(first posted 8/21/2017, Updated 4/8/2024) For a car named after a celestial event, Mitsubishi actually used surprisingly few pictures of solar eclipses in their print ads for their eponymous car. The one from the hero shot (full ad below) is my personal favorite.
This one is particularly clever.
As it this one.
This ad doesn’t technically feature a picture of an eclipse (with a small e), but does have interesting wordplay. In any case, the only thing I’m staring at are those ugly base model steel wheels.
This ad also does not feature a picture of solar eclipse, but features some more eclipse wordplay.
Interestingly, all of these ads are of the first generation model (mostly 1989 or 1990 models, from early in the production run). I guess after the first generation, they ran out of ideas for solar eclipse-themed ads.
But fear not: The solar eclipse imagery is back in the ads, as is the Mistubishi Eclipse (sort of). Of course, the Mitsubishi Eclipse has now been reborn as a CUV, and is now called the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. Tag line: “An Eclipse You Can Stare At.” I’m not so sure about that: This one can damage your eyes just as much as an actual eclipse.
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After breakfast, we’re going to drive about 45 miles north on little country roads to be in the eclipse totality. In Eugene, it’s going to be at 97%. Unfortunately, visibility is a bit less than perfect due to smoke haze from numerous forest fires that have been burning in the Cascades for some time, due to the air flow shifting from west to east today.
I enjoyed driving this generation of Eclipses when I worked at a local Mitsu dealer as a car porter. I actually like the lower trim levels as they seemed cleaner in design, without all the tacked on “aero” plastic. The turbo models were pretty quick, and seemed well made at the time. I do recall one car that was in for service – the timing belt interval had long passed. The mechanic told the owner it needed to be done now, but the owner needed the car, and took it home. The next morning, the belt failed, causing expensive engine damage that could have been avoided. If I needed a reinforcement about changing timing belts, that was it.
I remember the TV ads mentioned the date of the next solar eclipse in North America. Here we are: no DSM coupes, but time for the eclipse.
I’m hoping for photos of an Eclipse in the same frame as today’s eclipse to be posted somewhere. Also surprised that Mitsubishi used mostly partial eclipse images in these ads.
Last night CBS-NEWS did a story about the (very) small town of Carbondale (Kentucky, I think) that was auctioning off an Eclipse coupe to raise money to build a community center. No mention as to whether the car being auctioned was a “leftover”/new car, or a low mileage used car.
BTW, Mitsubishi is launching a new small CUV….the Eclipse Sport.
Carbondale IL
It should be remembered that in primative cultures and in medieval times an Eclipse was considered to be a bad omen….a portend (spell?) of evil spirits.
Unfortunately, it’s looking like north Florida won’t have a great view of this eclipse as it’s turning overcast already (11:30am) and could be raining this afternoon.
Howard, down here in Naples the eclipse was a total dud. 2:46pm for us at max darkness and our sunny afternoon didn’t appear any different than yesterday. Nobody even noticed. Bummer.
Bill
Ironically, Mitsubishi’s versions were total duds, too…..
Really? Because here in R.I. the original Mitsubishi Eclipses were everywhere. Extremely popular to say the least. And I think they were well-built, good looking and a good value. Now, the later Chrysler influenced Eclipses – 1995 and later – they were still ever so popular but they were not the best built cars. In fact, I sold one in 1997 right out of the showroom and the customer made it only 100 feet out of our lot and the transmission failed!
http://m.carcomplaints.com/Mitsubishi/Eclipse/
Chrysler transmissions have always made my family rich, in the salvage business.
So, since they were so well-built, why do you see more 1990s GMs on the road than Dodge/Chrysler?
These were always my favorite too, for selling used engines out of them…….
These, and its successor models are a GOLD MINE of engine sales. Maybe because they go from 0 – Blown Head Gasket in 50,000 miles????
This is the only eclipse I saw today.
+1 (from Santee, SC). I did however see a fourth gen Eclipse on my way down here from Baltimore yesterday. It looked nice in all black. What struck me strange was that it appeared to have a retractable hardtop. Did they make those? I know they had a Spyder GT, but I didn’t think it was so equipped. Did I see an automotive rarity more rare than the Total Solar Eclipse I witnessed today?
I was at work in Goose Creek SC. We saw nothing for the solar eclipse.
And I haven’t seen any gen of Mitsubishi eclipse in a while.
Salem was fun, with about 8,000 folks at the fairgrounds and about a million cars heading north on I-5, getting home took three times as long as normal.
Mine was in Cookeville, TN in my very own back yard. Absolutely one of the best things I’ve ever seen. Maybe the best.
WTF! I stop paying attention to the current auto news for a second and now find out Mitsubishi slapped the Eclipse name on a crossover? Worst case of name debasement ever? Also, the OG low resolution picture of looks way cooler than the modern high resolution equivelant regardless, the 90s looks intense and dangerous, the new one looks sciency and dull, like something you’d see in a schoolbook.
Much a do about nothing here in the Chicago area, like the vast majority of the summer the cloud totality was predictably 99%, and with the eclipse totality at 71(iirc). I did notice the sun appear to change shape and intensity looking at it through the clouds through my iPad screen though, so I did see “something”
Well, I guess the good news is that Mitsubishi plans on being around for a while yet. Though if they wanted to generate some excitement, perhaps they should launch a small, inexpensive, and fun car instead of another boring crossover.
The worst case of name debasement, however, has to be the Pontiac Le Mans. Though if you limit yourself to just Japanese cars, I can’t come up with anything worse.
“Eclipse name on a crossover?”
When all the fans stopped buying new coupes, what does one expect? Mitsu Motors [nee DSM] plant in IL is now closed. They got to sell where the $$ is.
We only got 92% where we live, but a friend who lives farther south than we do got to see the whole totaled eclipse today…
You win the internet today, Ed! (LMAO) ?
I watched a thing go in front of another thing, and there were
patchy things in front of both of them, so that at times you
couldn’t see either of the first two things…
We were in the 60% zone (NOLA) with heavy cloud cover for the 2024 eclipse. Felt more like the darkness before a strong rain storm. My cats weren’t too impressed!!
I’m sure you can pick up solar eclipse glasses on the cheap this later this afternoon. Great souvenir!! ==;-)
The early Eclipse had flawless style. The Plymouth Arrow of the ’90s.
I was within view of both the totality (Burlington, VT) and a coworker’s Eclipse Cross as I viewed it. I had actually taken note of the car earlier when I went to mine to get my eclipse glasses, during totality for once I wasn’t looking at cars even though I was in a parking lot (but prudently stuck to the raised sidewalk running through it in case some genius tried to drive wearing their eclipse glasses). I did take a look around me to take in the 360-degree sunset though.