Driving My 500WHP 3000GT VR-4 | Resurrecting The JDM Forgotten Legend

The 1999 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 was my dream car growing up. I was always into the 3/s platform, and the 99 was the unicorn of that platform. With a complete facelift with the 1999 Model, it made it look like nothing else on the road. There's only 280 of these cars brought to the United States...
When I finally acquired one, it was all I had wanted and more. I got lucky and grabbed a really clean stock example of one that had not been hacked over the years.
We took it from stock to a 500awhp 3000gt vr-4 build over 8 years and that is where the car remains. It is a blast to drive! This car was also featured on the cover of Dsport Magazine!
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[@1WINDSHEAR]

Best JDM in history 99 VR-4

[@blackvr41]

Super clean car man, literally 500-600HP for the 3/S is the sweet spot for power. Anymore its literally too annoying, always hated how people tried to give it the 4G63 treatment and shoot for the moon only for them to constantly break and have issues. Enjoy it badass build!

[@jasonbourne1596]

Yeah after 600 you can't guarantee reliability, but if you got money you can have 1200 horsepower.

[@brandenjones192]

That thing is gonna go crazy in value.

[@iNZane_Mustang]

Just picked up my '92 VR4 a few weeks ago and want to build it just like yours. 500-600 to the wheel is enough in a car like this. Keep all the goodies to make it a nice semi-daily.

[@JrodsGarage]

It’s such a easy simple recipe

[@ItsCoachMike]

Bro that car is BEAUTIFUL!😍

[@DerekMoore82]

Perfect example of the '99 3000GT, perfect amount of upgrades without overdoing it, and you seem like the kind of guy who can appreciate what you have and deserve this special piece of automotive history. Great video editing as well.

[@miniracersus]

This is the car that got me into imports in the 90s.

[@rickd1028]

Absolutely love this kind of content J-Rod! Stunning VR-4! These cars are legendary.

[@L8-APEX]

Damn this thing is super cool. An absolute time capsule and a very special car. Thanks for sharing with us. Loving these viseos!

[@XMen77711]

Amazing!! The Ferrari of JDM-GTO Vr4 6speed getrag supra trans updaed 97-99. King of the Mountain curbe race next to GTR due to the awd-aws and No lags twin turbos. Insane 3rd gear pulled. Very Rare!!

[@nomienoman9232]

such a great looking car. I love the presence they have

[@Amanthius]

Hell yeah brother. 99 VR4life.

[@andydsm]

Oh man, this '99 VR4 is truly the stuff of dreams for every 3/S afficionado. Had a '95 pearl yellow VR4 (just like the one you also have), put over 70k miles on her for the 5 years I owned it and really loved that thing! Warms my heart seeing 3000GT content and seeing a mint true '99 in motion just can't be beat!

[@JrodsGarage]

Hell ya! Was your 95 a hard top or glass roof car

[@andydsm]

@@JrodsGarage Glass roof, even though it was a two man job, loved to pop it off and slot it in the special slot in the trunk, good times!

[@JrodsGarage]

heck ya, 95 VR4 in pearl yellow are extremely rare, as you likely know @@andydsm

[@andydsm]

@@JrodsGarage Oh yeah I know, especially in Europe where I am, these cars were as exotic as it gets in the early 2000s. When I had mine I literally knew everyone who owned one in my country :D

[@jaluna06]

Oh yeah!! The OG car. One day I’ll hope to have a VR4.

[@fordmd9704]

My favorite car you own!!

[@leejones4768]

Perfect looking car!

[@pob000]

My vr4 was undefeated for years. Luv that car

[@iadubber]

A dream DSM right here!

[@joseantoniodaly4875]

Beautiful car and so cool to see someone give special care and attention these cars deserve. One of the most fans here. Have a red 92 from factory with so much stuff done to it. Going for 600-700 these days after tuning with a maxx ecu

[@JrodsGarage]

Heck ya!

[@joseantoniodaly4875]

@@JrodsGarage don't launch it unless you change the spline to a 300M. Loose the oem wheels, too heavy. Use work emotions and the driveshaft too

[@joshuabates38]

My first car was an sl. I got 2 93 vr4s, and a stock 99. Love these cars it's like a comfortable go cart. My kids fit in it too. Everyone from kids to seniors complement my car and it not half as slick as this dudes 99.

[@Vgk36]

Whaat a cool owner . Nows when to leave well enough alone. incredible example!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@JrodsGarage]

🙏

[@boosted2.4_sky]

LET'S GO 🏁

[@ben94cobra]

such a cool car. running door to door with a R35 bolt on GTR but 20+ years older is just wild.

[@joshesposito7858]

Just picked up a white 99 vr4 a couple months ago 100% stock. Has 138k miles and it’s a dream, wrapped up the 120k service when I got it and now I’ve been driving it! Been in the 3S scene since I was 18 with a 94 SL, since then I’ve had a bunch, most notably the 99, followed by a spyder vr4. Found out I don’t like convertibles lol.

