Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, 1992
Mitsubishi 3000 GT I
Mitsubishi 3000 GT I•
•149 views
Chassis No.: JA3XE74C5NY058531
Auction: Kissimmee 2018
Auction date: January 14, 2018
Lot No.: S235
$42,900 | Sold
- Exterior: Red
- Interior: Black
- 4,881 original miles
- 3.0L 24-valve DOHC V-6 engine
- Twin-Turbo 300 HP
- 5-speed manual transmission
- Original paint and interior
- 1 of 4,853 VR-4s produced
- 4-wheel steering
- 4-wheel/all wheel drive
- Active aerodynamics
- Extra key
- Owner’s manual
- Tool kit
- Front tag bracket never installed
- Displayed in the Docouto Museum private collection
Having covered a scant 4,881 miles from new, this 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor. The early 1990s were an interesting time in automotive history, particularly with Japanese sports cars. The Nissan 300Z, Toyota Supra, Mazda RX-7, Acura NSX and the Mitsubishi 3000GT all gave reason for buyers to consider the Japanese alternatives to more expensive sports cars from Europe. Each could be had with similar performance statistics, leather interiors, power amenities from seats to windows, outstanding designs, superb drivability and unprecedented levels of comfort.
To boot, the Japanese cars offered innate reliability and easy ownership characteristics, making them even more attractive. If that wasn’t enough, there were the attractive price points, usually in the mid-$30,000 range for the top-of-the-line examples, such as this 3000GT VR-4. Presented in Monza Red with a black interior, the VR-4 was the ultimate offering from Mitsubishi in the early-to-mid 1990s. Introduced in 1991, it rocked the world with 0-60 MPH times in the sub-5-second range, a top speed of about 160 MPH and quarter-mile times in the 13-second ballpark.
An engineering marvel, VR-4 featured all-wheel-drive, a twin-turbocharged 3.0L 24-valve DOHC V-6 engine, 5-speed transmission and an arsenal of electronic magic never before seen in a sports car of this pricing. These Japanese supercars largely changed the landscape for performance cars in general and created a whole new generation of car enthusiasts. The Japanese cars were so successful at their mission that Ferrari is reputed to have analyzed several different models so that it could revamp its performance, technology and reliability for its upcoming 355 model. For the 1992 model year, Mitsubishi produced 4,853 VR-4s, but finding an original example is difficult at best.
Finding a VR-4 in this condition with 4,881 miles is simply a surreal opportunity.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/313043/1992-mitsubishi-3000gt-vr-4/
