process," Calbero mentions.

Experimental, definitely! There was a 50/50 chance of Calbero getting it right or scrapping the entire project. Fortunately, luck was on his side and it all worked out, as if Mitsubishi planned it! No shortcuts were taken for the grafted subframe and Calbero made sure it was up to spec using welding techniques that most qualified body shops use. Calbero blew everyone's mind when he revealed that it was possible to use a Evo 8/9 pan without the need to import a rear half-cut Evo 5/6 from Japan!

This is one seriously unique Frankenstein build!

Owner: Brian Calbero
Location: Aiea, HI
Vehicle: 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage
Horsepower: 300 whp
Club: Team Hybrid - Hawaii Chapter

SOCIAL:
Facebook: Evo BrianCalbero
Instagram: @graphitemrevo6.5

Written by Adam Gordon, Randi Bentia
Photography by Brian Calbero, Michael J. Kitchens (@archangelxv1)

ENGINE & PERFORMANCE:
2006 4G63 MIVEC and transmission
ARC filter box intake
ARC spark plug cover
ARC oil cap
ARC evo6 slam panel
ARC evo6 radiator
ARC evo9 intercooler
ARC radiator & cap
ARC air removal system
Tomei titainium exhaust
Spoolinup coil on plug
STM catch can, resivoir.
Custom made CNC billet radiator brackets
Mazterpiece Automotive Titanium bolts all around
Evo9 wire harness front to back

EXHAUST:
Tomei exhaust

DRIVELINE:
Enduratec coil overs
BWR rear adjustable lower arms
Adjustable caster and tow arms

WHEELS & TIRES:
Volk Genesis wheels - 18x9.5 (f/r)
Bridgestone RE760 - 255/35/18 (f/r)
Mazterpiece Automotive titanium lug nuts, valve stem covers and hub nuts

CHASSIS & SUSPENSION:
Evo9 front and rear subframe

BRAKES:
Evo9 Brembo brakes

EXTERIOR:
JDM OEM aluminum fenders and hood
JDM OEM side skirts, fender overs, rear bumper, trunk, folding mirrors, wing and rear glass with wiper.
CarbongoodiesUK side skirt extensions
CarbongoodiesUK one off rear diffuser dual exhaust exit
Voltex ct9a bumper genuine parts
Voltex ct9a genuine cyber street lip
Voltex ct9a genuine canards
Custom front bumper made using Evo6.5 upper fiberglass replica

LIGHTING:
JDM OEM headlights, markers and rear tail light housings

INTERIOR:
Tommi Makinen Edition Recaros front and rear
Cusco 6 point through dash roll cage
NRG harness bar
Takata black harness and pads
Evo9 dashboard and center console
Evo9 shifter and center transmission tunnel
Evo9 gas, clutch and brake pedals
Evo9 fire wall with AC
Custom Red carbon fiber Kevlar interior pieces
Blox titainium shift handle
OEM JDM CT9a sun visors

AUDIO & MULTIMEDIA:
Double din conversion
AC control relocation
JBL speakers

FAVORITE MODIFICATION:
"Favorite mod has to be the AWD because of the hours and years of labor of building it up and seeing it all work together as one."

FUTURE MODIFICATIONS:
"Possible engine Performance
More rare parts for this rolling collection of JDM goods!"

SPONSORS:
Shadetreemotorsport
Mazterpiece Automotive
MP Merrill Performance
CarbongoodiesUK

Competitors

Brian Calbero: 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage