Mitsubishi Starion

Some cars are just old cars & others have a story. This is very much the latter.

This particular 1989 Mitsubishi Starion EX Turbo Wide Body was part of Mitsubishi’s official Heritage Collection — not something you can say about many cars, let alone an already rare 80s Japanese performance coupe. It was selected by Mitsubishi themselves to represent their history, which tells you everything about how good it must have been.

Before that, it spent years carefully stored and lightly used for events, meaning it avoided the usual wear and tear these cars often suffered. As a result, it remained an outstanding example and still presents exceptionally well today.

Period reviews of the time praised the Starion for being properly quick and surprisingly advanced. With around 150bhp from its turbocharged 2.0 engine, rear-wheel drive, and that unmistakable wide-body stance, it had real presence. Autocar described it as “one of the fastest 2.0-litre cars on sale,” while others highlighted its blend of performance and long-distance comfort — a proper GT with attitude.

As with any car that’s actually lived a life, it hasn’t all been static displays and concours lawns. The car was involved in a well documented accident in recent years. Rather than being written off or forgotten, it was repaired and returned to the road — which, frankly, is exactly what a car like this deserves. If anything, it adds another chapter to its already unique story. It’s a Heritage car that’s still doing what it was built to do.

Mechanically, it’s been very well sorted. Over €4,000 has recently been spent including a new turbo, timing belt, full service, suspension work, and exhaust. The result is a car that starts, drives, and performs exactly as it should — and feels every bit like a proper 80s turbo coupe. On the road, it’s genuinely impressive. It pulls well, feels tight, and has that classic turbocharged character that modern cars just don’t replicate. It’s not just a collector’s piece — it’s a car you can actually enjoy.

These wide-body Starions are now incredibly rare, especially with this level of history. Finding one is difficult. Finding one that Mitsubishi themselves chose to preserve is something else entirely. A rare, honest, and hugely characterful example of a true 80s icon — with a story to match.