Image from the Cohort by canadiancatgreen.
As R&T’s text says early on, the arrival of the “new” ’77 Dodge Colt seemed like a throwback. After all, by the late ’70s most new compact and subcompact offerings were quickly adopting the more space-efficient FWD transverse-engine layout. Instead, the Mitsubishi sourced ’77 Colt arrived with a purely traditionalist layout; a front-engine rear-wheel drive setup, with MacPhersons upfront, and a live axle with leaf springs at the back.
But if the model seemed like a throwback, there was a good reason for it; the car was the American version of the Lancer (A70), a model launched in 1973 in its native Japan. Not that being a traditionalist was necessarily a drawback; the new Colt was a well-crafted and well-engineered machine.
Plus, the model didn’t refrain from offering new technology where it mattered. Mitsubishi’s Silent Shaft technology appeared as an option in the ’77 Colt, an innovative balance-shaft setup that greatly refined the driving experience on the model, taming significantly an inline-4’s shaky spirits.
So, the Colt, as created by Mitsubishi found much favor with reviewers: “If we were not exactly excited by the Colt Lancer we soon found out what an excellent car it is and had to admit that the classic rear-drove layout is by no means over the hill when solid engineering is applied in its behalf. As with a few other well-developed rear-drive cars, it’s not what you start with but how far you go that makes a good chassis… The chassis, though mundane in its specification… shows its refinement by putting the Colt through its pace nimbly and controllably…”
Road holding was considered “excellent”, while the steering was quick and light. Meanwhile, the 5-speed manual proved easy to shift, with ratios well matched to the car’s engine. Keeping with the praise, the car’s brakes were “excellent, among the very best systems on a car of this category -short stopping distances, very good control and no fade.”
Beyond the car’s dynamics, much praise belonged to the model’s 1.6 Silent Shaft version, a technology that first appeared stateside on the ’76 Plymouth Arrow. The new tech consisted of “two chain-driven contra-rotating balance shafts, which cancel the objectionable vibrations inherent in a 4-cyl engine… This is a fine achievement, much appreciated by those of us who have experienced all too many miles of buzzy 4-cyl. driving.”
Admittedly, the Colt’s performance specs sound modest today if we go by cold numbers. The 1.6 mill (in Silent and non-silent Shaft mode) provided 83bhp, making for a 0-60 time of 12.8 secs. In practice, those specs translated to a feeling of briskness.
Some of that fun had its downsides, as usual. The car’s compact nature and traditional layout meant limited room, with barely acceptable headroom, and minimal rear knee room. The older design also meant the car’s interior design felt mildly dated, though in all nicely laid out and optioned.
The Colt’s grippy handling and short 92.1 in. wheelbase, also gave the car the typical choppy ride of Japanese compacts of the mid-’70s. As soon as dips and undulating roads appeared, the Colt quickly became a “bucking bronco,” in the tester’s words.
As a late arrival “new” model, the Colt’s stay in the American market was a brief one, showing up only for ’77-’79. Curiously, a Galant-based Colt wagon was sold by its side at Dodge dealers. Meanwhile, Plymouth had been selling the Lancer-coupe since ’76 as the Arrow.
If it sounds confusing, it was. It’s all been told in previous CC installments (links below) and was product of the curious way Chrysler allocated its Japanese partner’s products around its divisions. That alongside the Colt nameplate, which was in perennial flux. Something that might explain R&T referring to this model as the “Colt Lancer”, a name that didn’t show up in advertising.
Image from the Cohort by canadiancatgreen.
In the long run, we know Mitsubishi would have a star-crossed fate. The company was a curious mix of highly capable engineering and erratic short-term management that failed to create a strong image for the maker. But if the products were lacking in marketing focus or distinctiveness, their craft was often lofty. On occasions, even bordered on engineering overkill (the ’90s 3000GT the clearest example).
When it worked, there was much to enjoy in the company’s products. So it’s perhaps no surprise that R&T’s reviewers found much admiration for the Colt “Lancer”. Regardless of its drawbacks, the car had “strong appeal as a brisk, driveable, nimble performer with road holding and braking unexpectedly high for its class… and it’s one of those cars that likes to be driven.”
Related CC reading:
CC Colt Chronicles Part 3: 1978 Dodge Colt (Mitsubishi Lancer) – The Little Colt
Curbside Classic: 1975 Dodge Lancer (Colt) – Who Exactly, Do You Say You Are?
Road And Track Vintage Review: 1976 Plymouth Arrow GT – Balance Shafts To The Rescue
In Australia,it was released in 1974 as the Chrysler Valiant Lancer,before the Arrow was released as the Lancer Hatchback in 1976
The smaller Colt hatchback introduced a year or 2 later had front wheel drive.
