A sad fact of life is that some vehicles just lead hard lives. As someone who occasionally flirts with the idea of buying a first-generation Subaru WRX as a project, I can’t get over how many of these cars are in deplorable, abused condition. But consider the selling points: cheap, fast and easy to modify. The same rule applies for Eagle Talons and its Mitsubishi Eclipse corporate twin, which is why this 27,000 mile survivor here on eBay is flat-out incredible.
Take a look at that first picture again: this Talon is wearing a special nose protector, and it sounds like it was a factory accessory, based on the seller’s description. That’s an impressive level of effort to keep this Talon preserved, but if you’re still not convinced, the engine bay shot should do it. The legendary 4G63T even today remains a desirable engine, but this example takes on a whole new level of obsession due to its stock, maintained condition. No blow-off valves, no aftermarket turbochager. In all seriousness, the last time I saw one this nice was at a local new car show held in my hometown in 1992, where the town’s Mitsubishi dealer had one still in the wrapper on the convention center floor.
While $17,900 will buy you a lot of different vehicles, I suspect it will be totally worth it to someone looking to buy a new version of the car they always wanted in high school. For anyone born in the last 40 years, they can likely attest just how much of a unicorn this is. The seats look like they’ve never been sat in, and the seller notes that the original owner – who owned the Talon since new – washed it after every single drive, keeping the underside completely preserved. It is claimed to have never been used in the rain, but I’m not sure how you prove that out. Since it spent its life in a ventilated garage under a car cover, I’ll assume the purchase of this Talon TSi was a special one for the original owner.
How can you not dig that cockpit? I realize the automatic seat belts are not for everyone, but after living with them for a few months in my project Subaru XT6, they’re not so bad. Frankly, it’s no worse than the annoying ding my daily driver makes for every second it takes me to snap the belt latch in. With all-wheel drive and the turbocharged 2.0L four under the hood, 195 b.h.p. was available to drivers back in 1992, and I’ll bet this example hasn’t lost a step. Be warned, however, of the term “crank walk,” as these early examples had six bolts connecting the flywheel to the crankshaft – and disaster can occur if you rip on it. While the later seven-bolt cars are the most desirable, this Talon’s high level of preservation should protect it from the abuse that has made these cars so scarce today.
some guy in a car like this wanted to race me the other day.. kept on revving his engine and driving like an idiot. when we got to the light my 2007 mustang GT put him in his place real fast …
Hahaha do your self a favor and actually research dsms
well based on the numbers of thumbs up I got.. 37 vs your 6 I guess you have no basis. lol
Truly amazing.
I ran the One Lap of America in the Plymouth FWD version, and can attest to how great a motor the 4G63T is. These cars, in an unmolested condition, really are extraordinarily rare. So many were “tuned” into oblivion.
Unfortunately, this is again a car that is too nice for me. I’d want to drive it, a lot. No way I could keep it anywhere near this clean, I live on a dirt road!
Saw one at Kennadale south of Fort Worth in 96′ run 10’s in the quarter. Had 7 bolt crank, AWD, bigger turbo, and slicks on all four wheels. He beat a lot of V8s.
Check YouTube for a 4G63 dragster that runs 7s.
Funny as I came across one on loop 820 at Trinity blvd a few years ago that left my 73 Z28 in the dust. Was all stripped down. No rear glass.
you are backwards – the later 7 bolt cars had the crankwalk issues, earlier 6 bolt cars are considered to be fairly bulletproof.
Nonetheless – it is a stunning car, that’s alot of dough, but I bet you’d be hard pressed to build an equivalent for the same money
Crank walk wasn’t the plight of 1st gen DSM’s, but of 2nd gen DSM’s. In fact 6 bolt blocks were the strongest and most desirable of the bunch.
Weren’t these imported from Illinois?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond-Star_Motors
Normal, Illinois, home of Col. Henry Blake.
