Time to Fly: 1993 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 Twin Turbo

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Back in the 1990s, Mitsubishi Motors stretched car lovers’ imaginations at all four corners. Surely, aside from exotic cars, there was little else in the world that could touch a vehicle like the 1993 3000GT VR-4 for innovation? If those were your emotional wonder years, then maybe you saw one of these complex and frightfully fast machines driving around. Well, this is your chance to pursue a long-delayed desire. The car is available here on eBay with a current bid close to $13,000 and the reserve not met. As you might expect if you know the sales demographics of the Mitsubishi brand, this one is on the West coast in Tarzana, CA. You’ve got six days to make your play.

Mitsubishi’s flagship sportscar was sold as the GTO in the home Japanese market and the 3000GT and Dodge Stealth in other parts of the world. In North America, the model came in a variety of formats, all two-door hatchbacks but vastly different in equipment and technological sophistication. The lower trim levels (GT and SL) of the Mitsubishi variant came with front-wheel drive and a 3-liter DOHC V6 capable of 222 horsepower. The higher-ticket VR-4 model had a twin-turbo V6 with 300 horsepower. This in an era when the threshold had just recently passed 200 for “big” power.

But the 3000GT VR-4 was far more than a twin-turbo engine, as exotic as that was. The car had four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, and active aerodynamics which would deploy the aero wing and diffuser when certain speeds were reached. In other words, this thing had grunt, grip, and downforce. Those were usually not available in concert, and particularly not in such a bad-boy looking package. Full disclosure: I worked for the company that made Mitsubishi’s marketing materials back in the mid-1990s era, and I got one of these as a manufacturer test car for a weekend. Let’s just say I’m not sure anyone’s ever traversed the Vincent Thomas Bridge between Long Beach and San Pedro with such alacrity. I’ll leave you to define that word how you will.

The car for sale is a low-mileage (23,107) barn find, which is great. That is, as long as two very expensive and complex systems cooperate. Those would be the twin turbos and the AWD system. Many of the other concerns about a car that’s been sitting and which must be attended to, mostly related to the fuel system, have had money spent on them already. So in theory, you could just jump in and drive. The seller also notes that the car has had timing belt service. What it hasn’t had is any care given to its paint, which looks to be in disastrous shape. It may be that the clearcoat is perished, as happened to lots of cars in the era. Anyway, the outside doesn’t match the car’s young mechanicals very well, so you’re probably in for a respray.

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Comments

  1. Bruce

    A fun car to drive, though the speedometer going up to 160 is being more than a little optimistic. Mine topped out just over 140, but I must say, it held the road beautifully.
    I wouldnt mind owning another, but im not sure it would be worth 13 grand.

    Like 0
  2. Bick Banter

    I always liked these and the interior looks great, but that paint looks really rough. I wonder how it got that way.

    Like 3
  3. Emel

    Wowza…..luved these cars and the 300ZX’s of the same era.
    Interior looks almost new. Low mileage and most of the toys work
    according to ebay listing.
    The paint isn’t a big deal imo.
    If I lived in CA…..i would certainly be in on the bidding.

    Like 1
  4. Dave

    Having just traded in my 88 conquest Tsi when the VR4 came out, for a station wagon life, etc. I recall VR4’s were expensive when new.

    Like 1
    • Dwight

      I also had a Conquest.Loved the car until they put new mains in it at 10000 miles.After that it was noisey and as a mechanic did not like the engine noise.From the show room floor I drove it from Las Vegas,nv to Tacoma and really put it through its paces only problem was wear on the front tires.If I had known what the recall was for I wouldn’t have taken it in.Loved the way the car drove

      Like 1
  5. Big Bear 🇺🇸

    The VR4 is very expensive to maintain. Even new it was expensive period. I was lucky to work in the parts department at a Mitsubishi dealership when these came in on the trailer. This had more electronics than the space shuttle. And if you didn’t buy the extended warranty good luck. When there cars came in. It had the owners name on the front windshield so you know this was top priority. We had one in Bermuda blue with tan interior. That was definitely a Miami car back then. I was lucky to drive one new. Very fast off the line. The paint clear coat pealing it was mostly outside in the sun. Don’t know why it was not care for like a coat of good wax and clean. Good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸

    Like 4
  6. Bob_in_TN Bob_in_TNMember

    I always liked these. We knew they were complicated and sophisticated when new, and in hindsight, that is even more apparent. Perhaps all that sophistication wasn’t up to reliability and durability standards (per Big Bear’s comments)? A repaint, then…. hope everything else keeps working ?!?!

    Like 0

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