Chrysler and Mitsubishi nurtured a relationship that stretched back to the 1970s, collaborating on everything from designs and sales to parts. The Starion, for instance, was Mitsubishi’s boy-racer entry in the sports car niche, while Chrysler sold the nearly identical Conquest. But Japan’s rapidly advancing prowess in technology meant Mitsubishi was in the driver’s seat when it came to new models. The Starion’s replacement was generated in Japan, arriving in 1990. Chrysler’s Highland Park design studio contributed to the styling – one of the last acts for the waning partnership between the two companies. The new car was called the 3000GT in the North American market. Situated on a reworked Eclipse chassis, the 3000GT utilized a transverse-mounted 3.0-liter, 24-valve V6 engine. (Alas, North American cars were front-wheel drive, while Japan’s domestic market GTO got all the tricks – AWD, four-wheel steering, dynamic aero effects, and so on.) Here on craigslist is a base model 1993 3000GT with a one-owner history and 61,000 miles on the clock. It’s located in Orange County, California. Thanks to numskal for the tip! Let’s investigate the merits of this Japanese entry into America’s sporting car market.

The 24-valve, DOHC engine in the 3000GT was derived from Mitsubishi’s Diamante sedan. In this car, it generates about 220 hp and plenty of torque, but in VR4 twin-turbocharged cars, output rose to 300 hp. Still, here we are with the base model, and an automatic transmission. Our seller wants $18,999 for his car, which is off the charts in terms of value for a normally-aspirated 3000GT with an automatic, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves… Performance is hindered by the car’s 3100 lb curb weight, and handling is heavy. Buyers could opt instead for a Mazda RX-7 or a Toyota Supra, and many did.

The base model received cloth upholstery; an SL was available with leather and several mechanical upgrades including anti-lock brakes and cruise control. Though this car’s 61,000 miles is touted as “low”, the interior has a tired appearance, as if no one cared to clean it up for its photo shoot. The gauges are aged, though the switches featured look almost new. The hatched cargo area is tidy enough.

Mitsubishi’s styling evolved over the years, culminating in a high rear spoiler and a steeply raked nose, but the only performance variant remained the twin-turbo version. The 3000GT was never as competitive in the marketplace as the aforementioned Mazda RX7 or Toyota Supra, and the market’s judgement hasn’t budged today, thirty years later. Asking prices for vintage Supras can exceed $100k; comparable RX-7 FDs sell in the $30k to $50k range. Meanwhile, the 3000GT is a bit of an orphan, struggling to make $10k. The VR4 will reach $30k on a good day. These numbers cast an unfavorable light on the asking price here, but perhaps the seller will become more susceptible to negotiation in time.