Ignite Your Passion: Embrace the Power of Mitsubishi’s Classic Old Models!

Introduction 

Mitsubishi Motors has produced various models throughout its history. Some notable old Mitsubishi models include the Mitsubishi Model A, Japan’s first series-production automobile introduced in 1917, and the Mitsubishi Debonair, a luxury sedan introduced in 1964 primarily for the Japanese market.

Now, the thing is that the availability of older Mitsubishi models may depend on some factors such as your location as well as the availability of such older cars in markets.

To ensure that all the effort is focused on the models that car purchasers want and to stay up with the waves of new automotive technology that emerge every few years, Mitsubishi is currently keeping to creating a small number of models. Numerous outdated models have been created and abandoned throughout time. 

If you are interested in purchasing an older Mitsubishi model, I would recommend checking with local dealerships, online marketplaces, and classifieds for used cars. However, I will mention the old models you can look for down below!

Old Mitsubishi Car Models

The details of several top vintage Mitsubishi vehicles are provided below for your consideration:

Mitsubishi Model A

The Mitsubishi Model A holds a significant place in automotive history as it is the first series production automobile manufactured in Japan. Produced by the Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Company, which would later evolve into Mitsubishi Motors, the Model A was the brainchild of Koyata Iwasaki, Mitsubishi’s fourth president and nephew of the company’s founder, Yataro Iwasaki.

The Model A is one of the oldest models and it might be really difficult to find it now, however if you do you are lucky enough. The Model A was intended to be a high-end car for powerful politicians and business leaders. As a result, it needed to represent dependability, comfort, and Japanese craftsmanship.

This four-door, seven-seat sedan, which was based on the Fiat Tipo 3, had a town car body shape and a front-mounted, 2.8-liter, straight-4 engine that produced 26 kW (35 hp), driving the rear wheels. The Model A provided excellent performance for its day, reaching a top speed of 60 mph (97 km/h).

The Kobe shipyard of the Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Company produced a total of 22 Model A automobiles between 1917 and 1921, including prototypes. The Model A, however, found it difficult to compete with less expensive American and European equivalents because of the high production expenses connected with its handcrafted construction and opulent inside decorated with lacquered white cypress.

As a result, after just four years of production, Mitsubishi stopped and switched its attention to building popular commercial vehicles under the Fuso brand.

Mitsubishi’s final attempt at making a passenger automobile was the Model A, which it did until the 1960 debut of the Mitsubishi 500. In order to mark this significant occasion, a Model A replica was put together in 1972 utilising components from the original era. Visit Mitsubishi’s Auto Gallery at their R&D facility in Okazaki, Japan, to see this reproduction.

Notably, the copy differs from the original by having a water-cooled 977 cc four-cylinder OHV engine and a somewhat shorter wheelbase.

Visit the Mitsubishi Motors Web Museum or investigate the Mitsubishi Model A replica at the Mitsubishi Auto Gallery to find out more information about the Mitsubishi Model A. 

Mitsubishi 3000GT

The Mitsubishi 3000GT is a sports car that Mitsubishi Motors produced from 1990 to 2001. In some areas, it is also referred to as the Dodge Stealth. The design of this car demonstrated the cutting-edge technologies employed by Mitsubishi Motors to create their cars.

An aggressive and aerodynamic design was used to build the 3000GT. It had pop-up headlights, a streamlined appearance, and smooth body lines. Along with them, it also had a variety of engine choices, such as a 3.0-liter V6 engine with a variety of turbocharger options that produced outstanding outputs of horsepower and torque.

Mitsubishi is renowned for its cutting-edge technology, and to improve the handling and performance of its vehicles, it combined innovative technologies including all-wheel drive (AWD), four-wheel steering, and active aerodynamics.

The power-adjustable leather seats, incredible music system, and other cutting-edge technical systems for your safety and convenience made the 3000GT incredibly pleasant for passengers.

It was not abandoned after production because numerous updates and improvements were produced throughout time. Models with active electronically controlled suspension (ECS) and more powerful brake systems, such the 3000GT VR-4, had even higher performance potential.

Mitsubishi had to stop producing this fantastic model in 2001 because of shifting market demands, but it always remained one of the top options among fans of the brand.

While it may be challenging to find this car right now, you can call car shops or search online for this well-liked model.

