1994 Mitsubishi 3000GT Coupe
What Mitsubishi set out to do was to cram every bit of high tech gadgetry available into its 2 plus 2 3000GT, making it one of the most advanced sports cars on the planet. Despite its credentials, the 3000GT can trace its lineage to a little known car called the Starion. A rear wheel drive car, the Starion, was initially conceived as competition for the Nissan Z cars of the 1980's. The Starion when released was a technological wonder for its day and sent many rivals back to the drawing board to create turbo cars for their line ups.
For consignment, a 1994 Mitsubishi 3000GT with a title verified 74,777 actual miles. This was the first year of the second series of the 3000 which received a facelift among other things, and lasted just three years before another refresh was initiated. While over 16,000 3000GT's were produced in 1994 one can only surmise how many have survived.
Exterior
Our 3000 is done up in black, with varying shade and conditions applied to different panels. The hood, roof, front bumper cover and other horizontal surfaces show oxidation, dullness, and fading while the horizontal panels shine with a bit more promise. The pointed headlight covers, hood bulges, rear quarter fender vents, and tail make this car unmistakable, there's nothing quite like it from the era. We note some moisture behind one of those headlight covers and quite a bit of surface rust on the front and rear sill panels. The tail of the car is an attractive array of horizontal tail lights over a broad bumper cover carved out for dual twin exhaust tips topped of course, but a tail that spans the width of the car and carries the third brake light. 17-inch chrome wheels carry 45 series tires. There's fading of parts, other surface rust, chin scrapes, and aged clearcoat.
Interior
The door panels are generally clean and intact with a cloth insert and charcoal plastic formed cards. Cloth bucket seats occupy the front and show scratches on the plastic hinge cover and a large tear in the driver's side bolster. On the passenger side, the seat appears to be in good shape, and we notice some staining on the rear 2+2 seats, dressed in the same cloth treatment. Less patina is evident on the steering wheel which is in good shape and fronts an instrument panel behind plexiglass that could use some cleaning or polishing. The center stack has three gauges embedded and canted toward the driver, something we've seen in Nissan Z-cars, as well as the climate control panel and JVC AM/FM/CD player with AUX port. The center console is a bit dirty and shows wear through faded plastics and worn leather, but the stout shifter is ergonomically sound. Low pile gray carpet covers the floor and topped with 3000GT branded carpeted black mats. Over our head, the gray headliner is intact while the coverings on the visors show some looseness. The cargo area wears a fitted gray carpeted mat and other than some dirt, is in good shape.
Drivetrain
Clean, driver quality under the hood with the addition of blue silicone hoses and a cone filter immediately evident. Here we find a 3.0 liter V6 engine rated at 222 horsepower and tied to a 5-speed manual transmission keeping power at the front with 4.153 gearing. Power disc brakes are found on all four corners.
Undercarriage
The underside is in decent condition with some surface rust, no leaks evident, no grease build up, and CV boots are intact and dry. A single exhaust heads back to a T-split, encounters a stock style muffler, then exits via twin tips on each side of the back. Macpherson strut suspension is found up front and coil springs in the back, also independent.
Drive-Ability
The comfortable cabin is reminiscent of the previous generation F-bodies and provides a driver centered cockpit from which to row this GT into action. The V6 starts without hesitation, and we immediately note some noise which seems to be coming from the timing belt tensioner. Beyond that, the car slips into gear and makes its way around the test loop where it provides adequate power, straight tracking, and great handling. We note the power antenna is not working nor the passenger's power window switch. But all other functions operate as they should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
Perhaps it's the popularity of the JDM movement, the uniqueness of the short lived 3000GTs and Stealths, the residual appeal of the revolutionary VR4, or all of the above that usually results in Mitsubishis not spending a lot of time at the mall. Here's a base model in need of some TLC and this might be the perfect project for you and the millennial in your life who lusted after this body style back in the day and look at this car the way Boomers look at '65 Malibus.
JA3AM54J9RY030412
J-Japan
A-Mitsubishi
3-Passenger Car
A-Manual Belts, Front Airbags
M-3000 GT
5-Base
4-Hatchback
J-3.0L V6 EFI
9-Check Digit
R-1994
Y-Nagoya, Japan Assy Plant
030412-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.
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