Frequently Asked Questions about Classic Mitsubishi

When was Mitsubishi founded, and when did Mitsubishi Motors become its own company?

Mitsubishi traces its origin to 1870, when the shipping firm Tsukumo Shokai was set up in Japan under Yataro Iwasaki. The business took the Mitsubishi name in 1873 and grew into a large industrial group that was disbanded after World War II. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, the carmaker, was founded on April 22, 1970, as a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

What does the name Mitsubishi mean?

Mitsubishi means three diamonds, a reference to the company emblem. The name joins two Japanese words: mitsu, meaning three, and hishi, meaning water chestnut, a word long used in Japan for a rhombus or diamond shape. Founder Yataro Iwasaki chose the three-diamond mark, which recalls the three-leaf crest of the Tosa Clan, his first employer, and the three stacked rhombuses of the Iwasaki family crest.

What was the first Mitsubishi car?

The first Mitsubishi car was the Model A, which the Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Company began producing in 1917 at its Kobe shipyard in Japan. Its design took a European car as its reference. A total of 22 cars, including prototypes, had been assembled by 1921, when production ended. Mitsubishi describes the Model A as Japan's first mass-produced passenger car.

When did Mitsubishi start selling cars in the United States?

Mitsubishi cars first reached American buyers as the Dodge Colt, a Mitsubishi Colt Galant sold by Dodge dealers from late 1970 as a 1971 model. Mitsubishi began selling cars under its own name in the United States in 1982, starting with 70 dealers and three cars: the Tredia, the Cordia and the turbocharged Starion sports car.

Where was the Mitsubishi Eclipse built?

The Mitsubishi Eclipse was built in Normal, Illinois, at Diamond-Star Motors, a 50-50 joint venture that Mitsubishi and Chrysler set up in 1985. The plant was completed in 1988 and also built the Plymouth Laser and Eagle Talon, sister cars to the Eclipse. Mitsubishi bought Chrysler's share of the venture in 1991 and ended vehicle production at the plant in November 2015.

Who has owned Mitsubishi Motors over the years?

Mitsubishi Motors began in 1970 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Chrysler bought 15 percent of the company in 1971. DaimlerChrysler became a major shareholder in 2000 and sold its remaining shares on November 11, 2005. Nissan became the largest shareholder in October 2016, when it completed the purchase of 34 percent of Mitsubishi Motors.

What was the Mitsubishi 3000GT, and how is it related to the Dodge Stealth?

The Mitsubishi 3000GT was a sports coupe launched in Japan in 1990 as the Mitsubishi GTO and sold in the United States for the 1991-1999 model years. The Dodge Stealth was its mechanically identical sibling, sold through the 1996 model year, and both were built at Mitsubishi's Nagoya plant in Japan. The top 3000GT VR-4 had a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering.

Is the Mitsubishi Pajero the same vehicle as the Mitsubishi Montero?

Yes, the Mitsubishi Pajero and the Mitsubishi Montero are the same four-wheel-drive vehicle, with the Montero name used in North America. The Pajero went on sale in 1982, and the Montero was dropped from the US market after the 2006 model year. In the Dakar Rally the Pajero took its first overall victory in 1985 and went on to 12 overall wins, seven of them consecutive.