Only One Left? 1989 Mitsubishi Sigma
When was the last time you saw a 1989 Mitsubishi Sigma? It’s easily been a couple of decades for me and maybe never for some of you. They’re interesting to see today mainly for the historic value, or historic view back to the late-1980s. The seller has this one listed here on eBay in Grand Rapids, Michigan and they’re asking $8,900 or you can make an offer.
Mitsubishi had some very unusual styling in this era. Sometimes it appeared that their cars weren’t styled at all, just assembled for the ultimate in practical use without a lot of time having been spent in design studios with all-nighters and coffee (or, tea) drinking stylists cramming over the details and grand ideas. We could say the same thing about a lot of 1980s cars, though. I’m getting a bit of a fourth-gen Ford LTD Fox platform vibe here with the angled fascia, how about you?
The really big design idea here had to have been the flat-top quarter panel wheel opening treatment. It’s somewhat of a signature Mitsubishi thing although other car companies used that, too. I talk (complain?) a lot about the new design language with the same tired old upswept body creases running through the door handles and/or the melted bar-of-soap styling now. Not to mention the ridiculous trend of the aggressive-“face” grille treatment and angry eyes (headlights) that’s all the rage, literally. Give me some simple styling again, please.
The fifth-generation Sigma was made offered in North America in 1987 and 1988 as a Mitsubishi Galant Σ – the Greek symbol for Sigma. I’m guessing that whole symbol-for-a-model-name thing didn’t work out too well so, for 1989 and 1990, they changed the name to the Mitsubishi Sigma. They only came in this four-door hardtop body style in North America and this example looks fantastic as you can see. The seller has provided a ton of great photos, well done! The plush velour seats look perfect both in the front and the back and everything else looks great from the trunk to the underside.
The engine is Mitsubishi’s G672, a 3.0L V6 which had 142 horsepower and 168 lb-ft of torque. This one is backed up by a Mitsubishi four-speed automatic transmission and this car has under 50,000 miles, everything works as it should, and it runs and drives great. It may be simple in its 1980s plain design language but even so, this car will absolutely stand out at any vintage Japanese car show or grocery store parking lot. Have any of you seen a Mitsubishi Sigma?
Comments
Never seen one. Looks just like the old Eagle .. i think it was called premiere ? Looked like an audi 5000
80s had some wild vehicles good and bad.
It shared the same platform as the Eagle Premier and the Dodge Monaco. I worked on one of those two, but not the Mitsu version. It was a very quirky car even for Mistu back in the day.
The Eagle Premier and Dodge Monaco were derived from the Renault 25, all entirely unrelated to this or any Mitsubishi model.
No, have not, and that dash is so 80s!
The Cops used them here in NZ as Highway patrol cars.
Nice find, I always loved the 80s Mitsubishis, they were unique in their own way! I had an ’87 TrediaTurbo in the mid 90s, the clutch started to go, and I purchased a replacement, just then a friend needed a car, so I sold it to him cheap, he replaced the clutch and drove it for many years. I haven’t seen one since. Seems all the old Mitsubishis have returned to earth, or they’re hiding in garages waiting for the day they’ll be worth something!
The other signature design element I always noticed with these was the slightly curved beltline (top edge of the doors where the glass begins), consistent with the prior ’85-87 Galant model sold here — which was actually the same generation, but for ’88 they replaced that here with the “hardtop” version to freshen things up a bit, tho’ even that wasn’t a true pillarless hardtop, just thin B-pillars visually minimized further with frameless door glass and other styling tricks. At any rate, that swooping beltline helped soften and add interest to the otherwise rather staid and blocky styling.
Wow, never seen one of these before!
I’m seeing a Bertone-style side profile, reminding me of the Volvo 780.
Front end at first glance looks like a mid-80s Mercury Marquis.
Anyone else?
There were rare even when new, always liked ’em. Rare enough that seeing one on the road raised eyebrows, even in the ’80’s.
Scotty, I don’t think I have ever seen one.
And I’m with you with current styling trends. To my eyes, many cars are terribly over-styled today. So, using your crystal ball, when will there be a new model being gushed over for its simple, clean, straight-line styling, and we will note “that’s nothing new, it looks just like a 1978 Fairmont.”
Agreed that styling trends today are vastly overwrought, all shouting for attention — and when everyone is shouting, nobody gets heard, but everyone gets a headache.
I really miss the clean, geometric, draftsman-like designs of Giugiaro’s heyday and the VW-Audi models of the late ’80s to early ’90s, right up until Audi introduced that gimmicky, contrived “tombstone” grille — IMO if they wanted a more distinctive face with some luxury bling, they should have just greatly enlarged the chrome Auto Union rings to become the entire grille opening between the headlights.
I had some hope Kia would pick up that torch once they poached Peter Schreyer away from VW-Audi, and they kinda did for a while, but lately their newer models have started going for fussy pizazz again.
Excellent write up Scotty. We had Sigma here in Australia from the late 70s to about 85. Ended up replacing the Valiant. Sigma replaced by the Mitsubishi Magna which went from 1985-2005. Very good cars the later Magna but haven’t seen a Sigma for 20 years.
I think this is a great daily driver for the money! Insure it for 100 bucks a year under 6k miles a year at value.
As long as you keep it running you will get your money back.
Unique cars, really nice drivers too. I’ve had mine for years. For sale now https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2777149402588899 because it just sits unused…..
I don’t recall ever seeing one, first thing is to get the timing belt changed and this will make someone a great little commuter
A friend owned one and it drove and handled like a dream! Great car! Too bad that not many people realized it.
Thanx for the Tredia reminder, CliffS. At one time Mitsubishi sold a Tredia and a Cordia, some smart aleck magazine writer said they needed to add a Beltia, and Sidewallia to fill out their lineup!
Previously, this car was on Facebook Marketplace for half of this stealership’s price
Haven’t seen one of these in years… I don’t recall them being favorably reviewed back in their day. The Sigma was replaced by the Diamante, which was a pretty decent car but too upmarket and expensive for the Mitsubishi brand which was quickly devalued by the dealer network penchant for poor service, loss leader advertising a later an affection for sub-prime credit borrowers and the glut of rep is that hit the market cheap shortly thereafter, killing resale value of the Mitsubishi brand. Too bad, they made some decent and a few interesting cars but got killed by their dealer network and reputation.
Interesting car, cant say I even recall seeing one before. But have seen the Eagles.. I had a Mitus Cordia turbo once.. neat car :)
I had a Chrysler 4 door that had a Mitsubishi frnt wheel drive engine stock the guy had chipped the engine and the off the start acceleration was so extreme you had to hold on to the steering wheel, the front end wanted to lift off, and no kidding, it would go 0-40 in about 5-6 car lengths -people would do double-takes just like in the cartoons! I can’t think of the model – a white sedan with red velour button- tufted interior and digital dash. Mitsu makes good engines, IMO.