42k-Mile 1992 Dodge Stealth R/T Twin Turbo

The Stealth is a nameplate Dodge doesn't even bother using anymore. That's a shame, because in the 90s it had potency - thanks to the VR4 AWD.

In actuality, the Stealth was no triumph of American engineering. It was a triumph of American dollars and bargaining power. Chrysler made a deal with Mitsubishi and were able to sell cars using their mechanical components. One such car was the Mitsubishi 300GT, from which Chrysler/Dodge made the Stealth.

I guess it was a good deal if you really had to have that American design pen touch...but even then, it was very similar looking to the 3000GT. Still, that's not a bad thing. These are classics of the 90s, all smooth corners, globular shapes and swishy swoopy lines. The big benefit to the driver is aerodynamics and efficiency.

So what were the mechanicals that Chrysler wanted to get their hands on so badly? The Stealth has a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged 6-cylinder engine good for almost 300 horsepower. That was a big deal then and remains impressive today. It'll be a gas guzzler, but damn this thing will haul on the highways.

As if that wasn't enough, it's got not only four-wheel drive, but four-wheel steering to keep you in total control, glued to the road with the utmost confidence. The 3000GT/Stealth cars were laboratories of 90s Japan hi-technology. The basic fact is that you just don't get this kind of package anymore, at least not for under, what, $40k?

The interior is also impressive, swathed in black leather. This one is mated to a manual transmission and seems to have an aftermarket DVD player upgrade.

I wouldn't expect anything less from a 2-owner, 42k-mile car. Look for accidents, rust and maintenance history. The engine is complex and I imagine would need oil changed religiously.

But if you want a big, safe, powerful sports car from the 90s, this packed with similar power as a 300ZX but has more technology and is less common.

Available here on ebay for $12,500.

1973 Dodge Colt Hardtop Coupe

Ah, the Dodge Colt. This was from the height of the fuel crises of the 1970s that American auto makers just couldn't cope with. But since the Japanese already had a grip on well-made compact fuel-efficient cars, American consumers, especially in California, were turning to them fast. Dodge, ever crafty, made a deal with Mitsubishi to sell their models as Dodges in the U.S. Poof! All of a sudden, American cars were small, reliable, and fuel efficient. Except they weren't really American.

All that aside, consumers would rather have had the Colt than not, even if it was cloaked as a Dodge.

The first generation Mitsubishi/Dodge Colt was introduced in 1970 as a model year 1971 and lasted until 1973. These were extremely simple and basic cars, but they were enlivened by two things: a body design that, in 2-door form, was unusually tidy and cool looking, and a rear-wheel drive layout. The engine was a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder that initially produced just 100 horsepower, but was later lowered due to stricter emissions regulations.

This is the rarer 2-door hardtop coupe, which lacks a b-pillar. It features a 4-speed manual transmission.

The sellers says they've been working on this car for a few years, and have given it a new coat of "stock" yellow paint, and welded some rust spots. Inside, they say it is original but re-upholstered the seats at a cost of $500.

Mechanically they say it runs but the cam chain makes noise, and the transmission may need a new mount.

These were sold briefly and many have already succumbed to usage and rust. They are hits on the JDM show circuit and still draw looks and people try to identify them. Honestly, with the original paint already gone, this could be ripe for a larger engine swap to make it a decent highway cruiser. Either way, it's a rare and nifty little car from an odd chapter in auto history.

Available here on ebay in Whittier, California.

Tokyo Apocalypse: 1992 Mitsubishi Delica 2.5 Turbodiesel

Have you ever wanted a vehicle that does everything?

If so, you might want to check out this awesome 7-passenger Mitsu Delica.

The Delica nameplate has been used for Mitsubishi's micro van since 1968. This is a third generation example, which debuted in 1986 and, amazingly, is still in production to this day in Australia.

I think these things are great. They're cooler than minivans, provide just as much space, but are easier to drive and park. Then there is the styling. In the same way the Germans mastered the look of the stern, all-business sport sedan, the Japanese aced the feel of this hyper-utilitarian vehicle. Styling is subtle, simple, conservative, form-over-function. Note the large doors that open over the front wheels, and accompanying footsteps to aid entry. This one looks especially great in two-tone grey and pearl, accentuated by mudflaps, tastefully tinted windows, and front guard with yellow fog lamps.

These were sold briefly in the United States as tamed gasoline versions. Fortunately, this is the desirable 2.5-liter turbo diesel engine. Diesels last forever, and are usually torquey as-is, so the additional turbocharger is a welcome addition to make daily driving more fun.

