You know the Pajero. In North America we call it the Montero. Big. Boxed. Rugged. It clears rocks.
Mitsubishi made something else in Japan though. A Kei car. The Pajero Mini. Just imported. Listed for auction in Tennessee.
Is it a car or a toy?
This specific one wears a Snoopy edition treatment. It staking a claim to the cutest Kei car crown of its era. The Peanuts graphic is unmistakable. You don’t need me to tell you who Peanuts is. The model reads cheerful. A genuine throwback. Driving it sounds like fun.
The heart of it is tiny.
Turbocharged 659cc three-cylinder. In the year 2000 this made 51 hp. Do not expect highway speeds. But it has four-wheel drive. A live rear axle. A dual-range transfer case. Four-speed auto. It will crawl up hills just like its big brother.
Paint is soft white with silver metallic accents on the bumpers and rockers. Snoopy covers the hood. He is on the B-pillars. Rear quarter panels too. There is even a spare wheel cover with the dog. Mud flaps are branded.
Inside it gets stranger.
Seats feature Snoopy embroidery. Door panels hide dozens of small sketches. Modern cars feel too serious sometimes. They scream efficiency and safety ratings. This little Mitsubishi laughs at all that.
It is the antidote to sterile design.
The seller bought this in Japan last year. It only recently crossed the Atlantic. Low mileage. 35,00 miles on the odometer. The timing belt went out with the water pump and other drives. Standard maintenance done.
You will never see a second example like it. Hard to beat a baby Pajero with a comic strip character steering the wheel.
Maybe that’s the point.
