The 80s Mitsubishi And Chrysler Crossover Car You Forgot Existed

Mitsubishi’s annual production soared to more than a million cars in the 1980s. And by the time the Starion/Conquest debuted in 1982, the Mitsubishi-Chrysler relationship began to go south. Mitsubishi was expanding in Europe by the mid-1970s, and this decision left a bad taste in the Chrysler brass’ mouths, which birthed a see-saw of concerning accusations.

Chrysler found it unacceptable that Mitsubishi was competing with the brand in other markets. On the other hand, Mitsubishi was having trouble with Chrysler’s financial struggles and its propensity to interfere heavily with the brand’s corporate strategy and product planning. And because of this, Chrysler distanced itself heavily from marketing the Dodge Conquest.

It’s the reason why promotional brochures for the Dodge/Plymouth Conquest had the words “Imported by Chrysler Corporation and built by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation” on the top of the first paragraph as a winking eye that something’s brewing underneath. Despite their troubles, Chrysler and Mitsubishi agreed to unify and form a vehicle manufacturing agreement in Normal, Illinois, called Diamond-Star Motors by 1985.

As for the Starion/Conquest, production ended in Japan by 1989. Diamond Star began churning out the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, and Eagle Talon as successors to what many consider as a forgotten sporting icon of the 1980s. The Mitsubishi Starion/Dodge Conquest was so iconic that it earned a starring role in the film Cannonball Run II, impressive given the cast list includes other legendary autos like the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, Pontiac Firebird, and the Lamborghini Countach.