Can a color compel you to buy a car? That’s certainly possible if the color is rare enough and the vehicle in question is worth driving on occasion. Paying a premium for a rare color is a scenario that plays out across multiple makes and models, and the muscle car crowd will find harmony with the Porsche fanatics in this regard: cool colors can spark a buying frenzy if it only comes up for sale every once in a great while. The Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 will never have the same effect as a Plum Crazy Mopar or an Amazon Green Porsche 911 but Martinique Yellow is pretty hard to come by – especially with the twin-turbocharged powerplant and a stick. Find this 1993 model here on craigslist for $23,000.
Despite being part of the generation that coveted sports and performance models from the early 90s, Mitsubishi’s iconic sports car (along its corporate twin, the Dodge Stealth) never did much for me. It was a wild car, for sure, with a turbocharged powerplants, stunning looks, active aero enhancements, and all-wheel drive – they literally threw every piece of high-performance technology they could at it in top-shelf VR4 form. This was not unique to Mitsubishi, however, as Nissan and Mazda both built compelling sports and grand touring models that came with their own share of whiz-bang equipment meant to enhance handling and performance.
The 3000GT somehow felt like it was on another level, however, likely due to the addition of all-wheel drive and the active aero components. It seemed like Mitsubishi was willing to go a step further, even if it didn’t necessarily threaten the likes of the Nissan 300ZX and Mazda RX-7 for 1990s performance car dominance. The 3000GT offered drivers not only the full assortment of performance features but also a comfortable cockpit with nicely bolstered sport seats and jetfighter-like controls that pivoted towards the driver. The 3000GT shown here looks tidy overall, but it appears the bucket seats have been updated with an aftermarket leather kit.
The seller doesn’t tell us much about the maintenance history, and given all of the systems on board, it would seem prudent to showcase how well it’s been maintained. With under 80,000 miles, it hasn’t been overused but it still has likely needed some upkeep. The wheels are aftermarket as well, so understanding how it’s been modified is also valuable information to have. The 300 horsepower V6 engine is likely heaps of fun with a stick, while the AWD system will keep it planted in all sorts of conditions. This is an interference engine design, so be sure to replace the timing belt so you don’t end up with a Martinique Yellow boat anchor. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip.
These always punched above their weight class for performance.
Well that’s sad only 5 pictures!! There is so much to see. The whole dash is high tech. And you want to make sure everything works. This should have active exhaust system. Just in case someone doesn’t know about it. You flip the switch to make it louder. It bypass the big muffler to straight pipe. Yes there is a difference. Active spoiler system. The front drops down 3 inches and the rear kicks up tilts down. I drove one and its fast. Timing belt like Jeff said needs to be replaced, unless it was done recently. Sitting behind the wheel, it feels like you’re in a fighter jet. I hope the stereo works. That is a cool system and sounds fantastic. I used to work at a misubishi.Dealership back in 1990 the one I really like was the GSX turbo AWD four cylinder. That mother flew again timing belt very important to replace on time. Or you’re engine becomes a boat anchor. The next owner better drive it and check everything over because this can be very expensive to fix. I just hope the engine remains stock. I don’t understand again why the seller was cheap on the pictures. I could do 25 shots unless…. they are hiding something? 🤔🇺🇸🐻