The 1990 Mitsubishi GTO

 

A Joint Mitsubishi/Dodge Sports Car

 

     In 1990 Mitsubishi Motors created the Mitsubishi GTO to compete against the Honda NSX, Mazda RX-7, Nissan 300ZX, Nissan Skyline GT-R, Subaru SVX, and the Toyota Supra. Although it was called the GTO in Japan it was remarketed as the Mitsubishi 3000GT and Dodge Stealth outside Japan. When the GTO name was going to be placed on the car Mitsubishi was worried that connoisseurs would object to the use of the name on a Japanese car because of the Ferrari 250 GTO which is incredible, and the Pontiac GTO which I find very ugly and unreliable. Despite the badge and target market the early GTO was built in Nagoya, Japan.

     The first generation models used four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, active aerodynamics that featured automatically adjusting front and rear spoilers, sport/tour exhaust modes, and electronically controlled suspension. Sensible stuff but of course the car is mostly Japanese. Active aerodynamics did not come with the Dodge Stealth. There were "caps" on the hood to help the ECS controllers at the top of the strut turrets. The first models of the GTO/Stealth used SOHC 12v V6s that delivered 160 horsepower, DOHC 24v V6s that delivered 220 horsepower, and DOHC 24v Twin Turbo V6s that delivered 276 or 296 horsepower depending on the model. The transmission used was a 4-speed automatic.    

     The second generation models made between 1994 and 1996 used the same styles of engines used in the first generation models but with increased horsepower. These too were mounted in the front. The "caps" on the roof were now integrated blisters. The torque was increased from 307 lb. ft. to 315 lb. ft. To help with this the VR-4 model used a six-speed Getrag Manual Transmission. However the last of the second generation models, the 3000GT Spyder had a rough life of slow sales and was eventually abandoned. 1,618 units were made of this model.   

     On the last generation models of the GTO/Stealth the SOHC engine from the base model Stealth was added to the Mitsubishi models after the Dodge version was abandoned. Slowed down sales in the American sports car market meant that the GTO had to have a new front bumper and rainbow shaped arch-type wing. In 1999 the car went through another makeover with a more aggressive front bumper, headlamps, turn signals, sail panels, and a real inverted airfoil spoiler coined the "Combat Wing" for the 1999 VR-4 to let people know it was different from other models. Unfortunately for Americans the 3000GT ceased to be sold sometime in 1999. Japan didn't have it much better with sales ending in 2000 with the last two cars sold the following year.
     Today you can still buy a used 3000GT for about $9,995 depending on where you buy it. In my mind that's a good price for a successful sports car that managed to beat Ferrari in certain races.