Tag Archives: personal luxury coupe

Junkyard Find: 1982 Plymouth Sapporo

<img data-attachment-id="1775228" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-3/00-1982-plymouth-sapporo-in-colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/00-1982-Plymouth-Sapporo-in-Colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628950248","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.00083402835696414","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, LH front view" data-image-description="

1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, LH front view – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-11.jpg” data-large-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1775228″ src=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo.jpg” alt=”1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, LH front view – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo.jpg 610w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-10.jpg 75w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-11.jpg 450w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-12.jpg 768w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-13.jpg 120w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-14.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>Chrysler began importing rebadged Mitsubishis to North America starting with the Colt in the 1971 model year, with more models being added as the decade progressed. By 1976, Plymouth shoppers could buy a Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste as the sporty Arrow; Plymouth Arrow and Dodge D-50 (later Ram 50) pickups, based on the Mitsubishi Forte, showed up here in 1979. So that those Dodge/Plymouth dealers would have a small personal luxury coupe to sell, the Japanese-market Galant Lambda hardtop was pressed into American service as the Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Sapporo for 1978. Sales continued through 1983, and I’ve found one of those final Sapporos in a yard south of Denver, Colorado.

<img data-attachment-id="1775262" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-3/44-1982-plymouth-sapporo-in-colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/44-1982-Plymouth-Sapporo-in-Colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628950272","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0038759689922481","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, emblem" data-image-description="

1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, emblem – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-16.jpg” data-large-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-1.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1775262″ src=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-1.jpg” alt=”1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, emblem – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-1.jpg 610w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-15.jpg 75w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-16.jpg 450w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-17.jpg 768w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-18.jpg 120w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-19.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>These machines haven’t been terribly difficult to find in car graveyards, though I certainly saw more of them a decade ago. So far, I’ve documented this ’78 Sapporo, another ’78 Sapporo, this ’81 Challenger, this ’82 Sapporo, and this ’82 Sapporo. Mitsubishi began importing vehicles under its own badging starting in late 1982.

<img data-attachment-id="1775246" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-3/22-1982-plymouth-sapporo-in-colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/22-1982-Plymouth-Sapporo-in-Colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628950194","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.00063694267515924","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, hardtop windows" data-image-description="

1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, hardtop windows – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-21.jpg” data-large-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-2.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1775246″ src=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-2.jpg” alt=”1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, hardtop windows – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-2.jpg 610w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-20.jpg 75w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-21.jpg 450w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-22.jpg 768w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-23.jpg 120w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-24.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>The 1978-1982 Challenger/Sapporo was a true hardtop, and it came stuffed with the same sort of snazzy features normally found in much pricier machinery. List price on the ’82 Sapporo was $8,043, while the MSRP of the ’82 Chrysler Cordoba hardtop started at $8,258 (about $23,330 and $23,960 today, respectively).

<img data-attachment-id="1775250" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-3/28-1982-plymouth-sapporo-in-colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/28-1982-Plymouth-Sapporo-in-Colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628950215","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"80","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, engine" data-image-description="

1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, engine – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-26.jpg” data-large-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-3.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1775250″ src=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-3.jpg” alt=”1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, engine – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-3.jpg 610w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-25.jpg 75w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-26.jpg 450w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-27.jpg 768w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-28.jpg 120w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-29.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>At that price, the Cordoba came with a 90-horsepower Slant-6 engine to drag its 3,315 pounds down the avenue (the 318-cubic-inch V8 and its 130 horses cost a well-worth-it additional 70 bucks). The Sapporo got this 2.6-liter Astron four-cylinder, rated at 105 horsepower, and it weighed a mere 2,410 pounds. That made this car respectably quick by the standards of the time.

<img data-attachment-id="1775252" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-3/30-1982-plymouth-sapporo-in-colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/30-1982-Plymouth-Sapporo-in-Colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628950220","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0020876826722338","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, intake manifold" data-image-description="

1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, intake manifold – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-31.jpg” data-large-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-4.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1775252″ src=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-4.jpg” alt=”1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, intake manifold – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-4.jpg 610w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-30.jpg 75w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-31.jpg 450w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-32.jpg 768w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-33.jpg 120w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-34.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>The Astron went into so many Chrysler and Mitsubishi vehicles over the decades (including some K-cars that got big HEMI 2.6 fender badges) that junkyard shoppers often grab parts from them. Perhaps this car’s cylinder head now lives on in a Montero or Conquest.

<img data-attachment-id="1775264" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-3/46-1982-plymouth-sapporo-in-colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/46-1982-Plymouth-Sapporo-in-Colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628950281","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0031347962382445","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, interior" data-image-description="

1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, interior – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-36.jpg” data-large-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-5.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1775264″ src=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-5.jpg” alt=”1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, interior – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-5.jpg 610w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-35.jpg 75w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-36.jpg 450w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-37.jpg 768w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-38.jpg 120w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-39.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>The interior is grimy and the upholstery has become quite crunchy thanks to relentless Colorado sunshine, so I doubt much of this stuff will be sold before the car faces the cold steel jaws of The Crusher.

