Pure Life with Shorty Overlander – Lifted 1st gen Mitsubishi Montero

Lifted 1st gen Mitsubishi Montero on 33 inch tires

The first-generation Mitsubishi Montero became a huge hit among off-road enthusiasts worldwide in the eighties after its debute in the 1985 Paris Dakar Rally. To everyone’s surprise, the car won both first and second place becoming an instant success.

Some may find the vehicle attractive due to its beautiful simplicity. Even though the ride may be bouncy and loud, driving is very engaging and fun. Especially off the beaten path.

The boxy design of the Montero screams that you could easily go places. But its tall stance has a very practical purpose – you can have a clear 360-degree view of your surroundings, which means full awareness in challenging off-road situations. The stock configuration may look somewhat boring if compared with the modern alternatives, but if you modify it the right way, you’ll get an unusual, beefy-looking, but most importantly capable classic 4×4 rig. That’s exactly what Esteban from Puerto Rico did with his 1985 Mitsubishi Montero on 33 inch wheels which he fondly calls “Shorty.”

How did you become interested in off-roading?

Since I was a child. The area where we live and the daily routine on the farm teaches you how to deal with challenges in the mud, and in different situations, so 4×4 vehicles have always been in my life since I was little.

Why did you choose this particular model for your project?

My grandfather had a Mitsubishi Montero very similar to mine, and when I’ve got the opportunity, I bought it and startEd modifying it the way I imagined.

What challenges did you face while putting it together?
The challenge with a vehicle like this, is the age and how bad the metal is due to El Paso of time and humidity. When you’re living in a humid tropical area of Costa Rica, rust is the fight and that’s why right now we’re trying to fix this in restoration.

What do you love about your vehicle?
It is my shorty Mitsubishi, and with time it becomes a somewhat toxic relationship, but in the end it makes me very happy. Very few cars of that year and of this brand are still on the road, and I hope that I will keep it for many years to come.

Do you take it off road? If so, where and how often?
Working on the farm together, traveling to beaches, mountains, and anywhere a good camping spot is hidden there we will go together!

Anything else you would like to share about your vehicle or about the off-roading in general?

For me, off-roading is a way of living and being able to get to places where very few will arrive with a vehicle is something magical. In Costa Rica we have a saying and it is something that characterizes us – Pura Vida. We try to live to the fullest and feel our lives.