[@JrodsGarage]

Ha! I got two spyders last year. Same thing, not for me lol

[@NickBrownOKC]

That thing is clean brotha 🔥

[@JrodsGarage]

Appreciate it

[@kidsandcars956]

Wow awesome Time Capsule

Beautiful Diamond you have there sir.

[@nicholasprusko9590]

Very nice. I want a 100% stock one just to enjoy around town.

[@Ryan-il1fp]

Man that thing is cool af.. Sound is amazing..

[@JrodsGarage]

Thanks

[@Ryan-il1fp]

@@JrodsGarage yessir!

[@jasonbellavance1777]

Beautiful car and collection greatful to have a few nice vehicles of my own we have the same tastes. Thanks for the video I have two cars ud geek out at ha. Beautiful 99 I believe the magic number was “287”

[@Proviron_God]

Sweet car I loved those back in the day since I’m 46 yrs old! I’m also in Oklahoma! New subscriber!

[@JrodsGarage]

Oklahoma stand up!

[@jesiahdechanel198]

Thanks for sharing bro, hope to get one in the next couple months but I'm getting the spyder since I think hardtop convertibles are dope

[@JrodsGarage]

My .2cents don’t. They are a huge pia. Super heavy and parts for the top are extremely hard to find

[@AsianWithHat]

A unicorn indeed.

[@IlianNachev]

Great example of the 3/S platform! I have been daily driving one since I was in college in 2003! I currently drive a rather unique version of it that is a ‘95 GTO ATX AWD (all GTOs came AWD) in pearl white. I have installed 19T turbos on it and a Chrome ECU to control things. Another modification I have done that makes a difference is a Forced Four shift box with paddle shifters. As you would know, that allows me yo drive the car in manual mode as I please (most of the time, 😅). I shipped the transaxle to IPT Performance Transmissions to be rebuild and beefed up so it could comfortably deal with the additional horse power. The only thing I didn’t do at the time was to install an aftermarket flex plate, but I will do it next time I pull the motor or the transmission. People ask me how much I am selling it for every day, lol…

[@JrodsGarage]

Always wanted to get my hands on a awd auto

[@SlickCrusty]

excellent

[@benh745]

If i gotta choose between a Ferrari or that VR-4 its gonna be the Mitsu all day long. The looks of that car ❤❤

[@JrodsGarage]

Agree

[@benh745]

There's a 92' VR-4 for sale in the country where i live with only 4100 miles for 61000 dollars. You can buy two Lancer Evo's for that money here. Too bad i don't have the money though for each of those options 🤣

[@Eegoor1976]

Beautiful car 🚗 ❤. My former father-in-law had a 94 V4-R. Too bad he sold it before I had a chance to get a hold of it. I drove it once, it was bone stock and still a blast to drive.

[@JrodsGarage]

What color ? The 94 was really neat. Was the first year of the facelift. 4bolt motor. 6speed and only year with glass headlights !

[@Eegoor1976]

It was arrest me red ❤

[@willvr4]

I worked in high school at a performance garage that specialized in the 6G72 engine. Clean ass VR-4 man. I've owned 2 myself. I won't buy another unless it's super low mile and garage kept lol nightmare to work on and parts just get more and more expensive.

[@anthonyvaughn588]

There was a total of 287 99's imported to US. I have 284-287. Im in TX now. You have an excellent example, my man!!!

[@JrodsGarage]

287 was white and for sale not long ago. I assume you snagged it

[@anthonyvaughn588]

@JrodsGarage I wish... mine is white but is #284. Glad I picked one up 4 yrs ago as you know, they have really gone up in value.

[@dsmstealth92]

I wanna do what you do to have those beautiful toys!! I’m working on getting my 92 Stealth RT back to life!!

[@sigvision4189]

The whole reason I subscribed to this channel, about time you get her out on the road. Now hurry up and put back in garage before someone hits it.

[@JrodsGarage]

About to do some content on the yellow 95 and the stealth.

[@sigvision4189]

@JrodsGarage cannot wait, I just replaced a front main seal on mine so about to get her going again. The oil pump I bought had a crap seal that got hard and started to push out some

[@TheSpaceBorn]

Beautiful car! I'm with you on the green color. Did that front bumper come on all the 99 vr4's or was that a special package? I absolutely love it!

[@JrodsGarage]

All 99’s

[@BradleyCarter-xz5ry]

Miss mine. Had a stealth and 3000 same time red and black. Wish i still did.

[@JrodsGarage]

Great cars

[@mapavlikify]

About to begin building my 1996 vr4. #inspired

[@JrodsGarage]

💪💪

[@understatedwalrus]

Oh man, the holy grail 99 VR4. Beautiful machine and nice build. I was wondering, do those 19Ts have the fast spool option Kinugawa's offering now or are they the OG turbine? Either way, congratulations and nice work

[@JrodsGarage]

They are old

[@HB-gj5bd]

I want what you have so bad. I'm in Suffolk, Virginia and I want to put a 4g63t in there. Props to your ride 2:06 😊

[@joshuabates38]

I would love a 2000 vr4 from Japan.

