Mitsubishi Delica

The Mitsubishi Delica is a range of trucks and multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) built by Mitsubishi since 1968. It was originally based on a small pickup truck introduced the previous year, also called the Delica, its name a contraction of the English language phrase Delivery car.[1] This truck, and a commercial van derived from it has received many names in export markets, being sold as the L300 (later L400) in Europe and New Zealand, Express and Starwagon in Australia, and plain Mitsubishi Van and Wagon in the US. The passenger car versions were known as Delica Star Wagon from 1979 until the 1994 introduction of the Delica Space Gear, which became simply Space Gear in Europe at least. The most recent version (not available as a commercial vehicle) is called the Delica D:5. With the exception of the fourth generation, all five generations are still sold in various international markets.

In Japan, the Delica Cargo nameplate was used on badge-engineered Mazda Bongos between 1999 and 2010. Since 2011, the Delica D:2 name has been applied to a rebadged Suzuki Solio.

First generation (1968–1979)

 

The production of the Delica light commercial cab-over pickup began in July 1968.[3] It received the chassis code T100, in line with the recently (January 1968) introduced "T90" Canter. Using a KE44 1,088 cc engine producing 58 PS (43 kW), its maximum payload was 600 kg (1,323 lb) and had a top end speed of 115 km/h (71 mph). A year later, in line with consumer needs, a cargo van and a passenger van were added to the line-up. The passenger van, discontinued in 1976, was called the 'Delica Coach' and could seat nine people in three rows of seats. The engine was upgraded to 62 PS (46 kW) in 1969.


1975–1979 Colt T120 (equivalent to Delica 1400), Indonesia
In March 1971 a slightly facelifted version, called the Delica 75, arrived. This (the T120) received a small grille rather than the naked metal front of the earliest Delicas, and a new 1.4-liter Neptune (4G41) engine rated at 64 kilowatts (86 hp) was added to the line-up. The smaller 1.1-liter engine may have remained available in a 600 kilograms (1,300 lb) version of the truck but if so, it soon vanished entirely.[4]


After a fall 1974 facelift, the Delica received a new nose with lots of plastic cladding and double headlights, now mounted beneath the swage line. It was now known only as the "Delica 1400", as this was the only engine with which it was available (mention of a Delica 1200 is most likely apocryphal, perhaps an issue of confusion arising from the "120" chassis code). A longer wheelbase (T121) 1-ton truck was added in 1976.[4]

In export markets, this car was sometimes called simply the Colt T100 / T120. Record, a Greek manufacturer of agricultural vehicles, plagiarized the Delica T120 design (using the same windshield, for instance) for their fibreglass-bodied "GS2000" truck.[5]

Second generation (1979–1986)

Overview
Also called
Chrysler L300 Express (AU)[6]
Ford Husky (ZA)[7]
Mitsubishi Colt Solar/L300 (ID)
Mitsubishi L300
Mitsubishi L300 Express (AU)
Hyundai Porter
Isuzu Bison (ID)
Mahindra Voyager (IN)
Production 1979–1986 (Van)
1979–1994 (Truck)
1987-present (Philippines)
Assembly Japan: Nagoya (Nagoya Plant)
Indonesia: Jakarta (PTKYTBM)
South Korea: Ulsan
Philippines: Cainta, Rizal (Misubishi Philippines) [8]
Body and chassis
Body style 2-door pickup
4-door van/wagon
Layout front engine, rear-wheel-drive
front engine, four-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine 1.4 L I4 (gasoline)
1.6 L I4 (gasoline)
1.8 L I4 (gasoline)
2.0 L I4 (gasoline)
2.3 L I4 (diesel)
2.5 L I4 (diesel)
Transmission 3-speed automatic
4-speed manual
5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase SWB: 2,200 mm (86.6 in)
LWB: 2,350 mm (92.5 in)
Length SWB: 4,100 mm (161.4 in)
LWB: 4,260 mm (167.7 in)
Van: 4,445 mm (175.0 in)
Width 1,670–1,690 mm (65.7–66.5 in) (van)
1,695 mm (66.7 in) (pickup)
Height 1,970–1,990 mm (77.6–78.3 in) (van)

1,795 mm (70.7 in) (pickup)
The Delica series was replaced in June 1979 by an all new design, bringing overall width up to the maximum 1,690-millimetre (67 in) dictated by Japanese regulations for "compact" vehicles.[9] Suspended at the front by an independent wishbone construction and a leaf spring at the rear, the Delica also features a sliding side door and one-piece gas strut tailgate.[6] The line-up was expanded to include ten model variations encompassing a wide variety of passenger (eight seats in a three/two/three configuration[10]), cargo and recreational applications. A four-wheel drive option was made available in 1982, a first in the Japanese van market. Engines were all four-cylinders well known from MMC's passenger cars and included the 1,439 cc, 80 PS (59 kW) Saturn (4G33) and 1.6-liter Saturn (4G32) engines. A 1.8-liter Sirius (4G62) version producing 100 PS (74 kW) appeared in May 1980, and a 2.0-liter Sirius (4G63B) petrol version became optional in 4WD versions from November 1983.[11] A 2.3-liter Astron (4D55) diesel appeared in October 1982 and was replaced by the larger 2.5-liter Astron (4D56) in 1986.

