For the past few years, this specific third-generation model served as a costly driveway decoration. Dave, the owner, planned to finish the restoration. But he felt it was time to part ways with it because his family was expanding and he had another older L300 van to take care of. He knew I had a thing for rusted-out machinery, so it didn’t surprise me when he decided to message me. I, erm, coerced Robert into purchasing it after realizing he had three kids, two project cars, and a new job to keep him occupied. Sorrynotsorry.
There are conflicting reports regarding The Delica’s present health. With the first turn of the key and no alarming clouds of smoke, the engine and gearbox appear to be robust and full of vigor. We could only test drive it over a small section of private land because it doesn’t currently have a MOT, but it functioned flawlessly. The bodywork needs additional attention, and there are several places where patches need to be made and fixed in. I’m reasonably certain that the footwell’s Fred Flintstone-themed hole wasn’t an add-on. Currently, there are just four chairs, leaving it short by three; a three-seater bench would complete the set. Even the roller shades in the back look to be in good working order with the majority of the electrical systems.
In This Article...
Are Delica trustworthy?
Delica ownership, particularly in Vancouver, has skyrocketed. By 2009, there were 1,000 of these rugged-looking tiny vans on the road, and as of today, the Canadian Delica owners club’s forum membership is getting up to 8,000. Specialty importers, devoted mechanics, fan organizations, parts experts, and customizers exist. However, not everyone seemed to adore them.
When I pull up, mechanics have came running out and said, “Oh no, don’t work on those things,” Strain laughs. Remove it now!
The cause? Outside of the lower mainland, finding parts for Delicas can be difficult, and no repair shop wants to be overrun by a broken-down anomaly from the Japanese market. But overall, the Delica is a dependable and strong device. Considering its age, I suppose.
How many kilometers can a Delica go?
An old, unclean engine that hasn’t had regular oil changes will start to lose compression, produce higher EGTs, leak oil, and smoke about 250,000 kilometers. It will continue to run indefinitely, but it won’t be very pleased.
How come the Mitsubishi Delica is so well-liked?
After being introduced in 1968 as a minivan and a pickup truck, the Mitsubishi Delica is still in use in Japan today. The van is still alive and growing in popularity as a JDM in the US, but the pickup truck went out of business in 1994, largely because it is strong and reasonably priced.
The Delica was initially debuted as a small van or cab-over with a 1.1-liter engine and a payload limit of 1,300 pounds. This original model continued to be produced until 1979, when the Mitsubishi Pajero’s harder chassis was shared by the Delica, but it was redesigned and shrunk for a better fit.
Is the Mitsubishi Delica reliable off-road?
The mechanical base of the Mitsubishi Pajero helped the third generation of the Mitsubishi Delica stand out as a unique minivan with a solid off-road reputation. Despite being formally imported into the country from 1987 to 1990, the Delica was only offered with a gas engine and rear-wheel drive.
The Mitsubishi Delica’s top speed.
Beginning in July 1968, the Delica light commercial cab-over pickup was put into production. In keeping with the previously released “T90” Canter (January 1968), it was given the chassis code T100. Its top speed was 115 km/h, and its maximum payload was 600 kg (1,323 lb). It used a KE44 1,088 cc engine that produced 58 PS (43 kW) (71 mph). A passenger van and a cargo van were added to the lineup a year later in response to customer demands. The ‘Delica Coach’ passenger van had three rows of seats and could accommodate nine passengers before it was decommissioned in 1976. In 1969, the engine was improved to 62 PS (46 kW).
A significantly updated version known as the Delica 75 debuted in March 1971. The T120 featured a modest grille in place of the early Delicas’ bare metal front, and a new 1.4-liter Neptune (4G41) engine with a 64-kilowatt (86-horsepower) rating was introduced to the lineup. The 600 kilogram (1,300 lb) variant of the truck may have continued to use the smaller 1.1-liter engine, but if so, it soon completely disappeared.
The Delica underwent a redesign in the fall of 1974 that included a new nose with a lot of plastic cladding and double headlamps that were now located below the swage line. Since this was the only engine available, it was now just known as the “Delica 1400.” (mention of a Delica 1200 is most likely apocryphal, perhaps an issue of confusion arising from the “120” chassis code). 1976 saw the addition of a one-ton truck with a longer wheelbase (T121).
This vehicle was commonly referred to as the Colt T100/T120 in export markets. In Indonesia, where “Colt” evolved to mean minibus, it was a huge success. Since Mitsubishi controlled the market, the T120 was manufactured until 1982. In February 1991, a Suzuki Carry Futura that had been rebadged brought the nametag back to life. For their fiberglass-bodied “GS2000” truck, Record, a Greek producer of agricultural vehicles, copied the Delica T120 design (even utilizing the same windscreen).
Are Delicas 4WDs?
Since then, many have arrived in the United States and are now in the hands of owners. I spoke with Matt Farah, host of The Smoking Tire podcast and owner of Westside Collector Car Storage, Andrew Groves of Miscellaneous Adventures, and Andy Lilienthal of Crankshaft Culture to gain a deeper understanding of that experience, as well as how people found their cars and why they like them. They are all proud Mitsubishi Delica owners.
According to Farah, owner of a 1991 Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon Exceed Turbo D, “I originally wanted a van-type vehicle to use as a cool, affordable, and interesting shop truck and airport pickup vehicle for my customers at WCCS, but I bought it about six months before we actually opened and my wife started driving it. She advised me to go buy an other shop truck if I wanted one since this was now her vehicle.
Lilienthal, who owns a 1994 Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear, said: “The Delica offers a true 4WD system with a two-speed transfer case paired with the adaptability of a van platform. No domestically manufactured vehicles readily do this, and particularly not at a Delica price point.