A Thing Rarely Seen.

"SmugAardvark" (SmugAardvark) 01/23/2020 at 23:16 • Filed to: Mitsubishi 3000GT, Mitsubishi, spyder, VR4

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Our parking garage usually has some very cool stuff in it. Porsches, Nissan GT-R’s, the occasional Bentley, Ferrari, and plenty of Audi S cars and BMW M cars. But this caught me off-guard. I can’t honestly remember ever seeing one in person...

Factory 3000GT VR-4 Spyder. They made less something like 1, 600 total Spyder VR-4s. This one is in n ear mint condition too. I honestly thought about leaving my business card on the window, but I have a feeling the owner isn’t looking to sell.

wafflesnfalafel > SmugAardvark 01/23/2020 at 23:28

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that is one rare bird - end of the Japanese sports car wave, beginning of the hard top convertible trend

AestheticsInMotion > SmugAardvark 01/23/2020 at 23:31

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Not sure if I've seen a drop top version in the flesh. I still salivate over the red one Tavarish had in his Jalopnik days. That thing was perfect 

Chariotoflove > SmugAardvark 01/23/2020 at 23:32

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That is so cool. 

QCGoose > SmugAardvark 01/23/2020 at 23:32

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Incredibly rare car in an even rarer color (for the model/trim) ! I remember seeing these listed in DuPont Registry back in ‘95-’96 for $75k-$80k; crazy expensive for a Mitsubishi!

I still think the ‘94-’96 VR4 (coupe) is one of the best-looking Japanese cars of all time.

SmugAardvark > wafflesnfalafel 01/23/2020 at 23:33

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Hard to believe, but the Spyder version cost more than $6 0,000 new. And that was in 1995. No wonder they didn’t make many, they probably knew not a lot of people would buy them.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > AestheticsInMotion 01/23/2020 at 23:43

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You know he bought it back right? 

AestheticsInMotion > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/23/2020 at 23:47

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Seriously? No, I had no idea. The only thing I've seen of his since leaving jalopnik is whoever used to post bad YouTube subtitles of his videos

someassemblyrequired > SmugAardvark 01/23/2020 at 23:54

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Paging Indiana Jones, Indiana Jones to P5.  Grail has been located.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > SmugAardvark 01/24/2020 at 00:02

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Only real Californians get this reference.

SmugAardvark > QCGoose 01/24/2020 at 00:03

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S ide note, also observed in the garage tonight, a Z32 300ZX and a Subaru SVX. All we needed was an FD RX-7 and a Mk4 Supra, and it would have been a veritable who’s who of amazing 90's Japanese cars.

SmugAardvark > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/24/2020 at 00:26

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Unfortunately, I’m not a real Californian. So I will never truly get it. :)

But I do sort of miss Huell Howser. :(

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > AestheticsInMotion 01/24/2020 at 00:44

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Yeah he made a few videos of getting it back, restoring it, and roadtripping it.

I’m not a huge fan of his YouTube stuff tho. It seems like every other videos he’s introducing a new project and finishing absolutely non of them. Makes it hard to get interested in any of them. 

Nauraushaun > SmugAardvark 01/24/2020 at 02:25

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Love a white pearl. I’m a real sucker

nhjeff > SmugAardvark 01/24/2020 at 07:11

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877 VR4 Spyder s were ever produced. 741 non turbo. I've owned one for 20 years and it never fails to draw attention and remarks whenever I drive it. Have to say it it has also been remarkably reliable. 

nerd_racing > SmugAardvark 01/24/2020 at 07:48

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I thought this was going to be about the BMW actually parked within the lines properly. 

OPPOsaurus WRX > SmugAardvark 01/24/2020 at 08:43

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i dont think i’ve even seen a Spyder.  Nice find!

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > SmugAardvark 01/24/2020 at 09:08

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Didn’t even know this existed!!!