Had me one of those! Awesome runner! Great “a/c”/heater.
A car with many identities, like so many others. The argentine Dodge 1500 or the english Hillman Avenger comes to mind.
I rented on from Avis around 78, nothing wrong with it drove ok didnt chew much gas, good little cars
A decent car which was very popular but the Ford Maverick styling in front didn’t do it any favors by the time it came to the US. The predecessor looked better to me.
A friend had one in San Diego at the time, and I drove it once or twice. Decent little car, but it seems R&T is a bit generous here. The back seat was very tight, and yes, the ride was choppy. But they clearly seem to emphasize the fun to drive element, and it had that, for the times.
The thing that always bugged me about the 1978 Dodge Colt line-up was they put the best looking front end on the station wagon. The sporty Challenger/Sapporo was similar, but still not as nice. Then there was the dowdy front they used on the lowest line sedans (like the one R&T tested).
Why couldn’t Mitsubishi just use the most attractive station wagon doghouse on all of them (but especially the hardtops)?
They’re two different cars in different sizes, Mitsubishi Galant wagon vs Mitsubishi Lancer sedan. The question is why Chrysler opted for the second-gen Galant wagon rather than the Lancer wagon considering how close the former was in size and price to the Aspen/Volare.
I had a friend that bought both a Plymouth Sapporo and a Dodge Challenger (both the same Mitsubishi models)…the first during his undergraduate days and the latter he had during his first job out of college, up until he replaced it in ’88 for a Mercury Tracer. I liked the car…really roomy for a 2 door coupe especially in the rear seat.
Guess I didn’t shop for a Mitsubishi Lancer, but I did almost buy an ’86 Galant Sedan. Man, were those loaded up with electronics (guess I shouldn’t be surprised, as Mitsubishi also made my first stereo TV bought in ’85). I chickened out during negotiations, guess I wasn’t so committed to a sedan, I shouldn’t have wasted the salesperson’s time as I ended up with a VW hatch that year instead.
I remember ads for these in Time magazine back while I was driving my ’74 Datsun 710. Wasn’t very familiar with Mitsubishi despite my Dad having bought a few Japanese cars…Datsun and Subaru..but by 1980 he went domestic and never again owned another foreign car.
My 710 was actually quite similar…it was utterly a conventional car of the 70’s which I didn’t appreciate at the time, other than poor traction in winter (small light RWD car) was otherwise ideal for the student I was at the time, since it didn’t break often and was easy to work on as it was an old school car.
I wish I had paid more attention to these when they were common.
A decent car that did much to keep Dodge dealers afloat during the late 70’s, even if it didn’t do much for the Chrysler Corporation. The Colts were popular in Southern California, as I remember it seemed that about half of them were white with some sort of decore package that included red stripes.
That’s a cute little car. I certainly wish we had things like this (simple, lower priced and smaller) in the US today.
I love the seat materials. Back in those days, they used such nice cloth materials compared to the burlap bags stretched over overly hard seats of today.
Dan
I totally agree with your point about seat materials. Anyone have a good explanation for this, other than some PR crap like “that’s what the medium consumer demands nowadays” ?
Found the wife a 88 dodge colt Premier,. Loaded little sedan, even had cross spoke factory alloy rims Silver blue and blue velour interior… Luggage rack on the trunk.. Was a good little mitsu made car.. Was a bit sluggish with the auto tranny
I had an ’87 Colt DL hatchback, not as loaded but far from as stripped as a base model could get in those days (that was the Colt E). Mine was no rocket with the 5-speed stick but it could keep up.
The Australian model was a 1.4 litre only, 4 speed. My cousin had one and it went surprisingly well for a 1400 and I had the impression that it was better to drive that a Corolla or Sunny/120Y of the era.
There was a 1600 GSR model that went quite hard too, and used in rallying.
My brother had one, brought new it served him well, he wasn’t in the least bit a car person, but I remember him driving it with the wheelcovers removed at one stage, he thought it gave it the rally car look !
Then my best mate in 79/81 had one, we drove that little car everywhere, never gave a hint of trouble, it was silver with aftermarket alloys, much nicer than plain black steelies !
Good post and article – these were good cars.
I disagree that these were particularly late to move to FWD (at least w.r.t. to the other Japanese imports); I think the Tercel was launched for MY1980, the FWD Corolla for MY1984, and the FWD GLC for MY1981.
I’m not sure when Datsun first offered FWD – the weird F10 c. 1976 perhaps?
Agreed, Honda was FWD with the Civic for the 1973 model year, and of course the Brits and various European marquees offered various FWD cars early on.