A Classic That Screams the '80s: The Mitsubishi Starion
Jane Lu
· 3 min read
Mitsubishi
has a long history as one of the top car manufacturers in the world. Throughout its history, the Japanese automaker has come up with several models that have become popular among drivers. The Mirage
and Lancer are two of the cars that are most closely associated with the brand, but not all of Mitsubishi's models have been successful.One of Mitsubishi's vehicles that has been forgotten to time is the Starion. It was around for just six model years in the 1980s, and most people probably don't even remember its existence. You can see from the design that the Starion screams the '80s.
The history of the Mitsubishi Starion
HotCars
shares the history of the Starion, which Mitsubishi brought to the U.S. in 1982. The Starion name is reportedly a contraction of “Star of Arion.” Arion is Hercules' horse in Greek mythology. It’s rumored the name was supposed to be the Stallion, but pronunciation issues led it to be changed to Starion. The model, which was also rebadged as the Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler Conquest, was made until 1989.
The Starion was commonly used in races during its heyday, but its biggest claim to fame was probably
on the big screen
. The Starion was one of the hero cars in the 1984 sequel Cannonball Run II. Jackie Chan drove the car in the popular action flick starring Burt Reynolds.The Mitsubishi Starion specs
The Starion came in two engines: a 2.0-liter and a 2.6-liter turbocharged inline-four. The horsepower of the vehicle ranged from 150 to 197. The power output depended on the engine, the turbocharger, and whether the intercooler was used.
American drivers flocked to the 2.0-liter because it was thought to be zippier than the 2.6-liter, which had better torque to it.
What else is there to know about the Starion?
MORE: Are Mitsubishis Expensive to Maintain?
Even though it wasn't too successful in America, the Starion has a
bit of a cult following
. MotorTrend
profiles a car enthusiast who took a 1987 Starion and customized it to give it more juice. He originally modified the stock G54B engine, but it eventually blew when he was doing donuts on a street, so he changed up the engine completely. His new choice was a Toyota 1JZ, which made the car "a sleeper with modern-day appeal," according to the publication.Despite being featured in Cannonball Run II, the Starion hasn't gained the popularity of other cars in its era. Due to the lack of sales when it was new, it's not easy to find a Starion for sale nowadays. But if you do come across one, you'll be able to get it for a relatively affordable price—the car regularly goes for under $10,000 in the marketplace. Maybe if it won its race in the movie, its value would be higher today.
Get affordable coverage for your classic or rare car
The Starion may not be an expensive car, compared to its contemporaries, but it can be a coveted car because it's relatively rare. That means if you have a Starion and something happens to it, it will be hard to replace. To protect yourself against damage or theft, make sure you have a good insurance policy for your Starion.
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