The Mitsubishi Colt (A20) was one of their first series of passenger cars produced by Shin Mitsubishi Heavy-Industries, Ltd, one of the companies which would become

Mitsubishi Motors is a Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.fastback Colts they formed the mainstay of Mitsubishi's passenger car lineup in the 1960s. With the late 1969 introduction of the new, larger Colt Galant, the outmoded Colt-series soon faded away, eventually replaced by the smaller

Mitsubishi Lancer The Mitsubishi Lancer is an automobile produced by the Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors since 1973. The Lancer has been marketed as the Colt Lancer, Dodge Colt, Plymouth Colt, Chrysler Valiant Lancer, Chrysler Lancer, Eagle Summit, Hin ...

as well. The dimensions were kept small so as to provide Japanese buyers the ability to purchase a car that complied with the Japanese Government compact car dimension regulations and to keep the annual road tax obligation affordable.

Colt (series A20)

Colt 1000

Available as a four-door sedan, with a traditional Panhard layout, the A20 Colt 1000 was powered by a 977 cc engine producing at 6,000 rpm. The Colt 1000 was introduced in July 1963. Top speed was . Traditional throughout, the Colt 1000 also had a column shifter for its (fully synchronized) four-speed manual transmission. In December 1965, a 3-speed

semi-automatic transmission A semi-automatic transmission is a "theoretical" multiple-speed transmission where part of its operation is automated (typically the actuation of the clutch), but the driver's input would be required to launch the vehicle from a standstill and to ...

was also added, unfortunately named SCAT (Single-Coupling Automatic Transmission). Top speed remained the same. Standard and DeLuxe models were available, for the Van as well as for the sedan. In April 1964, a better equipped version of the DeLuxe called the "Popular" was added to the lineup. There was also a two-door wagon, known as the "Van", as is typical in Japan where wagons are traditionally only for commercial purposes, which featured a horizontally divided tailgate and a maximum payload (200 kg with 4 passengers). The rear seat had steel backing and when folded down formed a flat loading floor, as per legal requirements for Japanese commercial vehicles. Strapping points were visible in the rearmost side windows. Its top speed is slightly lower, at . In

motorsport Motorsport, motorsports or motor sport is a global term used to encompass the group of competitive sporting events which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles. The terminology can also be used to describe forms of competition of two ...

, Colt 1000-based

touring cars Touring car racing is a motorsport road racing competition with heavily modified road-going cars. It has both similarities to and significant differences from stock car racing, which is popular in the United States. While the cars do not mo ...

took a clean sweep of the podium in their class at the 1964

Japanese Grand Prix The Japanese Grand Prix ( ja, 日本グランプリ, Nihon-guranpuri) is a motor racing event in the calendar of the Formula One, Formula One World Championship. Historically, Japan has been one of the last races of the season, and as such the ...

, following the successes of the preceding

Mitsubishi 500 The Mitsubishi 500 was the first passenger car produced after the Second World War by Shin Mitsubishi Heavy-Industries, Ltd, one of the companies which would become Mitsubishi Motors. It was built from 1960 until 1962 and formed the basis for Mits ...

and Colt 600s. The 1966 model year Colt 1000s, the last year before being replaced by the 1100, received an upgraded engine which later saw service in the smaller, fastback Colt 1000F.

Colt (series A21)

The Mitsubishi Colt 1100 succeeded the Colt 1000 from September 1966, receiving the A21 chassis code. The 1100 was powered by a

four-cylinder The engine configuration describes the fundamental operating principles by which internal combustion engines are categorized. Piston engines are often categorized by their cylinder layout, valves and camshafts. Wankel engines are often categorize ...

pushrod engine of 1,088 cc capacity producing at 6,000 rpm, for a top speed of . Along with trim differences, such as a different grille without a dip in the lower middle part, bumper overriders meant that the 1100 was also longer than its predecessor. Somehow the weight dropped by 40 kilos, to . The 1100 was also available with a floor-mounted shifter, unlike the 1000 and later 1200. Originally available in Standard or DeLuxe trims, a Sporty DeLuxe version joined the lineup soon after its introduction. This also formed the basis for the Colt 1500 SS. The Colt 1100 was replaced by the "New Colt" 1200 in 1968. There was also an 1100 Van, in Standard or deLuxe form. It offered two-doors and a horizontally split tailgate, and a payload of (or 200 kg with five occupants). At , its body was a little longer, otherwise dimensions were the same. The KE44 engine remained the same, but lower gearing meant top speed was down to . Mitsubishi Colt 1100 rear

