An SUV summons images of neighborhood moms hauling kids’ sports teams thirty miles every couple of days with a grocery run in between. But the Mitsubishi Montero (aka Pajero) has another personality – piloted by numerous drivers, it’s the aggressive hell-bent-for-leather racing vehicle that placed in or won the Dakar Rally nearly every year from 1983 through 2007. This current of competency remains in the road-going Montero, which is just now verging on collectibility. Here on eBay is a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero LS in Geneva Green bid to $9500, reserve not met. A buy-it-now option can cut the auction short for $12,900. Drive it home from South Jordan, Utah.

The Montero was in incubation for several years before its 1981 launch at the Tokyo Motor Show. The last Montero to reach US shores arrived in 2006. More than 3.3 million copies were sold worldwide before production ceased in 2021. Beneath that glossy hood lies a 3.0 liter V6 good for 143 hp, backed by a four-speed automatic transmission. The seller has rebuilt the cylinder heads, replaced the timing belt, installed a new water pump and thermostat, and fully serviced the vehicle. The odometer reads over 143,000 miles, with about 5000 on the rebuilt heads. It’s not fast – 60 mph will require at least 13 seconds to arrive – and reviewers in Car and Driver noted that cornering feels “tippy”.

The interior shows wear commensurate with its miles and age, but the dash isn’t cracked and the seller has kept the carpets and fabric seats clean. The AC blows cold. First-generation Monteros have a “bouncy seat” – a spring-ride base – installed for the driver. Some like ’em, some don’t. This example has a non-working sunroof, sealed shut by the seller. The center gauge in the set above the vents is an inclinometer – charming! The cargo area is tidy with plenty of space to haul almost anything.

Its square lines and copious, tall glass panes were common design idioms among SUVs from the era, but for some reason, the Montero appears almost delicate compared to its hulking competitors. Like almost everything else, prices of Monteros have been rising gently. with this example selling recently at $24,000 and asking prices for mileage-comparable Monteros ranging from $12k to $18k. Could a Japanese SUV approach Bronco prices? Who knows, but even if you don’t care about prices, this Montero probably has tens of thousands of enjoyable miles left in her.