I was navigating a CC desert in the nether regions of north Tokyo. In those latitudes, the chances of encountering the older exotics that are often found on Sunday in the city centre are next to nil, but the odd JDM nugget can be discovered. That day, prospects were looking grim, but all of the sudden I saw… a real Mirage! The kind that doesn’t disappear when you approach it.
This 40-year-old Mitsu really stands out of the present-day traffic. Every other vehicle in this parking lot seems to be towering over it and the little Mirage’s clean straight-edge lines make for quite a contrast to the contorted angry-faced blobs surrounding it.
The 2nd generation Mirage appeared (in the distance and due to specific atmospheric conditions, no doubt) in October 1983. Initially, it was available as a 3- or 5-door hatchback or a 4-door notchback. A wagon was added to the range in 1985.
Base model JDM cars were still sold with fender mirrors, as we can see in this 1983 brochure excerpt, but that was no longer mandated by law.
I wouldn’t call these Mirages (or “Colts,” as they were known in several overseas markets for no good reason that I can figure out) beautiful – or even particularly interesting. But they are certainly of their time. The gen 1 Mirage (1978-83) allegedly took inspiration from the AMC Pacer. What was pinned on the wall at the design studio when they came up with this? I’m seeing a fair amount of Renault 25 in there personally, but that’s more of a case of convergent evolution – they came out the same year.
The other question is what’s under the hood. I’m guessing the base 1.3 is not in there, but are we thinking 1.5 or the super-spicy 120hp turbocharged 1.6? The bigger and more powerful one might not be the most interesting, though. Mitsubishi made the 1.5 available with “modular displacement” technology for some trim levels – essentially deactivating two cylinders when the car was coasting.
No stalks for the Mirage, apparently. Bold interior design choice, emulated by the likes of the Citroën CX and the Mazda Cosmo. Back when Mitsubishi dared to tread in the footsteps of giants…
Though I prefer the gen 1 Mirage’s rice-fed Pacer looks more than these folded-paper 2nd gen cars, at least they have character. Later Mirages progressively became more generic and blander, right until the nameplate was retired, after six generations, in 2023 (in Japan) and 2024 (worldwide).
All the same, it is nice to see a (well-worn) OrigaMirage enlivening an otherwise barren part of the Japanese capital. A little mirage goes a long way.
Related posts:
CC Colt Chronicles Part 7: 1985 Colt – Eight Bit Origami, by Perry Shoar
KOAL: 1986 Mitsubishi Mirage/Colt – Special Guest Appearance, by Rich Baron
Rear lights aside there’s quite a resemblance to the 3 door N12 Nissan Cherry of the same period too, but I can see the Renault 5 (perhaps closer to the SuperCinq than the original).
My first new car in 1988 . 4 speed 1,5L Dodge Colt . I liked the simplicity of its body lines Canadian base price of about $7800, reminds me of paying just under $9000 after tax for this base model .
I had an ’87 5-speed DL but not until 1995 or so. It was the first car I ever had that wasn’t a complete clunker. I think it was originally the same color as yours but repainted a darker blue.
Weren’t they among the first Mitsubishi cars sold in the US with an actual “Mitsubishi” badge? Mitsubishi really benefited from their relationship with Chrysler by building up a fanbase before they ever had their first dealership in the USA. I knew more than a few folks who started their relationship with the brand by buying Dodge Colts and Plymouth Arrows and then went straight to a Mitsubishi store when they wanted to buy their next car.
The Cordia, Tredia, Galant, Starion, and Mighty Max were all a few years earlier but ’85 was the first model year for this Mirage in the US, we never got the older one as a Mitsubishi.
The first turbocharged car I ever drove was a brand new Mirage Turbo in late 1985. We’d read the review in Car and Driver, I’d just gotten my driver’s license, so we went to Keyes Mitsubishi in Van Nuys and asked to drive one. For whatever reason they obliged and handed the keys to two pimply 16 year olds and we were off in a new silver Mirage Turbo. I feel a little bad for whoever ended up buying that car, I certainly didn’t have the funds at the time. If i had though I probably would have seriously considered it, it was a little firecracker of a car, lots of fun.
The styling works for me, as does most Mitsu of the era, they always seemed to have a little more content or innovative features compared to Toyota and Nissan, probably why I’m still a fan of Mitsubishi…
An excellent find in Tokyo, it fits in well in a sort of Mr. Roboto way.
My sister had a black Mirage Turbo we got out of the repo lot in about ’88 or so. Tiny little car. I don’t remember much about the fit and finish other than it was easy to slim Jim the door locks. I do remember the turbo lag was pretty bad but when it kicked in, that thing went like stink.
The 4 door models were sold as Lancers in Asia and these formed the basis for the Malaysian national car, the Proton Saga.
In a general sense, I liked the Origami styling. Well, some not all, but the better ones of that genera. I had a first gen Mirage/Dodge Colt. Bought used, well used, cheap. It felt faster than it was, judging by the top speed. Looked good for what it was, I mean it wasn’t a ’63 Sting Ray or E Type Jag. But visually head and shoulders above a Corolla or an Escort.
But I diverge, in general, a broad term if there ever was one, in general, I like the Origami styling better than what I see today. Not to say there weren’t some ugly ones, but there’s some really ugly stuff out there today too.
Nice, they were good little cars, seldom seen now.
OrigaMirage 😂 Best wordplay I’ve read in ages! I salute you T87!
It’s interesting to note that other than the size, that 40-year-old car doesn’t look terribly out of place today. Yet when I think back to 1985, a 40-year-old car then would be so noticeably ancient in every respect. Design-wise, much bigger strides took place between 1945 and 1985 than 1985-2025…