Mitsubishi Pajero 2300 Diesel Turbo
Mitsubishi mixed serious off-road hardware with passenger-car comfort in a compact three-door 4WD.
1982 Mitsubishi Pajero short-wheelbase museum car · TTTNIS · CC0 1.0 Universal
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
The first Pajero reached production in 1982 after Mitsubishi showed concept versions in 1973 and 1979. Metal-top and canvas-top short bodies came first. This profile follows the Japanese 2300 Diesel Turbo metal-top wagon preserved by Mitsubishi and documented by JSAE—not later long-wheelbase, V6 or Dakar competition versions. The cover is an exact 1982 three-door short-wheelbase Pajero; the photographed vehicle's engine and trim are not documented, so it is not presented as proof of the profile's 4D55 specification.
Look a little closer.
Mitsubishi's preserved specification says the 3.93-metre Pajero could wade through 500 mm of water—about knee height for an adult.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A short body with a real frame
The body sits on a fully welded ladder frame. Front independent suspension helps ride comfort and steering, while a rigid leaf-sprung rear axle carries loads and survives rough ground.
Source: JSAE · 1982 Pajero 2300 Diesel Turbo ↗Racing came after the road car
The Pajero entered the Dakar Rally in 1983 and won overall in 1985. Those competition results matter to the model's story, but this page keeps the road wagon's 95 PS separate from later rally machinery.
Source: Mitsubishi · first-generation Pajero recognized as a historic car ↗Where these facts come from
- Mitsubishi · Pajero historic-car recognition
- Mitsubishi · car history
- JSAE · 1982 Pajero 2300 Diesel Turbo
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.