V3000–“MoreTowThananAussieTank”

Gerry Spencer

Garry reflected on Alf’s V3000 in the last edition. Remember the TV advert back in the late 80s, “More tow than an Aussie tank”? It seemed about right – the top speed of 195km/h was probably quicker or more accessible than the standard Falcons and Commodores of the day. And that’s from just 110 kW (150 hp) - the light body helped.

My first real awakening to Japanese cars was when a neighbour gave me a lift to basketball one night in 1986 in his Tredia Turbo. “How fast will it go in 3rd gear?” he asked me. I didn’t need to reply, for moments later I was pressed into the seat as we were humming along at 160. We swooped though Weka Pass at speeds at a minimum of 140 there and back.

Not long after he got a ticket from a cop in a Cordia Turbo, about the only thing on NZ roads that could catch him. A few months later his girlfriend at the time failed to negotiate a slight bend in the road. They both survived; however, he looked pretty sheepish the next day when we passed him in the school bus and he was replacing the strainer assembly in the fence that she wiped out.

For a non-turbo car, the V3000 had legs. It was my first car, my previous two vehicles being motorbikes. It was a 1990 Mitsubishi V3000 Elanté, V6 3L fuel-injected of course, front-wheel drive with 5-speed manual transmission. The limited production Elanté model featured boot lid spoiler, alloy wheels, front air dams, sport suspension package and CD player.

(The origin of Elanté comes from a French word 'Elan' which has a multifaceted meaning : Style, Flair, Grace & Elegance)

These first generation (1988–1991) models were also used by the cops in NZ, and had the Elanté suspension pack too. The sports suspension on my old car has been tired for a long time, but has never been replaced. I gifted the car to my parents, and now my brother has inherited it, so a fair chunk of the 400,000 km has been on corrugated gravel roads.

It’s fair to say that it’s not up to ‘VCC standard’ in appearance or current maintenance, and a lot of those horses are slipping past the piston rings, however in its life it has only had head gaskets replaced, new clutch (towing loaded trailers too fast in top gear), gearbox rebuild to fix 5th gear, numerous CV joints, the frame of the driver’s seat re-welded, and the rear spoiler half detached due to repeated slamming of the boot, as the latch needed to be replaced twice.

Doing ski duty on the Mt Hutt access road. You can see a glimpse of the said rear spoiler here:

FOR SALE/FREE

A 50-year collection of car magazines. First one brought in Cromwell in 1972. Wheels, Sports Car World, Road and Track, Autonews, Classic Driver, Hot Rod NZ and USA, Beaded Wheels and many others. Bring boxes. Must take all. Mostly in good condition. Price $Free to good home Contact Editor

Puff ‘n Stuff DISPLAY ADVERTISEMENT RATES

(Member’s wanted/sell adverts free for 3 months)

Full Page $300 (for 12 months)

Half Page $150 “

Quarter Page $80 “

→ Contact the Ed for info

Stickers for COVCC members

Let others know which branch you belong to at events away from home. These are produced locally and are made of high-quality vinyl. They are external stickers and go on the outside of the windscreen or on the bodywork. (They are easily removed with a hairdryer.) Cost $3 each. (A small profit goes to our club.)

To order contact The Secretary gtml@xtra.co.nz