Mitsubishi Galant Sapporo

[Arran]

A technologically advanced executive car from the late 1980s.

[big kid]

Re: Mitsubishi Galant Sapporo

nice example. is that yours ?

[Arran]

Re: Mitsubishi Galant Sapporo

I wish it was!

It's estimated that there are only around 10 Mitsubishi Galant Sapporos left in Britain and fewer than 1000 were sold from 1987 to 1990 making it a very rare car. All are E, F, or G reg.

Under the bonnet is a 2.4 litre 4 cylinder engine. An unusual choice both for an executive car and an engine larger than 2 litres in the 1980s where at least 6 cylinders are expected. It runs as smooth as any 6 cylinder engine because it contains balancing shafts to counteract vibrations which work using Newton's third law.



The most impressive feature of the Mitsubishi Galant Sapporo is its computer controlled suspension. The hardness of each shock absorber is controlled electrically and each suspension strut is fitted with a vibration sensor. When a vibration sensor detects a bump in the road it sends a signal to the computer which then adjusts the hardness of the shock absorbers to exactly the right level to counteract the effects of the bump. The suspension literally reads the road resulting in a very smooth ride.

[Richard1978]

Re: Mitsubishi Galant Sapporo

Mitsubishi used the 2.4 four cylinder in the earlier Sigma, which was also built in Australia & sold here under the name Lonsdale to get round import quotas, though they were never big sellers & hardly any survive today.

[Arran]

Re: Mitsubishi Galant Sapporo

The Lonsdale was the 4th generation Mitsubishi Galant built in Australia that was exported to Britain in small numbers during 1982 to 1983. It was sold as a Mitsubishi Sigma in Australia and later in Britain alongside the 4th generation Mitsubishi Galant built in Japan. The Mitsubishi Sigma / Lonsdale was available with a 4-cylinder 2.6 litre 4G54 engine that was part of the Astron range, as well as 1.6 and 2.0 litre engines, although I'm not sure if the 2.6 litre engine was available on a Mitsubishi Galant built in Japan.

The Mitsubishi Galant Sapporo was a hardtop version of the 5th generation Mitsubishi Galant. It used a different bodyshell with no B-pillar and frameless door windows. European models used the 4-cylinder 2.4 litre 4G64 engine that was part of the Sirius range.

The 2.4 litre 4G64 engine was the replacement for 2.6 litre 4G54 engines. Both engines were fitted with balancing shafts under the trademark of Silent Shaft. The 2.6 litre 4G54 engine was also used on the Mitsubishi Starion.

There were two other Mitsubishi cars called Sapporo that were sold in Britain:

The Colt Sapporo which was a 2-door coupe version of the 3rd generation Mitsubishi Galant.

The Mitsubishi Sapporo which was a 2-door coupe version of the 4th generation Mitsubishi Galant.

Both were fitted with 4-cylinder 2.0 litre engines.

[mark1970]

Re: Mitsubishi Galant Sapporo

The Lonsdale was the 4th generation Mitsubishi Galant built in Australia that was exported to Britain in small numbers during 1982 to 1983. It was sold as a Mitsubishi Sigma in Australia and later in Britain alongside the 4th generation Mitsubishi Galant built in Japan. The Mitsubishi Sigma / Lonsdale was available with a 4-cylinder 2.6 litre 4G54 engine that was part of the Astron range, as well as 1.6 and 2.0 litre engines, although I'm not sure if the 2.6 litre engine was available on a Mitsubishi Galant built in Japan.

The Mitsubishi Galant Sapporo was a hardtop version of the 5th generation Mitsubishi Galant. It used a different bodyshell with no B-pillar and frameless door windows. European models used the 4-cylinder 2.4 litre 4G64 engine that was part of the Sirius range.

The 2.4 litre 4G64 engine was the replacement for 2.6 litre 4G54 engines. Both engines were fitted with balancing shafts under the trademark of Silent Shaft. The 2.6 litre 4G54 engine was also used on the Mitsubishi Starion.

There were two other Mitsubishi cars called Sapporo that were sold in Britain:

The Colt Sapporo which was a 2-door coupe version of the 3rd generation Mitsubishi Galant.

The Mitsubishi Sapporo which was a 2-door coupe version of the 4th generation Mitsubishi Galant.

Both were fitted with 4-cylinder 2.0 litre engines.

Not one UK Lonsdale survives sadly.

[Arran]

Re: Mitsubishi Galant Sapporo

Not one UK Lonsdale survives sadly.

How have you confirmed this? Were the Lonsdale badges stuck on at the factory or by the dealers in Britain? Were Lonsdales registered with the DVLA as Lonsdales or were they registered as Mitsubishis?

It's possible that some owners changed the Lonsdale badges on their cars to Mitsubishi badges for better public recognition in the same way that it was common to change Opel badges to Vauxhall badges. Mitsubishi dealers could have done the same.

I have never seen a Lonsdale in the metal but a local used to own a Mitsubishi Sigma estate.

[Arran]

Re: Mitsubishi Galant Sapporo

The Mitsubishi Tredia must be one of the rarest Mitsubishis in Britain. A medium sized saloon - larger than the Lancer but smaller than the Galant - produced between 1982 and 1990 and sold in Britain for a few years during the mid 1980s. Notable for having a 1.6 litre turbocharged engine. It was estimated that there were around 50 Tredias in Britain back in 1995 but it's possible that none exist anymore.

The Cordia was the 3-door coupe version of Tredia that was also available with a 1.6 litre turbocharged engine. It was also a rare car but several hundred of them were sold throughout the 1980s.

[mark1970]

Re: Mitsubishi Galant Sapporo



That surprises me.