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Mitsubishi Celeste - almost forgotten Nippon coupé

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Created on May 27, 2021

Reading time 7min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

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Bruno von Rotz

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Archiv Emil Frey Classics / Automobil Revue

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Bruno von Rotz

79

Archiv Emil Frey Classics / Automobil Revue

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Archiv

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - mit 234 cm relativ kurzer Radstand

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - im Anmarsch

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - erreichte knapp 160 km/h Spitze damals

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - das Gesicht des Wagens fällt nicht auf

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - vorne mit McPherson-Federbeinen

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - das Coupé für alle Tage

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - 133 cm hoch

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - nur die erste Serie hatte Rundscheinwerfer vorne

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - die Radioantenne versorgt den MW-UKW-Empfänger mit Signalen

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - problemlos zu fahren

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - kompakte Statur

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - mit Heckantrieb

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - serienmässig waren 165 SR 13 Reifen aufgezogen

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - sprungbereit

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Coupé mit hoher Ladekante

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - gefällige Linienführung

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - praktische Hecklappe

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Coupé-Fahren repräsentierte damals (und heute) ein bisschen Luxus

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - elegante Erscheinung

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - ein bisschen etwas von einem Statussymbol hatte dieser Mitsubishi

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - vor allem der Heckabschluss war unverwechselbar

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - in der Schweiz mit nur einem Aussenspiegel

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - ein typisches Kind der Siebzigerjahre

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Länge 411,5 cm

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - nicht nur für Kirchgänger

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - mit damals populärer Fliessheck-Coupélinie

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - ST-Variante von hinten gesehen

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - unverwechselbar ginge anders

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - auf den ersten Blick könnte man ihn problemlos mit einem Datsun Cherry oder einem anderen Japaner verwechseln

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - sportlich wirkendes Interieur

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Cockpit mit Holzfurnier-Einlage

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - griffiges und tief geschüsseltes Lenkrad

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - alles im Blick

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - die Instrumente hausen in tiefen Höhlen

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Tachometer und Drehzahlmesser gut im Blickfeld

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Warnleuchten für angezogene Handbremse und offene Türen

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Wassertemperaturinstrument serienmässig

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Vierganggetriebe, Rückwärts links hinten

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Zusatzinstrumente in der Mittelkonsole

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - gut erreichbarer Schalthebel

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Zweiwellenradio serienmässig

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Zugschalter für die Scheinwerfer

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - verstellbare Lenksäule

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - um zu schliessen, muss man drehen

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - etwa beengte Platzverhältnisse im Fond

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - hübsche Polsterstoffe

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - die Rücksitzlehne kann umgeklappt werden ...

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - bei umgeklappter Rücksitzlehne vergrössert sich der Stauraum massiv

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - ruhiger Motorlauf dank zweier Ausgleichswellen

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Leichtmetallzylinderkopk und obenliegende Nockenwelle

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - längs eingebauter Vierzylindermotor

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - der 1600-er hatte einen, der Zweiliter zwei Registervergaser

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - vier Zylinder in Reihe, ein Registervergaser

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Typenschild

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Farbcode

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - von vorne verrät nur das Markenzeichen die Herkunft

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Mitsubishi-Zeichen mit den drei Diamanten

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - seitliche Blinker

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - grosse Scheibenwischblätter

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Stahlfelgen ohne Radkappen

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Schriftzug auf der Flanke

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - alles in Ordnung

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - durchsichtige Zusatzfenster mit Verkleidung als Designkniff

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Design-Akzent mit Durchsicht

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Mitsubishi-Schriftzug links am Heck

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - breite Heckleuchten und Celeste-Schriftzug

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1977) - attraktives Coupé, als 1600 ST mit 73 PS, als 2000 GSR sogar mit 90 PS - Genfer Autosalon 1977

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Mitsubishi Celeste 2000 GSR (1977) - dreitüriges Coupé mit 2,0-Liter-Motor und 90 PS

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - dreitüriges Coupé mit 1,6-Liter-Motor und 73 PS

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1978) - im "Eurolook"

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1975) - noch ohne das Mitsubishi-Zeichen in der Mitte des Kühlergrills

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1977) - Front- und Heckansicht

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1977) - robust und dynamisch

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1977) - viel Platz im Kofferraum

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1975) - Front- und Heckansicht

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1976) - Fliessheckcoupé am Strand

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1976) - Fliessheckcoupé in Gelb

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1976) - mit Aufklebern zur Betonung der Linienführung

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1976) - typisch japanisch die weit vorne montierten Rückspiegel

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1977) - ein Rennrad hat Platz im Kofferraum

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1977) - Cockpit

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1977) - Cockpit der Zweilitervariante

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1977) - Interieur

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1977) - zwei Ausgleichswellen

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1978) - Fliessheckcoupé nach dem Facelift

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Mitsubishi Celeste (1978) - nach dem Facelift

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Plymouth Arrow (1976) - die US-Variante des Mitsubishi Celeste

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977)

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977)

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977)

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977)

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977)

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - das Coupé für alle Tage

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977)

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977) - Coupé-Fahren repräsentierte damals (und heute) ein bisschen Luxus

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977)

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977)

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977)

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977)

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Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST (1977)

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Summary

The Mitsubishi Celeste coupé is probably less common on our roads than many a Ferrari or Maserati sports car. The practical two-door hatchback with rear-wheel drive was one of the brand's first cars to officially make it to Europe and was built for five years. However, a mixture of innovative and traditional technology and low prices were not enough to really compete with the coupé top dogs from Volkswagen and Opel. This driving report focuses on an early Mitsubishi Celeste 1600 ST, tells the story of the model and shows it in historical and current pictures as well as in the sales literature of the time.

This article contains the following chapters

Leap into Europe
Presentation in the fall of 1975
Attractive coupé line
Lanchester balancer shafts
Traditional chassis technology
Extensive equipment
Affordable and competitive
The American twin
Replaced after six years
Few survivors
Pleasant companion

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Which Japanese sports coupés of the seventies do you remember? Toyota Celica, Datsun 240 Z, .... Few people would think of a Mitsubishi. However, with the Celeste model, the brand with the three diamonds as its identifying symbol had a hot iron in the fire, even if the coupé is almost forgotten today. Mitsubishi itself was not a newcomer after the war; the first automobile, based on the Ford Model T, was built as early as 1917. From then on, the company continued to move forward, building up its own suppliers and employing its own design offices. Somewhat later than other car brands, Mitsubishi also set foot in Europe, initially by winning over Dutch drivers to the affordable cars from Japan. After initial successes, the German market began to be developed in 1976 and the Erb Group began to initiate imports into Switzerland via MMC-Automobile AG in 1977.

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