Last 380 sells for $100,000

A PERTH Mitsubishi dealer has paid a staggering $100,000 for the final 380 sedan ever built.

John Hughes Mitsubishi was the winning bidder of the last 380 ever produced, following a dealer auction that will see proceeds of the sale of the landmark vehicle go to charity.

More than 100 representatives from Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited and its 200-outlet national dealer network attended the auction either in person, via telephone or via the internet, including MMAL chief executive officer and president Robert McEniry, who officiated at the event.

“There has been tremendous interest in the fate of the last 380, and this is a fitting result for such a fantastic and well built car,” said Mr McEniry.

The final 380, a silver Platinum sedan, was the subject of strong interest from around Australia and a fierce eventual bidding war between West Australia's John Hughes and Agostino’s Mitsubishi in Adelaide, but the $100,000 bid from JHM sealed its fate.

“Mitsubishi’s manufacturing history in Australia is a very proud one, and it is an honour to own this significant vehicle,” said a victorious Mr Hughes, who will help decide the auction's beneficiaries, to be announced next week.

Mitsubishi is now a fully-imported vehicle brand in Australia following the closure of its Tonsley Park assembly plant outside Adelaide last month, when the locally developed and built 380 sedan ceased production.

Late last month MMAL announced final destinations for four vehicles from the last 380 consignment, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Vision Australia and the National Motor Museum at Birdwood.

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