1998 SSANGYONG Musso Sports 2.9 TD

Vehicle Overview

In 1998, SsangYong attacked the light-utility pickup market with the Musso Sports version based on the same platform as its Musso sibling.

With an aggressive marketing policy, SsangYong found a niche in the European market: the leisure pickup. Unfortunately for the Korean carmaker, it was too soon for it to fill it, and the Musso Sports didn’t have the predicted success.

The wedged-styled bodywork of the Musso was carried-over to the Musso Sports up until the C-pillar. It sported the same angular-looking headlights and straight lines on the grille, hood, and profile. After the rear doors, the designer ended the cabin with a vertical drop for the rear window and continued the car with a small bed fit for bicycles and outdoor equipment.

Inside, the MussoSports came as standard with a cloth-interior for the base version, but a leather-wrapped cabin was available for the full-options model. SsangYong chose to offer the car without a stereo and let the dealers handle that. As a result, some MussoSports were fitted with CD-stereo and some with cassette-players.

Under the hood, the Korean carmaker installed a choice of engines carried over from Mercedes-Benz. They were paired to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. The 4×4 system was standard on the entire range.