Ash78, voting early and often > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/24/2020 at 09:58

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“Huell Howser was a famous broad caster in Los Angeles . ”

—Ric Romero

/we have to go deeper

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > SmugAardvark 01/24/2020 at 10:47

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I really liked his PBS show california gold. He would go to the strangest places and get a great snippet of that place.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Ash78, voting early and often 01/24/2020 at 10:48

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McMike > SmugAardvark 01/24/2020 at 10:52

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I saw one back on April 15, 2017.  Same spec

19993000gt > AestheticsInMotion 01/24/2020 at 11:51

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He bought it back and currently owns it, check out his Chanel. My car also looks identical to his! Check my Instagram @ruined_3000gt

SmugAardvark > nerd_racing 01/24/2020 at 18:21

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I said rarely  seen, not never seen. ;)

SmugAardvark > nhjeff 01/24/2020 at 18:22

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Ah, I must have been looking at the total production numbers for Spyders overall. Good catch.

SmugAardvark > Nauraushaun 01/24/2020 at 18:23

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Same here. My SVX was pearl white, and it was stunning on the few occasions it was freshly washed and waxed.

Michael Lawson > Nauraushaun 01/24/2020 at 23:44

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I have one for sale it's a 92 3000GT RUNS AND DRIVES NEEDS SOME MAINTENANCE

Nauraushaun > SmugAardvark 01/25/2020 at 00:50

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My first Z32 300ZX was also pearl white! It was clean pretty often, looked great.

OnDOne > SmugAardvark 01/25/2020 at 04:20

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Well, imagine my surprise this afternoon when I go to check my Google feed, and a picture of my car is at the top in an Oppo post. Wow! What a perfect sequence of events. I was on a day trip for work. I was running late for my flight and deci ded to park in the garage since it’ s closer to the terminal. I usually take another car to the airport and park in the parking lot next to the garage.

For those wondering, I bought my Spyder in 2005 with 25k miles ( thanks to a lead on 3SI) from the 2nd owner who lived near Boston . I bought her sight unseen, just photos from the seller and positive feedback from a friend who went to check her ou . He said, “if you don’t buy it, I will.” The 3000GT Spyder VR4 has always been a dream car of mine since it was released in ‘95 . She’s got 57K on her now, and it’s all been trouble free .

I saw the comment earlier about a similar spec’d Spyder spotted on Apr 15, 2017. The picture looks to be taken in Virginia. If so ( and its NoVA) that could have also been me. I lived in the DMV at that time and often drove her to Katie’s Cars and Coffee.

Thanks for spotting her and giving her a moment in the spotlight. And, sorry....she’s not for sale.

OnDOne > McMike 01/25/2020 at 04:23

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If this was taken in Northern Virginia,  it could have also been me.  I used to live in NoVa in 2017.

McMike > OnDOne 01/25/2020 at 09:12

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I was at the Rolling Rd Advanced Auto when I took that photo.

SmugAardvark > OnDOne 01/25/2020 at 18:09

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Haha, that’s awesome!

I work at the airport, and my duties take me through the garage and parking lots daily, so I see lots of stuff come through here. But I have to say, your car stood out to me far more than the dozen or so 911's, Corvettes, and M5's  scattered around the garage that evening.

Excellent work keeping it clean and pristine. You’ve got every right to be proud of that car!

OnDOne > McMike 01/27/2020 at 22:18

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Well, t hen that is a surprise. It probably wasn't me.  I rarely rolled up that far north. Cool that there was another white Spyder in the DMV.  

ANGEL > nhjeff 01/28/2020 at 14:21

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Getting the actual production numbers for the 3000GT Spyder is confusing for most. Mitsubishi had registered 1,618 for production and was adding a Green color option for 1996 that never happened . But production was pulled early in 1996 and only very few cars where actually completed. Total actual production numbers for 1995 where 888 Units, which included 368 Non-Turbo and 520 Turbo models. Production numbers for 1996 where 62 Non-Turbo and 84 Turbo models. A total of 1,034 Units where completed

ANGEL > SmugAardvark 01/28/2020 at 14:48

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Getting the actual production numbers for the 3000GT Spyder is confusing for most. Mitsubishi had registered 1,618 for production and was adding a Green color option for 1996 that never happened. But production was pulled early in 1996 and only very few cars where actually completed. Total actual production numbers for 1995 where 888 Units, which included 368 Non-Turbo and 520 Turbo models. Production numbers for 1996 where 62 Non-Turbo and 84 Turbo models. A total of 1,034 Units where completed