Mitsubishi L300

Mitsubishi L300
Manufacturer:	Mitsubishi
Production period:	1980-1998
Previous model:	none
Successor:	L400

The Mitsubishi L300 is a pickup truck that Mitsubishi has offered in Europe since 1979 . This was the Mitsubishi Delica II. In 1998 the 2nd generation was replaced by the Mitsubishi L400 , which in turn corresponded to the 4th generation of the Mitsubishi Delica.

L300 (L0 1980–1986) platform truck (L0 1983–1994)

L300
L300
Production period:	1980-1987
Designs:	Flatbed trucks , panel vans , minibuses
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.6–2.0 liters (48–65 kW) Diesel engines : 2.3–2.5 liters (50–51 kW)
Length:	4100-4445 mm
Width:	1690 mm
Height:	1990 mm
Wheelbase:	2200-2350 mm

In 1980 the L300 was presented in Germany. With the 1.6-liter gasoline engine with 48 kW (65 hp) it consumed less than 10 l / 100 km. In contrast to the VW bus , which was the best-selling VW bus in Germany at the time , it had a ladder frame , individually suspended front wheels on double wishbones , a driven rigid rear axle and a water-cooled motor under the front seats that was modern for the time . It was available as a minibus with two sliding doors or as a panel van , also with 2 sliding doors, a tailgate and 3 front seats. From March 1983 Mitsubishi also offered an L300 with all-wheel drive on the chassis of the Mitsubishi Pajero . A 1.8-liter gasoline engine with 60 kW (82 hp) was also new. A 3-seater platform truck and a chassis for bodies with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with 51 kW (70 hp) came onto the market in April 1983. For the first time there was also a 2.3-liter diesel engine with 50 kW (68 hp) for the bus, which was also available in panel vans from September 1983. From November 1984, the flatbed truck's 70-horsepower gasoline engine was also available. The import of the van ended in October 1986. In November 1986, the first engine with a catalytic converter followed , with a displacement of 2.0 liters and 65 kW (88 hp), which together with the 1.6-liter, 51 kW (70 hp) engine Otto engine was the only variant still available until the import of the bus in February 1987. The pickup truck and the chassis were available with a 2.5-liter diesel engine and 51 kW (69 hp) at the same time and were sold until April 1994.

L300 all-wheel drive
L300 platform with caravan body

L300 II (P0 1987–1998) platform truck (P0 1994–1999)

L300 II
L300 II
Production period:	1987-1998
Designs:	Flatbed trucks , panel vans , minibuses
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.6–2.4 liters (51–85 kW) Diesel engine : 2.5 liters (51 kW)
Length:	4380-4780 mm
Width:	1690 mm
Height:	1840-1955 mm
Wheelbase:	2235-2435 mm

In February 1987 a new generation started in Germany, which corresponded to the Mitsubishi Delica III. The chassis was the same as its predecessor, while the body and interior were new. In addition, the rust protection, which was inadequate on the first model, had been thoroughly improved. The panel van / station wagon was also new and now also available in a version with a longer wheelbase and a high roof. The standard version of the L300 II was the minibus version with nine seats distributed over three rows of seats. The driver's seat was designed as a single seat. In this version, the L300 had steering wheel gearshift, while the gearshift lever was placed next to the driver's seat in the case of 2 individual seats. As a variant with all-wheel drive, the L300 had eight and in the estate version up to six seats. There were many technical innovations and almost without exception new engines. In addition to the 1.6-liter with 51 kW (69 hp) and the 2.0-liter with catalytic converter and 64 kW (87 hp), there was also the 2.0-liter gasoline engine with 66 kW (90 hp) or 83 kW (113 PS) and a 2.4-liter gasoline engine with 80 kW (109 PS) are available. The diesel engine, already known from the flatbed truck, had increased its displacement to 2.5 liters and now developed 51 kW (69 PS, later 70 PS). In the panel van / station wagon, however, apart from the diesel engine, there were only 1.6 and 2.0 liter petrol engines with catalytic converters. The platform truck / chassis of the previous model was still available with the 1.6-liter gasoline engine and the diesel engine.

From 1988 the diesel engine with a turbocharger from the Mitsubishi Pajero with 64 kW (87 hp) was also available for the minibus . In 1990, the 2.4-liter gasoline engine was redesigned with 82 kW (112 hp) and a catalytic converter. The 90 PS variant of the 2.0 liter gasoline engine now also had a catalytic converter and developed 65 kW (88 PS) with all-wheel drive. The output of the panel van / station wagon remained at 64 kW (87 hp).

In 1990 the L300 luxury bus appeared. This was a 7-seater bus with a standard panoramic roof, variably adjustable seats in the passenger compartment, electric windows, central locking, additional heating in the rear, electric blinds in the passenger area, aluminum wheels, power steering, other headlights and a differently designed front and much more at a starting price of 31,500 DM for the 90 hp variant with a gasoline engine.

From 1991 the van / station wagon with the 2.5-liter turbo-charged diesel engine was also available. In 1994 the 1.6-liter petrol engine was dropped from the range and the panel van was only available with the diesel engine in combination with all-wheel drive.

From July 1994 the new platform truck / chassis with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine with 85 kW (116 hp) with catalytic converter was introduced. From November this was also available with the turbo diesel engine.

From July 1996, the flatbed truck's petrol engine with an output of 83 kW (113 hp) with a catalytic converter replaced the previous equally powerful engine without a catalytic converter.

The import of the L300 bus versions ended in summer 1998. The panel van / station wagon was still imported until the successor Mitsubishi L400 appeared in autumn 1998. The flatbed truck was imported until the summer of 1999 and had no successor.

Because of the simple and rugged ladder frame construction, the available all-terrain four-wheel drive and the comparable low price of L300 was mainly in mountainous areas as a command vehicle and crew transport vehicle by firefighters and Technisches Hilfswerk (THW) used. Although the use of minibuses as hearses was not very widespread in Germany at that time , the model was often used by relevant coachbuilders such as Rappold or Stolle as the basis for the 2-coffin design.