Did you know Proton made a limo version of the Lancer’s twin?
Ultra-rare Wira Grand Limousine pops up on the internet
An interesting vehicle popped up on our news feeds this morning.
You see, back in the 90s, Malaysia’s Proton was manufacturing rebadged versions of Mitsubishi vehicles. The most popular one that came (and was even made in the Philippines) was the Proton Wira, which was a badge-engineered twin of the Lancer CB - more commonly known in the country as the Lancer Itlog because of its taillights.
The majority of those came in four-door sedan body styles. But apparently, Proton actually made an ultra-rare stretched version called the Wira Grand Limousine - and one is still very much alive and well in the Philippines. Believe us when we say it’s really a unique piece of automotive history worth owning.‘
Unlike the standard Wiras back in the day that had plasticky interiors and fabric seats, the Proton Wira Grand Limousine had creature comforts comparable to the likes of the Lincoln Town Car. And yes, the stretched body wasn’t just made by a neighborhood chop shop – one quick research gave us information that Proton made only 25 of these from the Shah Alam factory.
Some of the standard Wiras back in the day came with a carbureted 1.3-liter, four-cylinder engine under the hood, but the Wira Grand Limousine was powered by a bigger 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine with 113 PS and 137 Nm of torque, which is essentially the same 4G92 SOHC engine found in the Lancer GLXi.
Some parts may have been modified and improved by its previous owners, such as the modern-ish 1-DIN stereo with CD and USB player, while the unit itself may have been converted to LHD using another Wira donor car. But the rest of the interior looks to still be in a preserved condition and is period correct. The cabin seems to still be wrapped in factory beige leather, and there’s even a color TV connected to a boomerang-type antenna placed at the trunk.
The car looks like it’s seeing use as a bridal car in the country, but it’s now posted online and is currently up for sale. We presume the car can be located in Cebu City based on its plates and the profile of the owner.
If you were today years old when you found out about this stretched Lancer twin, don’t worry. So are we.
