Mitsubishi traces its roots back to 1870 when it started out as a shipping company before expanding into coal mining, insurance, and ship building. It wouldn’t be until 1917 that the company began its interest in automobiles. The first car to come out of Mitsubishi was called the Model A. This was a hand built seven-seater sedan with a coupé de ville style and carrying a 2.8L straight-four engine. Only 22 examples of these early Mitsubishi cars were made between 1917 and 1921. Production was halted after competitors began to import mass-produced cars sold at a much cheaper price than fiscally possible for Mitsubishi.
The company underwent a number of name changes and mergers over the years with a focus on manufacturing commercial vehicles and assembling imported vehicles like the Jeep CJ. It wasn’t until 1960 that Mitsubishi reentered the passenger car business, but it wouldn’t be until 1982 that the first Mitsubishi cars arrived over on North American shores. Now, Mitsubishi has seen its rise in popularity as an economical car brand as well as a previously well-respected sports car manufacturer.
While the Mitsubishi brand is widely known today, we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their vehicles. Over the course of their long (and convoluted) history, there have been some unique vehicles that were exclusive to Japan. We’re looking back at ten of those Mitsubishi JDM cars that deserve some recognition for helping make Mitsubishi the global automotive brand we know today.
Mitsubishi’s first passenger car after WWII was the Mitsubishi 500. The compact two-door carried a 493 cc two-cylinder engine at the rear that generated about 20 horsepower. It was first unveiled at the 1959 Tokyo Motor Show before hitting the Japanese market the following year. 1961 saw the introduction of the 500 Super DeLuxe model that gained a 594 cc two-cylinder engine making about 25 horsepower. The 500 Super DeLuxe stands as Mitsubishi’s first homologation special vehicle and one of their earliest motorsport successes as it took all four of the top spots at the 1962 Macau Grand Prix for its class.
Mitsubishi’s first executive sedan, the Colt Debonair, was first showcased at the 1963 Tokyo Motor Show. This luxurious sedan was exclusive to the Japanese market and took some influence in its design from the 1961 Lincoln Continental. The first generation of the Debonair became a popular choice among Japan’s elite, even with competitors like the Toyota Crown and Nissan Cedric already on the market. The Debonair went virtually unchanged visually for 22 years before transitioning to the next generation in 1986.
The Mitsubishi Starion was released in 1982 as a new hatchback sports car from the Japanese brand. This model did end up in North America as both the Starion and as the rebadged Conquest, but the early JDM versions had a different engine. Prior to 1987, JDM Mitsubishi Starion models carried a single overhead cam 2.0L G63B four-cylinder that produced 108 horsepower when naturally aspirated or 143 horsepower when turbocharged. In 1984, an intercooler was added to the turbocharged GSR-V spec models utilizing the Dual Action Super Head helping it produce 197 horsepower. All of these engines had lower torque than their American 2.6L variants, but they had a higher redline making driving feel more rewarding with that race car-like high revving sound.
The Delica was also briefly available from Mitsubishi in North America from 1987 to 1990. These American versions were missing out though in comparison to the Delica Star Wagon that was developed for the Japanese market. The Delica Star Wagon was available with a 2.5L turbodiesel four-cylinder engine, four-wheel drive with selectable low and high transfer case, a lift kit, locking differentials, and tons of other goodies to fully customize the van inside and out. These fully decked out Delica Star Wagons are ideal imports for camper van conversions or for some modest overlanding. You can even find some fun versions of the next generation, the Delica Space Gear, in good condition with some of the same off-road capable features!
The Mitsubishi Chariot is an odd multi-purpose vehicle that the United States briefly knew as the Colt Vista from 1984 to 1991. While we experienced the first generation of this compact economy box, we missed out on the second generation where things got interesting for the model. A limited production variant known as the Mitsubishi Chariot Resort Runner GT was sold exclusively in Japan from 1995 to 1997. Its exterior wasn’t all that different from the base model aside from new wheels, new color options, and a hood scoop. Underneath this oddly shaped wagon/van was the same powertrain used by the Lancer Evolution of the same time (more on that model later). The 4G63 engine was detuned by about 20 less horsepower, but it still utilized the same all-wheel drive system, four-wheel steering, and independent suspension components.
