Bring a Trailer had a Plymouth Conquest (the badge-engineered version of the Starion) up for auction in February 2025. I learned enough from the comments to want to update this elderly blog entry.
“The sportscar that’s charged with more than a turbo.”
The 1983 Mitsubishi Starion was a significant change of pace for Mitsubishi. Seen back in the day as a poor man’s Porsche 944 at about two-thirds of the price, the rear-wheel-drive Starion reached customers that Mitsubishi had never competed for before. Because of Chrysler’s relationship with Mitsubishi, nearly identical cars were sold starting in 1985, first as the Plymouth Conquest and Dodge Conquest and then as the Chrysler Conquest beginning in 1987 (gotta love branding).
For 1983, motive power was provided by the Astron G54B 145 bhp 2.6 liter/156 ci inline four with fuel injection and a turbocharger connected to a five-speed manual (no automatic transmission was available in 1983). 0-60 came in about 9 seconds in a car that weighed about 2,700 pounds. Mileage was 19 city/24 highway by the standards of the day (17/22 by today’s standards). With a relatively large 19.8-gallon gas tank, a Starion owner could expect a range of between 310 and 385 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.
At $12,079 (about $39,500 in today’s dollars), the base Starion EX included a fully independent suspension, four-wheel power-assisted ventilated disc brakes, power steering, P195/70R14 tires (a size still readily available), and 14-inch alloy wheels. Inside, power windows and a digital quartz clock were standard. Moving up to the LS—an additional $1,840, making the car a $45,600 purchase in 2025—added P215/60R15 tires and 15-inch wheels, air conditioning, six-way adjustable front seats, digital instrumentation, and an AM/FM stereo cassette with eight speakers.
Options & Production Numbers
Options included a sunroof, cruise control, and the Technical Performance Package. LS purchasers could go crazy and get leather seat facings and a single two-tone paint option (Italian Silver over Behring Blue Metallic).
Mitsubishi sold 6,297 Starions in the 1983 model year—pretty good for a make and model with little previous sporting reputation in North America. Period reviews were generally positive, and watching MotorWeek‘s treatment is interesting.
The View From 2025
I have not seen a Starion on the road in decades, but at least a few are being saved, and there is some online support. A quick perusal shows that lack of maintenance of the complex for its day engine causes most of the serious issues with this car.
You occasionally see Starions come up for sale in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds or on eBay Motors, but there were none for sale when I last checked—the later 3000 GT does better. Bring a Trailer auctions a fair amount—enough to have a specific category.
Make mine Safari Red, of course.
Last updated June 2025.
Eighties Cars 
This is a great, updated article. I like how you got more into the specs—that’s something I didn’t do.