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Mitsubishi still isn’t bringing back a real Eclipse, but it is trading on its 100-year history and re-creating a 1917 Model A (Mitsubishi Model A, not Ford) on the platform of an Outlander PHEV SUV. To be clear, Mitsu didn’t re-create this — the company had the guys at West Coast Customs take a crack at it.

“The team at West Coast Customs seamlessly blended our past, present and future together in the form of the Mitsubishi Re-Model A,” said Francine Harsini, senior director, marketing, Mitsubishi Motors North America. “It’s been an exciting project to be a part of, and we are excited to share the finished product with everyone. Additionally, this unique build provided us the opportunity to use product integration to highlight Mitsubishi’s all-new Outlander PHEV, which comes to market later this year.”

It’s certainly funky-looking, with its modern tires, squared body and classic brass trim. Looking at the two, the old one actually looks a little more thought out, but it doesn’t have the 2.0-liter four with a twin-AC permanent motor and 12-kWh battery of the modern Outlander to hide beneath its sheetmetal.

Mitsubishi Model A

This is the original Mitsubishi Model A, for comparison.

The car premiered on television on “Inside West Coast Customs” earlier this month, and it will appear at the LA Auto Show this week.

The Re-Model A gets Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control system, plug-in charging capabilities, Forward Collision Mitigation and Smartphone Display Audio.

The original Mitsubishi Model A was based on the Fiat Tipo 3 and had a seven-passenger town car body with a 35-hp straight-four engine. It was expensive to produce, by hand, so Mitsubishi axed it after just four years.

Check out the Mitsubishi/WCC build page here. We expect to get a few more details at the Los Angeles Auto Show.