Limited garage space prompts the sale of this Nice Price or No Dice Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T Spyder. That detail raises curiosity about other vehicles sharing the seller's collection, since the car appears worthy of long-term ownership. The key issue is whether its asking price will prevent anyone from making room.

Childhood memories of assembling plastic model kits purchased during family outings to a large retailer called Gemco come to mind with this car. Those builds focused mainly on automobiles and filled a dedicated shelf with miniature replicas. The hobby faded with age and the shift to working on actual vehicles, coinciding with changes in adhesive formulas that reduced their appeal.

A recent 1988 Lotus Esprit project brought back those recollections because it too required assembly and arrived in pieces. Reader response showed little enthusiasm for the rebuild project despite its modest $6,500 price, resulting in a decisive 92 percent rejection.

The golden age of Japanese coupes

Lotus attempted broader market reach in the 1990s through its front-wheel-drive Elan convertible, yet the model faced direct competition from the rear-wheel-drive Mazda Miata and struggled to gain traction. The period proved advantageous for Japanese manufacturers overall, as profits from high-volume sedans funded development of specialized performance models including Nissan's flagship Z, Toyota's powerful Supra, Mazda's RX-7 and Miata, plus Mitsubishi's 3000GT and Eclipse. Shifting buyer preferences toward SUVs later curtailed most of these lines, leaving a strong selection of 1990s coupes now gaining collector interest. The featured 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T Spyder represents the open-top variant of one such model and appears to be an especially well-preserved example.

Diamond Star Car

Finished in bright red with gray leather and extensive plastic trim, the car carries the preferred specification: Mitsubishi's 210-horsepower DOHC 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four paired with a five-speed manual transmission. Higher-spec coupes offered all-wheel drive derived from the Lancer Evolution, but the Spyder received only front-wheel drive. The powertrain layout places the engine on the right side and the transmission on the left, a distinctive Mitsubishi arrangement. Production occurred at the Diamond Star Motors facility in Normal, Illinois, a former joint venture with Chrysler that later closed before reopening for Rivian assembly. The Eclipse presents in excellent condition thanks to recent cosmetic investment, remains largely unmodified, and shows just 67,400 miles. Some advertisement photographs appear inconsistent in quality despite the seller's evident pride in the vehicle.

An Eclipse you'd want to look at

Stock examples have grown scarce as many survivors have either deteriorated or been modified for track use. This car shows no major alterations at first inspection and retains its original components, which the seller will include with the sale. Notable updates include an aftermarket Pioneer double-DIN head unit, a set of later-model wheels with natural finish alongside the chrome-plated factory alloys, and lowered coil-over suspension. The timing belt service on this interference engine represents an important maintenance point given the car's age, though the seller reports the belts were recently replaced and the vehicle operates smoothly.

Too much of a good thing?

The car carries a clean title consistent with its overall condition. At $21,500 the price reflects both desirability and scarcity in this preserved state, potentially justifying the outlay for the right buyer. Ultimately the decision rests with readers: does the asking price make the Eclipse appealing, or does it exceed reasonable market value?

Seattle, Washington Craigslist listing.