The 1980s were the heyday of automakers testing the limits of turbocharging. The result was sports cars like the Mitsubishi Starion and the Chrysler Conquest.
Engineers responding to the energy crisis from the earlier decade believed electronic fuel injection and forced induction solved the emissions, power, and fuel consumption problem .
If you haven’t heard of these compact coupes, you’re not alone. Carmakers crowded the performance field at the entry-level.
Porsche had the 944. Toyota had the Celica Supra. Mazda offered the RX-7, and Datsun sold the 280ZX.
They all went for the same customer.
When the Starion and Conquest twins hit the scene in 1982, Mitsubishi wanted more sales
Also, they aimed to attract Americans to the brand for the very first time.
The seat belts in the Conquest ES-i cockpit say “turbo.”
Mitsubishi Starion Specs
On paper, the Mitsubishi Starion was a winner.
The car featured a fully independent, front and rear suspension system. That placed its handling ahead of American sports cars in its price range.
Think about the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro.
The Starion had a 2.6-liter turbocharged engine with 145 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. Japanese-market cars got the smaller 4G63 engine.
That inspired familiar sports cars from Mitsubishi like the Eclipse and the Lancer Evolution. They had a five-speed manual transmission with a four-speed automatic option.
The car came into its own in 1986. Mitsubishi threw down the gauntlet with the Mitsubishi Starion ESI (and Conquest TS-i ).
The addition of an intercooler sent 170 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of twist to the rear wheels from the same engine . Those numbers challenged its V8 pony car rivals.
The cars also gained a widebody kit that turned up their visual aggression.
There was also the ESI-R. It was a special version of the Starion with:
- Four-wheel disc brakes
- A wider track front and rear
- A limited-slip differential
The Starion/Conquest pair went from 0-60 in less than eight seconds. This was good for the era.
The wide body flare helps the Starion ESI stand out from other 1980s sports cars.
The 1988 version had 188 horses and 234 pound-feet of torque. This was the next-to-last year of production. An adjustable suspension system from Tokico was a new option.
The equipment list offered with the Mitsubishi was extensive by the end of its run. It had luxuries such as:
- Automatic climate control
- A graphic equalizer
- Leather seats
Where are the Starion and Conquest now?
Today, you’re lucky to see one of these beauties of 1980s Japanese techno-savvy.
Although Mitsubishi Starions and Chrysler Conquest do come up sometimes on eBay Motors. This 1989 Chrysler Conquest 2.6 TSI Turbo is an affordably priced example with just 87K on the clock.
Sales were modest throughout its lifetime. Once the Mitsubishi Eclipse and Eagle Talon combo hit the scene in 1990, the automaker went away from rear-wheel drive performance. They favored all-wheel drive instead.
Thus, the Mitsubishi Starion and the Chrysler Conquest sit in an odd market spot . They’re rare but not desirable. This kept prices affordable.
A quick look at eBay Motors listings shows ESI and TSI models selling around $5,000.
It is hard to find one that hasn’t been modified or hacked apart for a few extra horsepower. Reliability is generally good. The models share parts with other Mitsubishi models, making repairs simple.
The Appeal of the Mitsubishi Starion
The Starion is for those wanting a stand-out, affordable collector car with its:
- The boy-racer wide body looks
- Respectable power
- Above-average handling
It’s a savvy choice from an era before Japanese automakers went to Defcon 5.
From there, they started duking it out with big turbo coupes and over-the-top tech.
See AUTO DN Xenon Light Bulbs for Mitsubishi Starion for sale on eBay.