It's also four-wheel drive, for superior traction in all sorts of inclement weather.

Taken all together, you can haul a bunch of friends or cargo, in any type of weather, and almost never have to worry about breaking down. Nice.

The seller of this example is a private owner who imported this rare vehicle to Canada. They say the mileage is 146k miles, but was "safetied" at 130k. Not sure what that means, but it may imply the odometer no longer works. They do say that at 110k the timing belt was changed, injection pump rebuilt and a new battery added. Mechanically, they say it is "excellent."

Cosmetically, they note some interior flaws and exterior scuffs. Typical wear and tear. It's supposed to be a rugged vehicle.

Available here on ebay in Winnipeg, Canada. The seller notes they are 45 minutes from the North Dakota border.

75k-Mile 1984 Dodge Colt GTS Turbo

The Dodge Colt was a re-badged Mitsubishi Mirage. While these used to be based off the rear-wheel drive platforms coming out of Japan, the 1978-1984 fourth generation Colt switched over to front-wheel drive. It was a blow to enthusiasts to say the least.

As if to make up for something, the GTS Turbo arrived in 1984, but it was the last year of this generation. It was also a special treat for U.S. customers only, however. Whereas other markets had turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engines, the GTS Turbo featured the slightly larger 1.6-liter that pumped out 102 horsepower.

Although it was almost like cheating when American auto companies made business deals to sell superior Japanese cars under their nameplate, at least Dodge added some unique power to this unit to make it their own.
 

These were is also equipped with a novel 8-speed "Twin Stick" manual transmission, which utilizes a two-speed transfer case to give 8 forward and 2 reverse speeds. The seller claims that if you practice restraint on the gas with each shift, the fuel economy expands to 45 miles per gallon. They also note the car weighs in at just under 1,900 lbs.

This example looks pitch-perfect in red with black trim and blacked-out wheels. The seller also mentions some notoriety in that the car was previously owned by Car and Driver Senior Technical Editor Don Schroeder and was used by the magazine for a 1991 road test, the results of which along with other documentation come with the car.
 

The seller says he was going to modify the car when his friends so objected he felt compelled to just sell the car instead! 

Mechanically, they say it is a smooth runner and shifts well. They mention a host of recent work done. Cosmetically, they say there is no rust, having been stored since 1991 and driven only about 1,500 miles in the last two years. They replaced the windshield and note the interior is clean with no stains, tears, cracks or odors.

How many can there be left in this condition? This is a fun, cool, notable little car, and it comes with even more history in the form of automotive journalist previous ownership. Can you imagine actually owning the same car used in your favorite car magazine's road test? It just doesn't get much better.
 
Find it here on ebay in Syracuse, New York with 30 bids racked up at $2,800

Tri-Diamond Days: 38k-mile 1988 Mitsubishi Galant Sigma LX

I love you, ebay motors.

Only there do impossibly immaculate twenty-something year old cars show up with fifty high resolution photographs documenting every angle inside and out.

Who cares if a presumably tiny percentage of ebay motors auctions actually result in a sale, given how legally non-binding the format is?

It's the world's best and mot entertaining car show, and it never ends.

Such is the case with this ridiculously pristine 1988 Mitsubishi Galant. I didn't even know there was a Galant in '88. When most Americans think of a Galant, they think of a dinged up economy car from the 90s and 00s that their neighbor is driving into the ground. No better, no worse, and (perhaps most fatal) no more interesting than your average Taurus, Camry of Accord.

That's how most Japanese cars were in the 1990s. Manufacturers cut costs and dumbed their cars down. And the American middle class bought them in droves.

In the 1980s, however, there was clearly a much different school of thought reigning. Japanese manufacturers were still emerging and competing on a relatively even playing field. Any car could become what the Camry and Accord have become today (which is, unfortunately, still nothing great, and now just overpriced). Their cars offered efficient engines, a plethora of interior gadgets and chiclet buttons to satisfy even the most geeky of tech-heads, and solid build quality all at affordable prices. Stylists were designing the cars if they were still auditioning for a background spot in Blade Runner. There was just something cool and slightly avant garde about them I can't quite put my finger on. Is it details like the latticework rear taillights? Or the overall obsession with rectangular shape forms? There is something at once generic and yet infinitely ornate about them.

Mitsubishi clearly felt they were on to something with the Galant, especially for 1988. The nameplate has been used for nine generations of cars. This is a fifth generation example, which were produced from 1983-1989. It was also the first Galant to feature front-wheel drive, which it has remained (although 4WD has been an option). This example is nicely powered by a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder engine.