Mitsubishi Debonair

The Mitsubishi Debonair was a luxurious old Mitsubishi model that served as the flagship passenger vehicle in the Japanese market. Introduced in 1964, it was a four-door executive sedan and one of the first Japanese-built luxury sedans of its time. The Debonair featured a 2.0-liter six-cylinder engine and spacious interior, making it a desirable choice for senior level executives of the Mitsubishi Group and affiliated companies. 

The first and second-generation models remained popular in the Japanese market for 22 years, with minimal appearance modifications. In 1986, the Debonair underwent a significant change in appearance and adopted a front-wheel-drive layout. It also introduced Mitsubishi’s first V6 engines. 

The second-generation Debonair was successful in terms of sales and played a role in Mitsubishi’s business relationship with Chrysler. Overall, the Mitsubishi Debonair holds a significant place in Mitsubishi’s history as an old luxury sedan model.

Mitsubishi Diamante

The most popular Mitsubishi car was the Mitsubishi Diamante, which Mitsubishi Motors produced from 1990 to 2005. It debuted as a hardtop at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show and went on sale in Japan in May of that same year. This car had a good start because it was named Japan Car of the Year in its first year. The name “Diamante” was selected in homage to the Mitsubishi logo, which is made up of three diamonds, and it also shares roots with the words for “diamond” in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.

To create the Diamante, Mitsubishi widened the Mitsubishi Galant by 6.6 cm (2.6 in). It shared its platform with the Mitsubishi 3000GT. Alongside the hardtop version, a sedan variant called the Sigma was produced for Japanese and European markets.

The sedan served as the foundation for the second-generation Magna built in Australia. While the sedan was known as the Verada in Australia, it retained the name Diamante in export markets like New Zealand and North America. Additionally, Mitsubishi Australia exclusively manufactured a wagon version of the Diamante.

The Diamante was offered in Japan with both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The FWD models had various engine options, some of which were available with manual transmissions. The AWD models featured MacPherson strut front suspension and double wishbones at the rear. Throughout its production, the Diamante boasted a range of features, including Mitsubishi’s autonomous cruise control system, electronically controlled active trace and traction control systems, as well as other electronic gadgets.

Given its success and popularity, the Diamante was awarded the Car of the Year Japan award in 1990-1991. Over the course of its production, the Diamante underwent several generational updates, introducing improved features and technologies with each iteration. Regrettably, in 2005, Mitsubishi decided to discontinue the Diamante as the company shifted its focus towards other vehicle models.

Mitsubishi Lancer

The Mitsubishi Lancer is a Japanese automobile that has been produced by Mitsubishi Motors since 1973. It has been marketed under various names in different countries, such as Colt Lancer, Dodge Colt, Plymouth Colt, Chrysler Valiant Lancer, Chrysler Lancer, Eagle Summit, Hindustan Lancer, Soueast Lioncel, and Mitsubishi Mirage.

Over the years, there have been nine generations of the Mitsubishi Lancer before the current model. Between its introduction in 1973 and 2008, over six million units were sold worldwide. However, Mitsubishi ended production of the Lancer in August 2017, except for Taiwan and China.

Whenever you are buying an old model of Mitsubishi, you should consider the specific generation you are looking for. As the lancer has many updates and variations in models over the years, you would find different options according to what type of features you want.

Mitsubishi Eclipse

Mitsubishi motors produced the Mitsubishi Eclipse from 1989-2011 which is a sports car. It was first launched in Japan, North America, the Middle East, South Korea, the Philippines, China, and Brazil. Its name was taken from an 18th century English racehorse. The first two generations of this masterpiece shared a base and component with the Eagle talon and Plymouth Laser as a collaboration between Chrysler Corporation and Mitsubishi motors.

These generations were offered for sale in Japan through the Mitsubishi Car Plaza retail chain. The Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus shared a platform with the third generation Eclipse, which was built from 2000 to 2005. The fourth and final version of the Eclipse, which debuted in 2005, had a brand-new platform known as the PS platform. 

The GS, GS-T, and GSX models were among the various trim levels and engine choices available for the Eclipse. The inline-four engines used in the Eclipse included the 4G37, 4G63, and 4G64. The Mitsubishi Eclipse’s production ceased in 2011, but the brand was later revived for a small crossover car named the Eclipse Cross in 2017.In 2017, the name was brought back for the compact crossover vehicle known as the Eclipse Cross.