Watch: Mitsubishi restores its first Dakar-winning Pajero
Words: Kyle Cassidy
Mitsubishi has restored the first Pajero to win the Dakar Rally, commemorating its success in one of the toughest races of all.
Mitsubishi first entered the Dakar Rally with the Pajero in 1985 when the rally stretched over more than 10,000km, with around 7,500km of competitive stages.
To prepare the Pajero for that challenge, a stock chassis was used, but the front axle was moved forward to improve weight distribution.
Read more – New Mitsubishi Pajero spied testing?
The leaf-sprung rear suspension was also changed out to a multi-link system for improved handling.
The standard body panels were swapped out for other lightweight materials such as carbon fibre, and kevlar-enforced plastic.
Power came from a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that made a humble-but-reliable 165kW. It also received a five-speed manual transmission which sent power to all four wheels.
In the video, produced by Mitsubishi, it’s explained how the Pajero lived a harsh life following its first Dakar victory, left untouched for four decades.
According to Mitsubishi, the panels were in decent shape so could be re-used. They also kept the bumps and scratches acquired from its victory.
Not only did this SUV take out the top spot in 1985, but Mitsubishi’s other driver pairing (in another Pajero) claimed second, giving them a 1-2 finish.
In total, Mitsubishi won the Dakar Rally 12 times, including seven consecutive victories between 2001 and 2007.
