Tomica 1983 Mitsubish Pajero two-door and 1988 Lancer rally sedan

The name Mitsubishi in diecast normally refers to iconic vehicles like the Eclipse or the GTO (3000GT), and their iconic off-road SUV the Pajero (Montero), but even so there are a few models (or generations) still left out and shown here is a few Tomica Mitsubishi’s from the 1980’s that are hard to come by on the cheap, yet offer a unique key model in the Mitsubishi line.

1983 Mitsubishi Pajero two-door

While Mitsubishi is known for a lot of things from cars to TV’s the Pajero is their iconic off-road SUV that runs along the same off-road fame as the Land Rover, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Jeep.  The first prototype was shown in 1973 with production starting in 1982 and was geared to go after the Land Cruiser and the Nissan Patrol, while also giving Mitsubishi its own SUV since they were selling Jeep versions for a few years.  The exterior is typical boxy, while underneath the SUV had a few firsts: turbo diesel engine, independent front-suspension with torsion bars on a 4x4, power steering, and suspension seats.  The Pajero would also be the most successful SUV in the off-road rally circuit with numerous wins from the Dakar Rally.  The engine is a 2.3L SOHC turbodiesel I-4 that produces 83 horsepower through a 5-speed manual transmission and through a part-time four-wheel drive system.  Later variants included a four-door model and a rebadged one sold at Hyundai as the Galloper and at Diahastu as the Rocky.

Tomica has a lot of Pajero two-door models in their line, including the smaller Pajero Jr, and the first and second-generation models are so alike that you have to look close to spot the differences.  Most notably is at the front where the chrome grille has round headlights with a blank spot to the left of the grille where the Mitsubishi badge would reside.  On the sides of the center grille is the signal lights and lower black plastic bumper with front plate.  The sides show off a small two-door wagon profile with white 5-spoke treaded wheels to match the white exterior paint with red Turbo graphics along the sides.  At the rear the tall door has a spare tire that matches the wheels, though it is part of the metal body so you have to add your own details to make the spare look separate from the body, square taillights, and lower black bumper.  The base underneath shows off the independent front suspension with leaf springs live axle rear and exhaust and drivetrain components, while the working suspension does contribute to body roll for this tall truck the handling is still very stable for this SUV.  The doors open to an interior with seating for four, two-spoke steering wheel along the missing dashboard, and two shifters for the 5-speed and part-time transfer case.

1988 Mitsubishi Lancer Rally sedan

Another popular car for Mitsubishi is the Evolution line from the Lancer sedan that uses turbocharging and all-wheel drive to create a winning Rally car fighter.  The Evo line started in Japan in the early 1990’s, so even before then there was an Evo before the Evolution name was introduced and this Tomica castings shows the proof.  The Lancer was introduced in 1973 and this second-generation was introduced in 1979 with cleaner styling from the Galant and Sapparo models that was clean and well-integrated to this sedan.  The EX 2000 Turbo was the high-performance model that was a perfect fit for rally-duty and was powered by a SOHC 2.0L turbocharged I-4 with Mitsubishi’s Silent Shaft technology that used balance shafts to isolate vibrations and produced 280 horsepower through a 5-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels.  In 1988 a new platform moved the Lancer to front-wheel drive shared with the Mirage, but in 2000 the Lancer name returned and for the first time the name was introduced to the U.S.  That also set the stage for the first Evolution model to enter the U.S. in 2003 based on the seventh-generation Evo model.

Tomica knew the rally car importance and for this Lancer sedan it is already outfitted in rally car trim with flared fenders to accept the wide Tomica tires, a rear spoiler, and driving lights on the front bumper.  The front also has a chrome grille with flush headlights and additional driving lights on the grille to match the ones in the bumper along the massive grille opening.  The angular look of the sedan on the sides is pleasing red Advan graphics and even Ralliart on the rear fenders, while the rear has a trunklid flap spoiler and stock, square taillights with reverse lamps in the bumper.  While the hood has a hood scoop for the turbo, the base underneath shows off the engine, drivetrain, exhaust system, and independent rear suspension; note the lack of all-wheel drive that would show up on the Evolution models.  The doors open to a red interior that surprisingly has a left-hand drive layout with proper 3-spoke steering wheel and lifeless dashboard.  The front has bucket seats with a tall shifter between them, while the rear seats are removed for lighter weight and in its place is a full-size spare tire in the middle.  This car has such a charm for a sleeper Lancer that was created before the Evolution name would catch on.