The Galant was one of Mitsubishi’s longest running nameplates and one of their early success stories when it came to the World Rally Championship. The Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 was introduced in 1987 with a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine sending power through their All Wheel Control system (AWC). AWC was comprised of a drivetrain that used a center differential for the “Viscous Realtime” four-wheel drive and featured four-wheel steering, four-wheel ABS, and a fully independent suspension. The car achieved six WRC wins before being replaced by the Lancer Evolution I for the 1993 season.
Some of the original Galant VR-4 models made it overseas, but not the potent Type V or Type S featuring twin-turbocharged 2.5L DOHC V6 engines. Those special sports sedans and even a wagon version, the Mitsubishi Legum Super VR-4, were all specific to the Japanese region.
The FTO name first showed up on the Mitsubishi Galant back in 1975 but returned as its own model in 1994. The Mitsubishi FTO was a front mid-engined, front-wheel drive sports coupe made for the Japanese market. It was available with either 1.8L SOHC four-cylinder engine or a transversely mounted 2.0L DOHC V6 engine. There was also the 2.0L DOHC V6 featuring the Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system or MIVEC. This variable valve timing tech helped the V6 engine produce 29 more horsepower than the version without it.
The Mitsubishi FTO is a desirable JDM to import at the base model alone, but it received many performance and limited editions. The first major edition was the GPX Limited Edition that featured “Car of the Year” badging and came in a special yellow paint. There was also the Nakaya-Tune Package that was related to race car driver Akhiko Nakaya. It took the V6-engined FTO trims and added better brakes, a carbon fiber front spoiler, and a performance tuned suspension featuring Öhlins components.
We knew the Mitsubishi GTO as the Mitsubishi 3000GT and Dodge Stealth in North America. While we did get to enjoy the All-Wheel Control System, twin-turbocharged 3.0L DOHC V6, and active aero, we didn’t get the Mitsubishi Racing version. The GTO MR stripped the model down to its most basic components by removing all the unnecessary gadgets to generate a better power to weight ratio. It may have lost four-wheel steering and active aero, but the GTO MR was recorded beating the R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R in a mile-long acceleration test over in Japan.
The Mitsubishi Pajero is just a basic SUV over in Japan and throughout most of the world, but it had a brief time in the spotlight as a performance vehicle. The Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution was a homologation special vehicle produced for the T2 rally raid class. Between 1997 and 1999, 2,693 of these off-road performance SUVs were produced for the public featuring some serious upgrades over the base model. The engine was a 3.5L DOHC V6 with MIVEC tech and a specialized dual intake. It was capable of 275 horsepower that was sent through a 5-speed manual to a four-wheel drive setup. The Pajero Evolution also came specifically as a two-door model and incorporated rally racing accessories throughout. Big fender flares, two rear fin spoilers, a hood scoop, skid plates, and mud flaps all added to this model’s unique look.
The most well-known Mitsubishi model ever made has to be the iconic Lancer Evolution. A vehicle tailor made to tackle the World Rally Championship and then sold to the public to be a street legend. This turbocharged, AWD sedan went through six versions throughout the ‘90s before landing itself in the United States with the Evolution VII. So, we missed out on some of the early Evos and we also missed out on limited models like the Tommi Mäkinen Edition. Japan even kept the exclusives once it was available in the states with exciting editions like the Evo Wagon and the MR Tuned by Ralliart for the Evo IX. It’s unfortunate that Mitsubishi discontinued the Lancer Evolution as it was an exciting car and was even popularized to the masses in the Fast and the Furious movies.