Hi again,

As if I didn't have enough cars or running my own garage wasn't enough I have aquired another Nostalgic which I'm head over heals with.

A few months ago I was combing the pages of the ususal forums for exciting Dats and Mitsu's "of a certain age" LoL. I came accross a topic by a celeste owner in the UK and had the cheek to ask if he ever considered selling her I'd be very very interested.
I was extremely lucky that Jon took me up on the offer a few months later and now thankfully another classic is saved to be restored as I'm sure jon would have liked if he had not had so many commitments.


So here she is...















As you can see from the plates and rear window sticker original features are charming on this celeste. Even if the previous repairs from early owners which at 4 are very few, have been the only real accelorators in the tinworn which in all all honestly is limited to a few scabs and the usual rear of the sills/arches and front wings.
Other than that its nothing too frightening to aproach thanks to extensive undersealing and waxoil in every panel and the chassis, sills barred, is extremely solid and rust free.

I was lucky an an apprentice to see a celeste up close as the parts manager owned one, now 20 years on I consider myself luckier still to own one.

Chris

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'92 Mitsubishi Delica Super Exceed
'89 Mitsubishi Starion 2.6 Widebody
'87 Honda Civic Silver GT
'85 Honda Civic Gold DX with Brown Top
'79 Mitsubishi Celeste GSR
'78 Mitsubishi Sigma GE
'74 Datsun Laurel

Since collecting her saturday I've been keen to get a few of her smaller problems sorted to make her easier to move around and feel a little more complete.

The drivers door handle was broken and being white metal cast it wasn't going to be a clean repair. so doctor prescibed a splint.



and after that then the front calipers which were siezed needed some attention but 30 minutes a side had them freed up and working again.

Next on the list is a tune up and investigate the misfire, which hopefully won't be more than simple items with her mileage being only 60k

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'92 Mitsubishi Delica Super Exceed
'89 Mitsubishi Starion 2.6 Widebody
'87 Honda Civic Silver GT
'85 Honda Civic Gold DX with Brown Top
'79 Mitsubishi Celeste GSR
'78 Mitsubishi Sigma GE
'74 Datsun Laurel

Holy rocker rust, Batman! I LOVE the plaid seats and brown/white interior!

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HaHaha Yeah it looks worse than it is honest.

Yeah the interior shot is a little over exposed, its more of a cream than white and feels like an ultra cool 70's psychadelic marble cake when you're in it just love it!

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'92 Mitsubishi Delica Super Exceed
'89 Mitsubishi Starion 2.6 Widebody
'87 Honda Civic Silver GT
'85 Honda Civic Gold DX with Brown Top
'79 Mitsubishi Celeste GSR
'78 Mitsubishi Sigma GE
'74 Datsun Laurel

Today I took a little time out after the working day and with a set of new plugs and a clean up and regapping of the points the misfire was sorted and now she revs and drives really well. The twin carbs seem to make quite a responsive little package of the 1600 and the balance shaft engine raved about by mitsi at the time is torquey and fun.

Now I've got myself in a little dilemma over wheel choice which seems a common one

Are A3A's too modern?



can I find the money in time for Bright Speeds?



or would a set of WORK's work?

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'92 Mitsubishi Delica Super Exceed
'89 Mitsubishi Starion 2.6 Widebody
'87 Honda Civic Silver GT
'85 Honda Civic Gold DX with Brown Top
'79 Mitsubishi Celeste GSR
'78 Mitsubishi Sigma GE
'74 Datsun Laurel

Out of the 3 wheels there I would go the 'Bright Speeds' or the 'Works'.
I've never been a fan of three spoke wheels.
I'd probably favour the 'Works' out of the 3 sets. Polish that outer lip and paint the centres the same colour as the car.

Any chance of some more pics? I'd like to see your twin carb set-up, (I have a twin carb set-up on my wagon). And I'd also like to see a close up of the badge on the top right side of your grill.

I used to have a Lancer/Celeste exactly the same as this (minus the carbs) I was the same colour and everything. I completely stripped the car and resprayed it. It was a great car, and I wish I had another.

Here is a pic of what it looked like when it was done. I didn't really like the wheels that much, they were off a local Australian model Sigma as a factory wheel. I never got around to changing them.

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If you are into early Mitsu products, have a look at http://www.sigma-galant.com/index.php

+1 on the works... A3As are toooo newschool! (or could look good on Wats, or just about any vintage multipiece SSR)

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Hectors. Vintage Japanese restoration and retrofit:
www.hectorschopshop.com

Thanks guys, I've got a set of DeeeeeeeeeP MK III's I'll try on later today or tomorrow and then photoshop the centers in to get a better idea what works. Can't believe how the rarer rims have dropped in price and the classic MK II's and MK III's have shot through the roof this last year


Yeah Hector I think you are right about the A3A's being a little to mid eighties, I was looking at them for a splash of colour I guess.

