Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

As a perpetual automobile styling pundit, I can no longer remain silent regarding my theories of the visual character of our cool Mitsubishi Van/Wagon.

I see two major influences in it's appearance. With it's radical cab-over bias, the first time I sat in it I was immediately reminded of the mid-sixties Dodge Deora concept car and AMT model:







The second styling force I see at work here applies only to you 4WD doods: The Lost In Space Chariot!

Wonder what the crash rating on this one is.

The Deora has always had a spot in my heart. I believe it used to be modeled with surf boards on the rear deck. Such a cool concept. It's interesting tho that I don't recall Dodge ever coming out with a production car that resembled the Deora. Ford had the Ranchero and Chevy the El Camino even tho they weren't forward oriented like the Deora. Fargos might've been the closest at the time.

The obscure mind of a fellow gearhead recalls Corvair also made a cab-forward van and pick-up truck worthy of mention.

The L.I.S. Chariot looks like it even has a Crystal Lite roof!

As far as crash ratings go... well... they say that about Deli's too... but when does practicality matter?...

Dodge's Car-Truck was called the Rampage. Ugly as hell! i have seen one driving around pentiction on occasion.

My favourite was the El Camino by far! A good buddy restored a few and they are real eye catchers.... the 383 Stroker sounded real nice too

That Deora reminds me of the BMW Isetta.