By this point, we’ve all seen the legions of JDM imports coming into the U.S. at a dizzying pace. The market for these intriguing kei vehicles, sports cars, and other forbidden fruit is surely becoming saturated to the point that you can’t just show up with any random overseas-only product and hope to sell it for a profit. Anyone in this business now needs to either have a pre-defined purpose for importing otherwise average vehicles, or be looking for the best of the best where there’s still some room for mark-up once stateside. This 1992 Mitsubishi Pajero listed here on craigslist is an example of a vehicle that JDM enthusiasts will always pine for, and it’s priced fairly at $17,250.

In the case of this vehicle, the original importer was a dealer out of Richmond, VA that specialized in finding desirable enthusiast-spec examples. In this scenario, any profit margin is baked into the fact that they were importing enough volume to offset the shipping costs and other fees associated with importation. Those outfits are the outliers in terms of how you make the JDM game work. Individuals who are trying to cram as many cars as they can into a container and who don’t know anyone at the port will continue to be squeezed out of this endeavor, especially since fervor around Japanese market enthusiast vehicles seems to have cooled.

But examples like this will always be in demand. The Pajero was one of the most successful factory-backed motorsports efforts, with an emphasis on the grueling Paris-Dakar Rally where Mitsubishi took a wild top 3 finish in 1992. It cemented the truck’s reputation for being not only incredibly durable but also a fine competition vehicle. This example is outfitted with all of the goodies enthusiasts want, starting with the 5-speed manual, a 4D56 2.5 intercooled turbo diesel (around 100 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque), Momo Monte Carlo steering wheel, giant Cibie Super Oscar fog lights, a Ralliart gauge pod, electronically-adjustable shocks, and more. This example also shows only 77,000 KMs, or roughly 48,000 miles.

The Pajero will always be an intriguing choice for someone who loves the incredibly colorful JDM SUV scene. Whether you opt for a two-door like this or one of the long-wheelbase models with plenty of seating for friends and family, there’s a following – but you can’t just buy the cheapest one for sale on a Japanese auction house’s website anymore. You’ll not only likely end up with a horror show example but you’ll also pay a chunk of change for the privilege. Either buying one like this that’s already stateside or hiring an expert who imports a fair amount of volume annually are the smart plays, so be sure to check this one out if you’re in the market. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for the find.