1990 Mitsubishi Montero 4X4, 5 speed manual, AZ car since new, no rust, 2 owner

1990 Mitsubishi Montero Description

For sale is a one of a kind 1990 Mitsubishi Montero 4X4. It comes with a 5 speed manual transmission, A/C, AM/FM radio, tan cloth interior (non-smoker owners). It has been in Arizona its entire life so there is absolutely no rust on the body or frame. It is a rugged, no-frills truck with manual windows, manual door locks, manual seats, no cruise control. These trucks are known to be long-lasting, durable, and very capable off road. I purchased it from the original owner in Dec, 2010. At the time, I thought it needed a new clutch so I drove it home and parked it while I painted it in the color scheme that you see in the photos. (Factory color is white). Soon after, I lost interest in the project until this year, so it sat for some time.
In late March 2016, I installed a new battery, changed the oil and oil filter, drained the old gasoline and cleaned the fuel tank (fortunately there is a drain plug in the fuel tank that allows you to fully drain and thoroughly clean the tank), installed a new fuel pump with pre-filter, installed a new fuel filter, and aired up the tires. It started right up with no smoke or hesitation, and ran very smoothly. Next, I had a mechanic address the clutch issue. It turned out that the clutch was simply out of adjustment, and it does not need a new clutch. He adjusted the clutch and the car drives nicely. (It is an older car, so it shifts better once warmed up. Occasionally, 2nd gear will be temperamental, but it will shift smoothly through all the gears once driven a short distance). I also ran it through our Arizona emissions testing procedure, where they measure the exhaust that comes from the tail pipe, and it passed with flying colors! The Hydrocarbons (HC), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX) all registered at about 1/4 of the allowable emissions. That was surely impressive and speaks highly of this engine.
The paint job of satin black, army green, charcoal grey, and a red accent stripe is distinctive (albeit fading from sitting through a few AZ summers). It is not a high end paint job, so you can take this car off roading and not feel bad about it. The interior is clean, with some weathering on the dash (cracking, as shown in the last photo). The seats have no stains or smells, and the carpets are good (a few blemishes). The AC blew very cold when I bought it, and now it still blows cold, with enough freon in the system to allow the compressor to turn on and off. However, it could be filled up to maximize the AC system's effectiveness. The tires have plenty of tread and were relatively new when I bought the car, but after sitting for so long I would recommend that the new owner replace the tires. It does have a Thule roof rack, but I do not have the keys for the rack.
All of the headlights, tail lights, blinkers, flashers, dome lights, and radio work. The only electrical item I found that needs to be addressed is that the fuel gauge doesn't always accurately show the correct fuel level. A new fuel gauge sending unit/float should remedy that issue. (There is an access panel to the fuel tank in the cargo area so this is not a difficult repair). This is a good running older vehicle. It should provide years of service for the next owner. First generation Monteros are harder and harder to find, especially rust free and with a manual transmission. I believe my description describes the vehicle accurately, but buyers should be realistic about a 26 year old car with 180K miles. It is not perfect. Also, I believe it photographs well, and probably looks better in photos than up close, but I don't think anyone will be disappointed in person. (There is a rubber window trim shown in one of the photos, on the rear passenger door, that is warped). Should you have any other questions, please ask and I would be happy to speak with you in person if you prefer. Thanks!