1985 Mitsubishi L200
1985 Mitsubishi L200
Engine - 4G63 2.L Petrol
Transmission - 4 Speed Manual w/ Transfer Case
Suspension - Heavy-duty Gabriel shocks, reset leaf springs, and heavy-Duty Tough Dog torsion bars
Tyres - Yokohama Geolander on 15x7 Dunlop TE’s
Equipped For - Touring
This 1985 Mitsubishi L200, affectionately known as "Larry," hasn't had an easy life. After being abandoned at a mechanic's in Lithgow when a customer refused to pay for a repair, it sat there for around five years before a gentleman from Faulconbridge bought it and then left it sitting in his yard for another eleven years. So how did I end up with it?
At the start of 2025, I was diagnosed with cancer and told I'd have to undergo three rounds of chemotherapy and surgery. I've always had a soft spot for Mitsubishis, and while waiting for my oncologist one day, I was browsing Facebook Marketplace when the ute popped up. Patina galore, an okay interior, a bit of rust but the seller assured me it ran and drove. I thought to myself, "This will be perfect to keep my mind off the treatment and my hands busy." So I phoned a mate, grabbed a set of jump leads, and we headed up there with the hope of getting it back to Sydney.
When we arrived, it was a bit rougher than the photos suggested, but that didn't bother me. It had 330,000 km on the clock, all accrued fifteen years prior. We got it running and struck a deal with the owner: $1,200 and a firm handshake sealed it. Remarkably, the alternator was still healthy enough after sixteen years for the car to run off it alone, no battery needed. We topped up the fuel and headed back to Sydney, no battery and riding on thirty-year-old tyres.
Then the real work began: turning this rusty, tired old ute into something roadworthy.
I loaded the car up and took it to Jim at Pneumatic Customs in Galston, an expert in metalwork and fabrication. We fixed all the rust in the doors, floors and sills, then decided it needed a proper makeover. We landed on a front bar design inspired by '90s pre-runners a steep approach angle, a simple built-in bash plate, and no hoops on the bar itself. Jim also fabricated belly pans to protect the gearbox and sump.
Next, it was off to Dylan, a good mate of mine and an excellent mechanic and fabricator. I'd always wanted a car with a side-draft carb, so that's exactly what we did we hacked up the stock manifold and fitted a DCOE 45 with 50mm billet trumpets and mesh screen filters for that intake noise, along with a stainless exhaust.
Last but not least, it went to Anthony at JTP in Castle Hill, where we refreshed everything suspension, bearings, brakes, seals, gaskets, the lot. No stone left unturned.
Mechanically, the ute was done, but it was missing something. It needed that extra flair, and I knew exactly who to call: Al Brajic. If you know, you know the GOAT of pinstriping and sign writing in Sydney. I brought him the car with a rough idea of what I wanted, and he brought it to life. He matched the missing, damaged graphics on the door and front guard to the rest of the car, and added the "Triple Diamond Garage" logo to the doors and "Parts and Restorations" across the tub, a nod to my passion for restoring Mitsubishis and my extensive collection of series parts, factory options and new-old-stock pieces. The Ace, King and Queen cards making up the "Triple Diamond" are a nod to the Mitsubishi emblem and also the best hand you can hold in three-card poker.
By this point I was pretty happy with how the car drove, but there was still one thing I hadn't touched: the interior. After a few calls to local trimmers, I was recommended Lewis at Moorestyle in Dural. I explained the idea and the colour scheme, and he absolutely delivered bucket-style seats built on a bench seat frame, black woven leather inserts and matching door cards. The cherry on top? The door logo, laser-etched into the headrests.
The ute was done. Patina intact, but virtually a new car underneath and inside the cabin. Another one saved. Larry now proudly sits in my garage alongside my eight other Mitsubishis.
I'm so grateful to everyone who helped me with the car and with myself while I was battling cancer. I'll always appreciate the time and effort everyone gave to help me through it. Thank you all.
Photos by - Kyle Bowler
Words by - Will Mccarthy