Few automobiles throughout history have wielded as significant an influence on society as the unassuming Willys Jeep. The original militaristic Willys MB, unveiled in 1941 sporting a minuscule 84-inch wheelbase and 4WD, provided the ideal combination for traversing various terrains during World War II. Journalist Ernie Pyle, once expressed, “Goodness, I reckon we wouldn’t have been able to carry on with the war minus the Jeep. It accomplishes everything. It goes everywhere.” Consequently, the civilian CJ iteration post-war also enjoyed popularity, with the commercial variant exceeding 1.5 million sales before the Jeep’s former owner, AMC, halted production in 1985.
Surprisingly, however, Mitsubishi also dabbled in crafting the Jeep CJ, with the opportunity to acquire one now.
A perusal of the Northeast Auto Imports listing reveals what seems like a standard CJ-3 Jeep—bearing the “Jeep” insignia on the front sheet metal. However, a closer examination uncovers a few hints regarding its true identity. Notably, it features right-hand drive and displays a faint Mitsubishi emblem imprinted over the iconic grille; further, as a more prominent indicator, instead of the Willys Hurricane inline-four, it houses a 78-horsepower Mitsubishi 4DR5 diesel engine under the hood. This 2.6-liter inline-four pairs with a four-on-the-treemanual transmission powering all four wheels, in traditional Jeep style. Specifically constructed in 1977 as the Jeep J3, this particular model emerged nearly ten years subsequent to the cessation of the domestic CJ-3.
Even more astonishingly, Mitsubishi initiated the production of the J3 in 1953 and continued the manufacturing of Jeeps until 1998. Indeed, up until 1998, consumers could purchase a brand-new CJ-3 Willys Jeep, functionally resembling those utilized during the Korean War, albeit equipped with a Mitsubishi diesel engine. Throughout nearly five decades of assembly, Mitsubishi marketed 200,000 Jeeps in various configurations; aside from the currently available soft-top, short-wheelbase model by Northeast Auto Imports, extended-wheelbase versions, hardtop editions, and four-door variants were also available, powered by both gasoline and diesel engines.
Four-door hardtop Mitsubishi Jeep, By Tennen-Gas – CC BY-SA 3.0
I have always desired a vintage Jeep; while the contemporary Wrangler showcases impressive off-road capabilities, it doesn’t alter the fact that the shortest version currently offered in 2022 maintains a wheelbase 16 inches longer than an old Willys CJ-3. Add a robust Japanese diesel engine, a feature I already wholeheartedly endorse due to my ownership experience yielding satisfactory outcomes, and I’m completely onboard.
Have a tip or query for the author? Reach out directly: victoria.scott@thedrive.com
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