[@5cylinder91]

beautiful, other than the wheels, beautiful.

[@ChrisEsposito]

cant wait to get my 91 vr4 back from Remy and Morgan.. They will finish tunning it feb 22nd 2024

[@L8-APEX]

The little 9B turbos these came with looked like apples 🍎 under the hood 😆

[@JrodsGarage]

Facts

[@rogerl9396]

My brothers and I all had VR4s going from 500HP-1000+ they are awesome cars. Mitsubishi is so disappointing now. Used to dominate the car industry.

[@ralphbryant8178]

I don’t believe Mitsubishi gets enough credit for there contributions to car culture

[@abelalemu612]

Awesome car and owner.. I got the 98 MR the same facelift as yours in silver ..can you please list the modes?? Love from Australia my man

[@JrodsGarage]

19t turbos HKS dli Clutch Fuel injectors and pump Smic Downpipe/exhaust

[@TooTurntToad]

Hell yeah man! What part of Oklahoma? I’d love to come check the car out in person sometime

[@JrodsGarage]

I live just east of Edmond

[@KK-zm9lr]

The Dodge stealth is also nice and even harder to find!

[@JrodsGarage]

Only stealth more rare than this 99, would be the 96RTTT. I have a stealth as well.

[@KK-zm9lr]

@@JrodsGarage The green one?

[@mesco8200]

What do use for fuel management?. Great setup, im looking at injector change to match 19t but want to keep it smooth

[@JrodsGarage]

Great thing about the 99, is you can flash the factory ecu. If you don’t a 99 you can get the jester ecu

[@mesco8200]

Perfect thank you

[@davidolivares8128]

The 98 vr4 are the most rare out of all the 3ks with only 256 ever being made

[@JrodsGarage]

That is correct. But they look the same as the 97. 99 has its own look. Had a white 98 a few years back

[@ProPotato]

How does the gearbox hold up and what clutch are you running if you don't mind?

[@JrodsGarage]

Gear box are good until 7-800 but the syncros suck. Just an old six puck

[@mikeleggiero2524]

My dad had one dont remenber the yr it was red. Haf all the bells in it.

[@haiboj4979]

Wow this is nice, what ECU are you running?

[@JrodsGarage]

Stock. You can flash them like a evo

[@haiboj4979]

@@JrodsGarage cool, wonder if a 93 model year car can do the same

[@JrodsGarage]

you can not, but you can get what they call a chrome ecu, and it allows you too. @@haiboj4979

[@haiboj4979]

@@JrodsGarage got it, thank you!

[@993KGT]

Hold up, I've had this for over 15 years and you're saying that the wing is manually adjustable?

[@JrodsGarage]

Ha! the caps on the sides pop off and there is supposed to be adjustment under them. I have never done it. I am going to when I get home to see for myself

[@JrodsGarage]

you got me second guessing myself now, i found a old 3si post about it. So now its time to find out lol

[@idontgotagun9867]

Do you think you’d be able to source a 99 and give it the 500-600whp treatment and sell it to someone? I’m heavily thinking about getting a 99 VR4 and keeping it forever

[@JrodsGarage]

For sure. Doing it for a guy on a 95 VR4 Spyder right now

[@idontgotagun9867]

@@JrodsGarage I’d for sure hit you up and everything, what’s the current market for 99 VR4’s? I mainly know more about Skylines so it’s something new to me

[@JrodsGarage]

you can find a decent one if you look for 40-55k@@idontgotagun9867

[@richfarfugnuven6308]

It's a sheep in wolf's clothing...😂

[@MPFvan]

Mine 92 has 400 HP with 2 kinugawas T19 whith 17 psi. Beatiful car!!

[@JrodsGarage]

That’s perfect. Check the stealth video a few back on a 1st gen we did.

[@tutueureueu8023]

Pretty sure they made around 280-290 to the wheels not 250?

[@JrodsGarage]

Nope have had several stock cars on the dyno. Check the dyno sheet in this video. shows a stock car and this one.

[@TylerTheeLegend]

Hear me out 0:50 did he mean to say sheep in wolves clothings

[@hydarail6477]

i never like the chrome wheels on this gen 3000gt would changed them for something aftermaket

[@JrodsGarage]

It’s kinda takes away from the original feel this car has. Imo

[@coryrose2545]

Vs honda ????

[@JrodsGarage]

This car would rock the integra lol.

[@milan1646]

The Mitsubichi 3000 GT is a very special car, probably you don't like it or love it and enjoy every second of driving it

[@manny0818]

Mitsubishi dropped ball making base models front wheel drive

[@rebelscum9783]

What happed to Mitsubishi? They used to make really cool cars.

[@JrodsGarage]

Not sure. But they made epic cars