The seller of this example is a dealer, so we're sadly not privy to any kind of loving story one would expect from the original owner of a 1988 Galant with only 38,992 miles on it.

However, the dealer does say the vehicle runs and drives great and has never been "smoked in" (just how do they know that, anyways?). They say the body is straight, the paint glossy and there is absolutely no rust.

The vehicle really begs for a big confessional by the original owner. Just who barely drives their 1988 Mitsubishi Galant over the span of  24 years? And when they did drive it, they never smoked in it, trashed it, crashed it, or drove it excessively on wet salty roads. Job well done.

I rarely say this about the cars I blog about to avoid being cliche (even though I secretly believe it), but this thing really does belong in a modern car museum, maybe one that specializes in Japanese cars. Is there even such a thing? Before you blink, there might not be any 5th generation Galants left.

Fortunately, I have a feeling this one will be around for a long time. And that makes me very happy.

Find it here on ebay in Philadelpha, Pennsylvania for a buy it now of $7,995 and a the make an offer option.

Rally Cred: 70k-mile 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR4 Turbo AWD/4WS

This is one sweet car. The stats are almost too good to be true: 4-doors, 2.4-litre inline DOHC 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, powering all four wheels and with four-wheel steering.

That's right. All four wheel pivot with a turn of the steering wheel. Combined with the engine powering all four wheels, this thing must have incredible control and stability on the road, straightaways, curves, any type of weather, dry or wet.

There are no better known systems than AWD and AWS. And very, very few cars have coupled them together. Japanese manufacturers were experimenting with 4WS in the late 1980s, most notably Honda on their Prelude, which featured an entirely mechanical system. Mazda also offered 4WS on their 626. Sadly, this relatively simple technology that provides vastly better handling than a car without it was abandoned by the industry for no clear reason. File under 'suppressed technology'.

Origins of the Mitsubishi logo

The Galant was Mitsubishi's otherwise staid and tame compact mid-size economy car. In order to qualify for the 1988 World Rally Championships, Mitsubishi needed to make sell at least 5,000 variants of their potential rally entry. The result was the VR-4.

Only 2,000 were imported in 1991, and just another 1,000 in 1992.

Given the low production volume and the car's rally readiness, these were typically thrashed and trashed, so finding any example, let alone one in good shape and with relatively low miles, is rare.

The seller provides little backstory but assert the 70,019 miles on the odometer are original. They also say the car is "bone stock", another added bonus seeing how so many cheap Japanese cars from the 80s and 90s are distastefully and pointlessly modified.

Even the interior looks good, with no visible rips, tears or stains on the leather, possibly supporting the low mileage claim.

There can't be many left, although they do come up for sale somewhat frequently. But these are still rare, collector cars and definite future classics. The cheap, simple parts and construction also make it good for (very fun) daily driving.

I want it.

Find it here on ebay in Columbia, South Carolina, with 5 bids at $3,550 but reserve not met.

Orion's GT: 60k-mile 1988 Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R

The Starion was named by Mitsubishi as a contraction of the words "Star" and "Orion".

I like these things a lot. They were produced from 1982-1989. There were so many cool compact 2-door coupes coming out of Japan in the eighties, of varying performance ability, but all seemingly marketed to flashy young people and thus styled accordingly.

Power came from four cylinder engines and was directed to the rear wheels.

The Starion also did double duty as the Chrysler/Dodge Conquest, in a sly move by Lee Iaccoca.

This is the top-of-the-line ESI-R trim. The engine is a SOHC Astron G54B 2.6-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. Horsepower was probably close to 200, decent for the time.

The seller states it is a two-owner vehicle and they seem to be selling it on behalf of their uncle, the second owner. The list the odometer as reading 60,700 and say it is original miles.

Styling is more chiseled and angular than the typical Japanese designs from the era, but it still looks sharp, especially with the original alloy wheels. Both interior and exterior colors on this example flatter the design.

Mechanically, they say the engine, transmission, air conditioning and radio all work well.

Cosmetically, they say the driver's seat has some wear and there are scratches on the body but nothing major, although the rear bumper looks pressed in on the driver's side.

Find it here on ebay in Roselle Park, New Jersey.

Odd One Out: 1978 Dodge Challenger

Here is a lost chapter in Dodge history: the awkward second generation Dodge Challenger.

The original Challenger was a legendary all-American muscle car from 1970-1974. Then, in 1978 the name was revived for a car based on the Mitsubishi Galant Lambda coupe from a corporate business deal with Chrysler. It was also sold as the Plymouth Sapporo.

