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The Sapporo was an automobile model marketed by the Plymouth division of Chrysler Corporation from 1978 to 1983, named for the Japanese city of Sapporo, Hokkaido. It was a captive import, made by Mitsubishi Motors, which did not sell cars directly in North America at the time. It was identical to the second-generation Dodge Challenger except for minor details such as taillights and available colors; the Challenger was positioned to appeal to the performance market, and the Sapporo to the luxury market, even though both cars were mechanically identical. The model was a large subcompact, actually a version of the Mitsubishi Galant Lambda coupe, also sold as the Mitsubishi Sapporo in other markets.
The discontinuance of the Sapporo after the 1983 model year was probably to help make way for the products of the newly formed Chrysler-Mitsubishi joint-venture, Diamond Star Motors, as well as the entrance of Mitsubishi into the American market under its own name.
Styling
The Sapporo was meant to emphasize luxury; in the mid-70's smaller luxury cars were a growing fad, started by the Cadillac Seville. In pursuit of this idea, stylists turned the first Sapporos into genuine curiosities--small Japanese models tricked out like Detroit's fanciest personal luxury cars. They had frameless door glass, canopy vinyl roofs, velour interiors, "luxury" wheel covers with whitewall tires, and every possible power accessory inside. A common color combination was bright burgundy with white vinyl. A thick chrome targa band at the rear of the roof completed the package.
This over-the-top look apparently did not find great favor in the showrooms, because after a couple of years the Sapporo reverted to a more conventional import style--quieter colors, metal roofs, styled steel wheels on blackwalls, and much less trim. Luxurious touches continued to be supplied, however, particularly in the interior; courtesy lights were everywhere, the fuse box had a fuse test light built in, storage spaces were supplied under the seat and in the console as well as the glove compartment. Mitsubishi drew on its electronics divisions to introduce details such as a high quality stereo with "invisible radio antenna" built into the trunk lid. The car quickly gained a reputation as both fun to drive and stoutly built, although correspondingly slightly heavier than the competition, and developed a bit of a cult following.
Mechanicals
Although the Sapporo in other markets was available with a wide variety of engine options, including diesels, a number of normally aspirated gasoline engines, and a turbocharged 2 liter engine in the top model which also featured independent rear suspension (retained in the Dodge Conquest/Mitsubishi Starion two seat sport coupe, based on the same platform), in the North American market the Sapporo/Challenger was only available in one basic configuration, which combined the close-ratio transmission of the turbocharged version, the live axle (not independent) rear suspension of the lower performance versions, and a very large 2.6 liter normally aspirated four cylinder engine not available in other markets. Rear disk brakes and alloy wheels were available as a package, but not separately. Other options were minimal; air conditioning, cassette player, automatic transmission, cruise control, power door locks and power windows, and a moonroof.
Engine
The Sapporo/Challenger helped introduce Mitsubishi's then-new balance shaft engine technology which minimized the inherent vibration of a large four-cylinder in-line engine, permitting construction of more powerful but still civilized four-cylinder engines. The Sapporo/Challenger (like the earlier Fire Arrow 2.6) was sold in the US with a torquey 2.6 liter normally aspirated version of the Mitsubishi Astron engine, not sold in this size in other markets. It was later adapted to turbocharged use in the more 'sporty' Dodge Conquest/Mitsubishi Starion. The engine also featured a 'Jet Valve', which was a small second intake valve which enhanced swirl in the combustion chamber allowing for burning of a leaner mixture. A similar engine without the Jet Valve was available in Mitsubishi built trucks and in the Canadian versions of the Sapporo/Challenger. The engine, with iron block and aluminum head, developed a reputation for frequently warping and/or cracking the head, which became the car's Achilles heel; because of its relative scarcity, rebuilt heads were rare and expensive, and new replacements, imported from Japan, were very expensive.
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