I’d like to have the engine, AWD assy and seats out of this to put in my ’02 Lancer LS Rally OZ (which it is a pathetic 120hp stock and 2wd) w/ 221,000 mi on it si its ready to be repower. My understanding is Talon’has the 4G63 and would bolt right into my car. Pretty sure the Talon has 160 hp normally aspirated. With a header it would definitely make my Lancer noticeably peppier. Would be an easy swap (as long as I held off onnstalling the AWD) not sure how much work or if it would even fit w/o too much BS, The seat in the Talon are so far ahead of my Lancer’s. If I had the extra $$$ I’d get an ’02 EVO 7, there’s a bunch on the Vancouver BC c/l, beside AWD they are 276 twin turbo horsepower and run low 13s bone stock and sell for around $10K USD.. Just be ready to shift w/ your Left hand because most of the ones I looked at were RHD imports which are easy to bring into BC now that they are 15 yrs old. Although now that I think of it, I don’t know what a guy would have to do to bring an RHD car into Washington State.
What a fine example! FYI there is a factory blow-off valve, the “T” is an unofficial suffix and the 6-bolts are the more desireable engines. :-)
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I saw one of these at a car dealer once, with the ENTIRE dashboard disassembled. Apparently, it what is required to replace a heater core. The mechanic said, the bill was already over a thousand dollars, and this was 20 years ago. Looks like a fun car, I wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole. Have fun fixing it. My Saturn had those “guillotine” seat belts. Didn’t care for those one bit.
Had one if these, same model, same color but with leather interior. For its day it was a very good car, with some issues. The brakes were not up to snuff for a car of this weight, the transmission synchros were known to need attention, and of course the dreaded timing belt and tensioner. No real issues with it other than those things.
Was a Mitsubishi dealer tech for years. Loved this engine- just a few tools for tear down. 60,000 plus one mile you should replace timing belt and tensioner. Have one of these heads here in the office as a door stop with 16 bent valves from a broken belt. Buyer might consider replacing timing belt with this low mileage just from time alone. Trick is keeping everything in time during the belt change out- especially the cams. Most of the bolts are 10mm.
My kid had one a long time ago. Timing belt went at red line. It was past bent valves. I think it bent the crank because the dampener wobbled a little and it had a slight vibration after that.
My father bought one new in 1990. They don’t handle hitting a deer at 80mph real well. This happened when it was only days old. I still have the grill hanging with all my street signs. I should see if I can find the photo of that car
Nice car, but way too much $$$. When you think of all the nice cars that come up for sale on BF for much less than this one, you have to just pass on it.
64 T-Bird for $10,000 is more my speed.
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/696572816/overview/
Hey guys I bet this one would be even more fun to drive.
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/672893790/overview/
1994 Mitsubishi 3000GT with 50,685 miles for $10,900.
Nah.
That is the non-turbo, front wheel drive version. Quite a bit heavier than the featured car. Auto trans too.
Pass.
Have you tried looking for Modification availability for a FWD 3L V6 one?? Compared to what is basically the Mitsubishi EVO I’ll take the original car.
The early model, 7 bolt non-split thrust 4G’s that is.
I had the non-turbo version. Still a fast enough car and that interior was great.
The timing belt let go when the car was just north of 50K. I was in panic mode until I found out that the warranty went to 60K. The list of replacement parts was staggering.
Much cheaper and easier to just do the timing belt jobs on these as a regular maintenance every 50k or so that to suffer the consequences of not doing it…
Definitely agree. All of the cars I’ve owned since then have had timing belt replacements before their due dates.
I can’t remember the last time I saw one of these this nice, I know I was a little kid though. I always liked these, but if I had 17k, I’d be buying a Buick Grand National instead.
My dad had this same car, AWD, turbo, in white with those really lame turquoise “graphics” that were so popular in the early 90’s. Other than the graphics, fo the time, it was a quick car and fun to drive. Haven’t seen a nice one of these in at least 10 years.