<img data-attachment-id="1775272" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-3/55-1982-plymouth-sapporo-in-colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/55-1982-Plymouth-Sapporo-in-Colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628950314","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.00099800399201597","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, MCA-Jet sticker" data-image-description="

1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, MCA-Jet sticker – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-41.jpg” data-large-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-6.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1775272″ src=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-6.jpg” alt=”1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, MCA-Jet sticker – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-6.jpg 610w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-40.jpg 75w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-41.jpg 450w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-42.jpg 768w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-43.jpg 120w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-44.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>Mitsubishi was very proud of the MCA-JET high-swirl fuel-delivery system, which was sort of a simplified version of Honda’s CVCC rig, and applied these stickers accordingly.

<img data-attachment-id="1775238" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-3/17-1982-plymouth-sapporo-in-colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/17-1982-Plymouth-Sapporo-in-Colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628950150","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"80","shutter_speed":"0.016666666666667","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, radio" data-image-description="

1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, radio – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-46.jpg” data-large-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-7.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1775238″ src=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-7.jpg” alt=”1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, radio – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-7.jpg 610w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-45.jpg 75w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-46.jpg 450w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-47.jpg 768w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-48.jpg 120w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-49.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>Unusually for 1982, the Sapporo came with an AM/FM radio as standard equipment. When a company makes consumer electronics (not to mention fighter jets and heavy-lift rocket boosters) in addition to cars, there’s plenty of off-the-shelf audio hardware to put in those cars at a low cost.

<img data-attachment-id="1775234" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-3/11-1982-plymouth-sapporo-in-colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/11-1982-Plymouth-Sapporo-in-Colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628950134","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.0083333333333333","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, interior" data-image-description="

1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, interior – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-51.jpg” data-large-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-8.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1775234″ src=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-8.jpg” alt=”1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, interior – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-8.jpg 610w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-50.jpg 75w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-51.jpg 450w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-52.jpg 768w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-53.jpg 120w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-54.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>The future is here now!

<img data-attachment-id="1775278" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-3/63-1982-plymouth-sapporo-in-colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-murilee-martin/" data-orig-file="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/63-1982-Plymouth-Sapporo-in-Colorado-junkyard-photograph-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,1688" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"SM-G960U1","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628950351","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.3","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.00063816209317167","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, Tube Sand" data-image-description="

1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, Tube Sand – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-56.jpg” data-large-file=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-9.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1775278″ src=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-9.jpg” alt=”1982 Plymouth Sapporo in Colorado junkyard, Tube Sand – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-9.jpg 610w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-55.jpg 75w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-56.jpg 450w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-57.jpg 768w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-58.jpg 120w, http://ghostridermotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/junkyard-find-1982-plymouth-sapporo-59.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>If you’re too cheap to buy winter tires for your rear-wheel-drive car, there’s always tube-sand for the trunk.


Science-fiction robot women with strangely-colored sunglasses agree: 11.9% interest is a steal for this Celica fighter.

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Datsun 200SX? Forget it!

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The JDM version got some seriously cool package-shelf speakers.

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Yes, you could get the padded landau roof in Japan.

For links to more than 2,100 additional Junkyard Finds, including lots of Mitsubishis, please visit the Junkyard Home of the Murilee Martin Lifestyle Brand™.

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Rare Rides: The 1951 Muntz Jet, First-ever Personal Luxury

Did you ever wonder which vehicle is credited with being the very first personal luxury car? Wonder no more, as it’s today’s Rare Ride, the Muntz Jet.

The Muntz owes its creation to an earlier sports car that was creatively named the Kurtis Sport Car, or KSC. Created by Frank Curtis, the KSC was on sale from 1949 to 1950 and was available as a kit or a fully-assembled car. The KSC was based on a ’49 Ford, and as such used a variety of Ford engines. Kurtis quickly realized his hardtop convertible was too expensive to produce, and exited the business after selling around 25 KSCs.

Kurtis sold all the tooling and manufacturing rights for the KSC to Earl Muntz. Muntz (a well-off used car dealer) had his own ideas about a hardtop convertible, and redeveloped the KSC into his own Muntz Jet. Muntz added a luxurious interior to his Jet, and reworked the exterior visuals only slightly from the KSC. Though it looked very similar, the Jet was 400 pounds heavier, and had a 10-inch longer wheelbase than the KSC upon which it was based. The longer wheelbase allowed for a back seat, and room for four passengers instead of two as in the KSC. Notable features on the Jet included standard seat belts, and a padded dashboard for additional safety – neither of those were found on most production cars of the time. It also featured hydraulic brakes, a dual-coil ignition, independent front suspension, and power steering.

Gone were the Ford engines, and on offer instead were Cadillac and Lincoln V8s, both of which made 160 horsepower. Sporty customers could order the Jet with a three-speed Borg-warner manual, while more traditional luxury coupe buyers selected a GM three-speed Hydramatic.

The engine in the Jet depended upon production location. Early on the Jet was built in Glendale, California, and had an aluminum body and the Cadillac V8. Later on production moved to Illinois, where steel bodies were paired with the Lincoln engine instead.

The complicated and technologically advanced Jet was very expensive to make, and lost money even with a $5,500 price tag. It competed with Cadillac convertibles on sale for around $4,000, and Lincolns for $3,600. Worth mentioning, each Jet cost $6,500 to produce. Each sale put Muntz further in debt. Even though the Jet had famous owners like Grace Kelly and Mickey Rooney, the company never made money. Muntz lost an estimated $400,000 on his Jet, and closed down the company in 1954. 198 Jets were built, and around 125 of them are still in existence.

Today’s Rare Ride is a lovely brick red example with a cream interior. It’s the second Jet assembled, one of 40 or so made in California. Yours for $225,000.

[Images: Muntz]