The four-wheel drive version of the Delica was first introduced to the Japanese market in October 1982.[11] This versatile vehicle utilized a modified version of the Mitsubishi Pajero's chassis, albeit usually with smaller engines (originally only the 1.8-liter gasoline).[10] After the introduction of the third generation Delica, the truck (separate cab) version of the second generation continued to be built until 1994. Japanese consumers were liable for higher amounts of annual road tax due to the larger engines installed in higher trim level packages.

Marketing Edit
Australia
Chrysler Australia introduced the SA series Delica to the Australian market in April 1980 under the name "Chrysler L300 Express".[10] After acquiring control of the Chrysler Australia operations in the same month,[12] Mitsubishi Motors renamed the firm Mitsubishi Motors Australia in October 1980.[13] This resulted in the rebranding of the L300 Express as a Mitsubishi.[10] Fitted with a 1.6-liter engine and four-speed manual, both van (three-seater commercial) and wagon (eight-seater) variants were offered, with the commercial (van) version available with or without side rear windows.[10][14] The utility (pickup) version was not sold in Australia, as the L200 Express covered that segment of the market.[10] In November 1981 the SB series was introduced, now fitted with radial ply tires on larger diameter wheels, thus increasing the payload capacity from 925 to 1,000 kilograms (2,039 to 2,205 lb).[10] The following month, Mitsubishi introduced the high-roofed luxury "Deluxe" trim, fitted with electric sunroof and cloth upholstery.[10] The next update to the SB series arrived in October 1982, resulting in the "Deluxe" trim being renamed "Starwagon" and gaining a larger 1.8-liter engine—offered with a five-speed overdrive manual or optional three-speed automatic.[10] The "Star Wagon" (this was written either as one or as two words) moniker was also used on examples assembled by Todd Motors in New Zealand, albeit with the 65 PS (48 kW) 1.6-liter engine.[15] Mitsubishi extended the availability of the 1.8-liter engine to the lower-specification variants, albeit in automatic guise only.[16] The 1.8 was also available in the long wheelbase, high roof, panel van version.

From May 1983, the L300 Express received rectangular headlights in chrome surrounds as part of the SC iteration.[10] The SC also featured newly designed black resin bumpers and adjustments to the front suspension spring rate to improve ride and handling.[17] The four-wheel drive version, badged "4WD", came in October 1983 as a 1.8-liter model with floor-mounted five-speed manual only, therefore becoming a seven-passenger model by losing the front-row center seat.[10][18] After another facelift in late 1984, the car became the SD series, introducing better equipment and black headlight surrounds along with a black trim piece between the headlights on "Starwagon" and "4WD" trims.[19][20] The SD revision also upgraded the "4WD" to a 2.0-liter engine, with the 1.8-liter standard issue in a new long-wheelbase commercial (van) model.[19] A final minor update, the SE series appeared in 1986.[21]

Asia
This generation has been produced in the Philippines since 1987 as the "Mitsubishi L300 Versa Van" (discontinued in 2011) as well as the Cab/Chassis variant where local coach builders assemble rear bodies for passenger and cargo hauling purposes. Variations such as the FB (family business), PET (personal and equipment transport), WT (water tight aluminum van) and DS (drop side) have been made to cater to those needs. In 2010, an extended rear body variant for the FB variant called the Exceed was added. In 2014, local truck body manufacturer Centro Manufacturing launched a minibus version of the L300 called the XV Mikrobus. It is built on the FB Exceed platform and is ment to be used as a public utility vehicle, a school bus, or an ambulance. It is also ment to revive the Versa Van and to be an alternative to the FB variant.[22]

This generation is still in production in Indonesia as the "Mitsubishi Colt L300",[23] equipped with the 2.5-liter 4D56 diesel engine. A gasoline engine was also available for a short period, but due to lack of demand, was discontinued. Since 2010, Isuzu Indonesia have sold this second generation Delica as the Isuzu Bison—available in pickup and minibus versions with an Isuzu Panther-sourced 4JA1L 2.5 litre diesel engine with 80 PS (59 kW). The Bison costs a bit more than a corresponding L300.[24]

In South Korea, Hyundai built the second generation Delica as the "Hyundai Porter", replacing an earlier model with the same name. South Korean production of this Porter continued alongside the third generation Delica, which was marketed by Hyundai as the "Grace". This Porter was replaced by an indigenously developed third generation Porter in March 1996.


From 1997 to 2000, the car was sold by Mahindra & Mahindra in India as the "Mahindra Voyager", but priced too high it was taken out of production after only a little over two years. The Voyager did meet with some success as an ambulance, but this association only further prevented prospective private purchasers.[25] Unique to the Mahindra Voyager is the fitment of PSA's 2.5 liter XD3P diesel engine, producing 72.5 PS (53 kW) DIN at 4000 rpm.[26]