The Challenger/Galant Lambda/Sapporo chassis was front-engine with rear-wheel drive. Gone were the six and eight cylinder engines of the early '70s, and in were less fuel thirsty, more efficient four cylinders.

This example looks fresh and funky in two-tone baby blue and creme and seems to be all-original, from the incredible louvers down to the alloy wheels. The radial tires also give it a champ look. The styling is from a transition era for Japanese car manufacturers when they were just coming into prominence on the world stage and is a peculiar hybrid of American dimensions and Asian cues.

Under the hood is a large 2.6-litre 4-cylinder engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

The seller states the car starts, runs and drives fine. Cosmetically, they do mention it has some dings and scratches and some rust on the lower rocker panels. The list the odometer as reading 94,990.

The interior is a total blast with red white and blue plaid seats and round gauges.

This car is immaculate as is and doesn't need a restoration, but could use a loving owner who will continue to drive, maintain and garage it. You just don't see these anymore.

Find it here on ebay in Palm Springs, California.

All-Original: 1984 Mitsubishi Cordia Turbo 5-speed

I'm not sure if I've ever seen one of these on the roads. If I did, I probably didn't know what it was. But given that I'm in the northeast, were salt and snow destroy cars over time, it's probably a good bet to say I've just never seen one.

The best place to find obscure Japanese cars of the late '70s and '80s is in out west, especially California, Oregon and Washington, all along the Western seaboard and closest to the island of Japan. These cars were first imported to those states and they managed to survive there, thanks to an agreeable climate and communities of enthusiasts. This car is located in arid and dry Arizona.

This biggest selling point on this is the apparently all-originality of it. No cheesy aftermarket mods, no over-sized chrome wheels, LED taillights or racing stripes.

Instead, we have the essence of the car still intact.

The Cordia was a compact hatchback produced by Mitsubishi from 1982 to 1990, and sold here until '88. It was a front-wheel drive platform. Four-wheel drive was also offered in '84.

It was one of the first cars sold here without Mitsubishi's then-partner, Chrysler.

This is a front-wheel drive model.

Engine-wise there were a 1.4-litre,1.6-litre, turbocharged 1.6, 1.8-litre, and turbocharged 1.8, all four-cylinders.

This is the turbo model. The seller states it's a 1.8-litre turbo, but some sources tell me the 1.8 was introduced in 1985 onward. The 1.4 turbo produced 112hp and the 1.8 turbo produced 135hp.

It also has a 5-speed manual, an extra bonus for driving enthusiasts.

Styling wise, we are treated to a prototypical early-to-mid '80s Japanese hatchback, ready for the set of Blade Runner. A boxy, angular shape, clean flat sides, quad-square front headlamps, bulging bumpers and of course black plastic louvers covering the rear hatch window. Also note the squared-off rear wheel wells. It's all quite charming now, as we know in retrospect, with fwd and only 100-something-hp, that it's not the rocketship it looks like and wanted to be, but is instead an aggressive looking, reliable street bomber, nothing more or less.

I also like the factory mudflaps, half-body color molding and half black rubber with "Corida" printed in white on them.

Note the off-set Mitsubishi logo for a little bit of quirky Japanese zen that you never see anymore.

Inside we have a Citroen DS-like single-spoke steering wheel, and the usual box-housed instrument cluster. It's all grey-plastic business but it's extremely functional and has aged just fine.

The hatchback body provides great space with the rear seats folded down.

Cosmetically, vehicle seems fair to poor. In keeping with the all-original nature, everything seems worn from 28 years of use. Exterior paint and plastic trim is faded. Inside, the cloth seats are stained and torn.

The seller mentions the front plastic air-dam is gone, a common missing piece on older '80s cars as most are damaged from hitting parking curbs and usually discarded.

The seller states the car is indeed all-original except for some upgrades to keep it going like metal air intake tubes, and HELLA headlights.

Mechanically, they say it starts and runs fine, but may need new struts as the existing ones feel soft. They also say the a/c doesn't work.

They state the vehicle has only had one adult lady owner. They also say it is mostly rust-free (above all their photos they state "RUST FREE" but then below the photos they say "90% rust free, so I would definitely demand an explanation). The odometer in the pictures displays 189,819.9 miles, which is high but somehow comforting to see it still going.

This car would be great for either continued daily driving as-is or a full-restoration back to original glory, as long as you get it for under $5,000.

Find it here on ebay in Tucson, AZ with 6 bids at only $676, reserve not met and 2 days left.