*Seller Asking:
$24,999
- The Spyder, which was a $20k option, featured the industry’s only retractable hard top. This was quite a shock to consumers, since many of them had never seen a hardtop convertible in their life (this was the first hardtop convertible in the US since the Ford Fairlane Skyliner of the 50’s)
- Mitsubishi didn’t actually build the Spyder. Instead, they put aside a 3000GT coupe at the factory, where they strengthened the A-pillars, removed the “Active Aero”, and installed Spyder-exclusive tuned springs and shocks. Then they shipped these coupes out to a company named ASC, Inc who performed the conversion
- Despite the “one touch” operation, the hardtop assembly was incredibly complex (over 1600 precision parts). The whole build process at ASC took 25 stages. This included adding box-section reinforcement (weighing 110 lbs) and removing the entire interior (minus the dash). Everything was done by hand ->
- When assembly was finished, the car moved on to a water leakage test, where it received the equivalent of 19 inches of rain in a period of 4 minutes. Then the car completed a 7 mile road test on the streets surrounding the facility before being shipped off to a Mitsubishi dealer
- While the hardtop assembly added extra weight in the rear (the top alone weighs 98 lbs), it actually equalized the weight distribution of the entire car, giving it a 50/50 balance (regardless, the Spyder wasn’t designed to handle or drive like the Coupe)
- The Getrag 6spd in the VR-4 features an exceptionally tall overdrive ratio of 0.59:1 in 6th gear, which is done for highway fuel economy. Top speed cannot be achieved in this gear
- When revealed, the Spyder was a hit, earning Mitsubishi 500 pre-orders right off the bat. There’s a strong rumor that this caught the attention of Mercedes Benz, giving them the idea to introduce the market’s second hardtop convertible: the SLK
- First year of the Spyder, which could be ordered only on the automatic trans SL model or the 6spd VR-4 model. The following year (1996) was the last year of the Spyder. Only 1,034 Spyders were sold
- The Active Exhaust option is dropped for this year
- Glass headlights are replaced with Lexan units, which visually identical
- Infinity 8-Speaker system becomes standard on all trims
- The electronically controlled suspension (ECS) was dropped mid-way through the model year
- The following year (1996) sees the switch to OBD II, and an EGR system is installed across the lineup. The electric sunroof option is now available on all trims
Seller Notes:
- 55k original miles
- Genuine VR4 Spyder retractable hardtop
- No accidents, non smoker
- New tires. Ice cold A/C
- Completely stock
- Louisville, Ohio – (more photos below)
- UPDATE: ad is no longer available (sold or expired)
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UPDATE: ad is no longer available (sold or expired)
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*SAE rated from factory. May not reflect current output
*Performance numbers pulled from either the factory brochure or reputable automotive road tests
*Base price when new does not reflect original MSRP of this particular car, nor does it reflect what the original owner paid for it
*Advertised price at time of posting. Sellers can raise or lower prices on their original ad at any time. Click on the original ad to view current price/availability
Mileage Disclaimer: NOC has not confirmed if the mileage stated by the seller is true and accurate. It is up to the buyer to verify these claims. Vehicle history reports, service records stating mileage, and even inspections of odometer tampering are recommended.