Colt (series A23)

Along with a May 1968 facelift, whereby the Colt became the "New Colt", the engine was upgraded again: with the long-stroke 1189 cc and KE46 it became the Mitsubishi ''New'' Colt 1200, chassis code A23. "New Colts" are easily recognized by the large rectangular headlights rather than the earlier round ones, along with a lower front grille and more sloping tip of the hood. On the rear, wide slim rectangular taillamps replaced the earlier round ones. All ''New Colt'' sedans were built on the longer body of the Colt 1500, which received the same upgrades simultaneously. Unlike the previous generation, the ''New Colt'' 1200 sat on a 65 mm longer wheelbase (2,350 mm or 92.5 in). The price was marginally increased over the previous 1100, while the price of the Colt 1500 remained unchanged. Later on, the engine was upgraded to , which afforded a top speed of . Available as a two-door and four-door sedan, and also as a three-door wagon ("Van", still with the shorter wheelbase), the Colt 1200 could reach . An extremely rare five-door wagon, more luxuriously equipped than the Van and with entirely different rear bodywork was added in October 1968. The so-called "Estate Van" version was aimed at private rather than commercial use. A four-speed, full-synchro, column shifted manual was standard, whether in Standard or Custom equipment levels. The Colt 1200 remained available alongside the new Galant for a brief period in late 1969 and early 1970, but not much customer interest remained.

Colt 1500

The Mitsubishi Colt 1500 (A25) was a bigger engined version, joining the smaller Colt 1000 in November 1965. The engine was a bored-out, four-cylinder version of the new

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's six-cylinder KE64 engine. Unlike its lesser one-liter sibling, the 1500 received four canted headlights and sat on a 65 mm longer wheelbase (). Originally available as a four-door sedan and two-door wagon, it was powered by a 1,498 cc engine producing . The wagon (Colt 1500 Van) had a horizontally divided rear tailgate and used the shorter wheelbase body of the 1100; it was available in either Standard or DeLuxe trim. Equipped with a three-speed column-shifted manual, a four-speed model (''Overtop'', "OT") was available on sedans. The fourth gear raised the top speed from . The Van versions, lower geared for more load capacity, could only reach . Mitsubishi-Colt1500rear

Echoing the Sporty DeLuxe version of the 1100, the 1500 Sports Sedan appeared in December 1966, discernible by its blacked-out grille and single headlights. Actually, the 1500 SS used the entire shorter and lighter Colt 1100 body (thus weighing in at ) and its floor-mounted shifter. It also received a close-ratio four-speed transmission and front disc brakes. Top speed remained unchanged, with the quarter-mile sprint requiring 19.0 seconds.

New Colt 1500

In May 1968 the 1500 became the ''New Colt'', receiving the same body modifications as described in the

Colt 1200 Colt(s) or COLT may refer to: *Colt (horse), an intact (uncastrated) male horse under four years of age People * Colt (given name) *Colt (surname) Places * Colt, Arkansas, United States *Colt, Louisiana, an unincorporated community, United State ...

section, including the rectangular headlights. The chassis code became A27. Prices for the Colt 1500 remained unchanged while the 1200 was somewhat pricier than the preceding Colt 1100. New was a two-door sedan bodystyle, unusual in having roll-down rear windows while not having rear doors. The three-speed was discontinued, with all standard models now receiving the 3+OT transmission. Top speeds were 145 km/h for the sedan, 135 km/h for the Van (84 and 90 mph respectively). An , twin- SU carbureted "Super Sports" model was added in August 1968, and was popular in rallying. In October 1968 a now extremely rare four-door wagon aimed at private buyers (unlike the Van commercial vehicle) was added, as for the Colt 1200. Called the "Estate Van," this was more comfortably equipped than the Van version, sitting on the longer wheelbase, and with unique rear bodywork. The Colt 1500 was discontinued in late 1969 upon the introduction of the company's Colt Galant sedan, although the smaller Colt 1200 remained available for a little longer yet. The four-door 1500 Estate Van also remained on sale into 1970, as the new Colt Galant Van had not yet been introduced. ''三菱の乗用車 1970 itsubishi passenger cars'
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References

External links

* {{Mitsubishi cars 1960-79

Colt 1000 The Mitsubishi Colt (A20) was one of their first series of passenger cars produced by Shin Mitsubishi Heavy-Industries, Ltd, one of the companies which would become Mitsubishi Motors. Built from 1963 until 1970, they were available in four body st ...

Rear-wheel-drive vehicles Sedans 1960s cars