The Los Angeles Auto Show opens tomorrow. It was once one of the four “tier one” shows (others were Detroit, Chicago, and New York, Chicago), where automakers would unveil their new models with press conferences and big production numbers. The two-day events would have afterparties going late into the night with free concerts and free alcohol. Post-pandemic such events are pretty sad affairs, with just one or two reveals and everyone’s home after lunch. In 1987 when the good times were rollin’, Motorweek was on site covering Japanese cars with major updates.
It’s funny to think about now, but outlets would often segregate coverage by the Big Three and the rest of the world. The Japanese stuff starts at 19:21 in the video, right after a segment about the Mercedes 190E.
First up is the 1987 Mitsubishi Galant, looking like a Japanese Chrysler New Yorker. It cost about half the price of the aforementioned Benz and came with an updated EFI system and 5-speed manual. Mated to a 110-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder, it pushed the Galant from 0-60 in 11.9 seconds. In typical Mitsu fasion, the dash had more buttons than a recording studio. You could electronically adjust suspension stiffness and power steering boost with the satisfying press of a spring-loaded button.
The big news of 1987 was the introduction of the first Supra Turbo. Motorweek called the 1986.5 model a “pony car of the future” and said the 230-horsepower, 246 lb-ft 7M-GTE felt like a V8. By comparison, the naturally-aspirated version made 200 horsepower and 196 lb-ft of torque. The Turbo cut 0-60 time from 8.6 to 7.1 seconds, thanks in part to an LSD and the R154 5-speed. Motorweek dinged the suspension for being too soft but seemed otherwise taken with this Japanese muscle car.
Last but not least was the Honda Prelude Si which, like the Galant, made 110 horsepower. But whereas the Galant needed 11.9 seconds to get to 60, the Honda took only 9.5 (a standard Prelude required 10.7). Motorweek praised the Prelude for its excellent visibility, handling, and brakes. It’s no wonder, as host John Davis said, viewers kept asking for despite no real changes for 1987 other than a $1,000 price hike (to $14,945).
We love how these old videos give a glimpse into how the cars were reviewed at the time, but also a taste of how they fit in to the larger automotive landscape. Which one would you take, the venerable Supra, the zippy Prelude, or the now-extinct Galant?