75 I'll get some under the hood pics for you too dude.

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'92 Mitsubishi Delica Super Exceed
'89 Mitsubishi Starion 2.6 Widebody
'87 Honda Civic Silver GT
'85 Honda Civic Gold DX with Brown Top
'79 Mitsubishi Celeste GSR
'78 Mitsubishi Sigma GE
'74 Datsun Laurel

Took 10 minutes at the end of the day to try my SSR's on to get a better idea of what wheels would work size and width wise. I got them for my Dat so theyre a little on the wide side and 15's are an inch bigger than I wanted to go but its given me a good idea of what will work best on her.













Sorry about the poor quality they were taken on my phone.

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'92 Mitsubishi Delica Super Exceed
'89 Mitsubishi Starion 2.6 Widebody
'87 Honda Civic Silver GT
'85 Honda Civic Gold DX with Brown Top
'79 Mitsubishi Celeste GSR
'78 Mitsubishi Sigma GE
'74 Datsun Laurel

this will look nice w/ some fender flares and lower it a bit. Good job, man.

Thanks man, hmm you've got me thinkin there, I've only really tried these on to get an idea of what will work best. I think the 15's are a tad big and at 8.5j et 10 and 9.5j et17 they're maybe a little too large for the Celeste.
I've been looking at 14's in 7's and 8's, found some Yayoi's but the price just kept rising way beyond my wallets limit.

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'92 Mitsubishi Delica Super Exceed
'89 Mitsubishi Starion 2.6 Widebody
'87 Honda Civic Silver GT
'85 Honda Civic Gold DX with Brown Top
'79 Mitsubishi Celeste GSR
'78 Mitsubishi Sigma GE
'74 Datsun Laurel

We used to have one of these in the Philippines. It was on '80 model w/ square headlights, silver color w/ 13x8 Compomotive wheels, lowered of course.

Any pics?

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'92 Mitsubishi Delica Super Exceed
'89 Mitsubishi Starion 2.6 Widebody
'87 Honda Civic Silver GT
'85 Honda Civic Gold DX with Brown Top
'79 Mitsubishi Celeste GSR
'78 Mitsubishi Sigma GE
'74 Datsun Laurel

I actually think that car could pull off the a3a very weel. Most cars cant though.

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31 3000gt vr4
88 starion x2, 83 starion
88 cordia turbo
87 Montero swb turbo, 1987 Minicab van Supercharged
86 mighty max 4x4
84, 85, and 86 lancer ex1800 turbo
78 lancer
73 galant coupe
65 Debonair Deluxe
80's Hero

This is definitely one sweet ride! I gotta say, I'm a bit jealous, I love the look of these cars, haha.

My vote on wheels, BBS or (this is going to sound crazy, but the side shot made me think of it) DeLorean wheels! proper drop with some flares and the DeLorean wheels would look pretty unique, haha! Although the wheels may look a little too modern.

At any rate can't wait to see more on this!
Cheers
David

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1967 LT23 Mitsubishi 360 // 1967 L10A Cosmo Sports // 1971 S30 Fairlady Z // 1973 PR95 Bellett 1800 GT // 1973 Honda Life // 1988 Z31 300 ZX SS
My Homepage!

i really like the mk3's
but you're right: 14's would be best, and maybe 6.5 f 7.5 r?


hmm, wonder if works flares can be fitted?
anything's possible with some cutting and filing i guess

Those cars look so much better without usdm mad max bumpers.

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31 3000gt vr4
88 starion x2, 83 starion
88 cordia turbo
87 Montero swb turbo, 1987 Minicab van Supercharged
86 mighty max 4x4
84, 85, and 86 lancer ex1800 turbo
78 lancer
73 galant coupe
65 Debonair Deluxe
80's Hero

mad max

Alot of people say a3a's are too modern but ....



..I like the way this looks, although I think if I had another pink car my girlfriend would have concerns

_________________
'92 Mitsubishi Delica Super Exceed
'89 Mitsubishi Starion 2.6 Widebody
'87 Honda Civic Silver GT
'85 Honda Civic Gold DX with Brown Top
'79 Mitsubishi Celeste GSR
'78 Mitsubishi Sigma GE
'74 Datsun Laurel

You know after looking at the DeLorean prototype I see what you mean and coincidentely I've been looking at SSR Mesh as they seem to go well too.

Update soon as I've been unable to keep my hands off her

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'92 Mitsubishi Delica Super Exceed
'89 Mitsubishi Starion 2.6 Widebody
'87 Honda Civic Silver GT
'85 Honda Civic Gold DX with Brown Top
'79 Mitsubishi Celeste GSR
'78 Mitsubishi Sigma GE
'74 Datsun Laurel