The Japanese auto market also offers a world of delightful unknown models, like this four-door compact 1993 Mitsubishi L200 pickup sold on eBay in 2023.
Importing JDM vehicles—cars and trucks built in the Japanese domestic market—is relatively common these days. Vehicles like the Mitsubishi Delica - opens in new window or tab. camping van and Minicab - opens in new window or tab. kei pickup are all over the US. But the long-lived Mitsubishi L200, known as the Mitsubishi Strada, is unfamiliar to most Americans.
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The L200, built from 1986 to 1997, was sold in America as the Dodge Ram 50 in the late 1990s. However, we only got the two-door body style—not the four-door variant that Mitsubishi built for Thailand, Australia, Japan, and other markets.
That’s a shame because four-door pickups are all the rage. The Mitsubishi L200 would have been ahead of its time.
The L200 boasted several innovations for its class. For example, it was the first compact pickup to feature integrated side protection with a category-leading 500 kg (1,100 lb) payload capacity. In addition, Mitsubishi designers offered front-bucket seats as an alternative to the standard pickup bench. And it’s available with luxurious, over-the-top 100-watt speakers.
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The Mitsubishi L200’s 2.5-liter diesel four-cylinder makes just 85 horsepower at 4,200 rpm but was torquey for its size, generating 148 pound-feet in the low rev range at 2,000 rpm. A front double-wishbone suspension - opens in new window or tab. was advanced for a truck of the era, while the rear has traditional leaf springs for better load-bearing strength.
It’s unlike any other truck in the US market. That’s why the vehicle for sale, which was imported from Europe, is a good fit for a buyer wanting these unique attributes:
- A compact pickup that seats five
- True four-wheel-drive
- 5-speed manual transmission
- A diesel powerplant that can be registered without a smog penalty
The listing says the chassis is rust-free. For a work truck that has more than 170,000 miles of use, it’s in decent shape. The austere interior has seat covers over the front buckets, so we don’t know their condition, but the rear bench is flawless.
This 1993 Mitsubishi L200 pickup is ready for rugged driving and hauling, thanks to the added canvas canopy and steel-lined bed. The rear bumper was also replaced with a steel bar. That was a lot of value for the $14,995 asking price.
There’s a thriving community of Mitsubishi off-roaders in the US. Common models are the Delica - opens in new window or tab., Montero - opens in new window or tab., Pajero - opens in new window or tab., and Space Gear - opens in new window or tab.. These JDM imports are not that rare anymore. But the exotic Mitsubishi L200 is in a class of its own.
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