The first Chrysler Mitsubishis: Dodge Champ, Dodge Colt, and Plymouth Colt
Dodge started importing the Colt in the last quarter of 1970 (1971 model year) from Mitsubishi. Chrysler Corp. also started importing the Japanese Plymouth Champ in 1974. In Canada, it was called the Cricket, replacing the rebadged Sunbeam/Hillman Avenger (a British car). [Amended based on input from David Rosicke].
In 1971, Chrysler noted that the Colt had standard front bucket seats with reatable vinyl (except in the coupe); the seats could move forward and backward by five inches, with reclining backs (except in the coupe). Tilt wheel was standard on all models, along with flow-through ventilation. The standard transmission was a four-on-the-floor with all forward gears synchronized; ratios were 3.53, 2.19, 1.44, and 1:1, with a reverse gear of 3.87 to 1. The wiper/washer controls were at the end of the turn signal stalk, along with the headlight dimmers. A single key operated all locks. Station wagons had an antenna that could be locked into the full-down position; radios were optional. The company wrote, “We’re anticipating 60,000 Colts in 1972, nearly twice as many as the 36,000 we marketed in the nine-month period in 1971...by 1975, Dodge expects to be receiving 125,000 Colts.”
Changes for 1972 included noise reduction by reducing the drive-shaft diameter, increasing brake efficiency by adding cooling scoops to the front wheel disc brakes, and enlarging rear drum cylinders. Self-adjusting rear brakes and larger front disc brakes were added for 1972.
Jim Benjaminson wrote in the Plymouth Bulletin:
In 1976, Plymouth's import stable included its long-awaited Mitusbishi product. The Colt had been in Dodge's stable since 1971 when Chrysler answered the sub-compact challenge of Ford's Pinto and Chevy's Vega with captive imports. (Chrysler had purchased financial interest in Mitusbishi in 1971.) Dodge had an instant hit with its Japanese built Colt. Plymouth had gotten the short end of the deal when given the British-built Cricket.
When the plug was mercifully pulled on the Cricket in 1973, observers assumed Plymouth would get its own version of the Colt. That's exactly what happened in Canada, but not stateside where Plymouth had to carry on with no subcompact offering. Finally, it was 1976 and Plymouth had its Mitsubishi import. Rather than a version of the Colt, it was another single-body-style offering, a very attractive fastback coupe that offered a more sporting flair than Colt's hardtop. Called the Arrow, it fit in with Plymouth's Barracuda heritage with its roof line and folding rear seat.
Chrysler Canada gave the Arrow to Dodge dealers and the newly-redesigned Colt to Plymouth dealers. Both were the same car except for the nameplates. From 1973-75 the Cricket nameplate had been shifted to a version of the Colt for Canada's Plymouth dealers. A bit more than mere "badge engineering," it also involved unique grille and taillight trim. In its first year alone, Canada's Japanese Cricket doubled the sales of the British version. But once 1976 arrived, the Cricket name was gone for good.
In 1977, Plymouth replaced the Canadian Cricket with the Arrow. In 1978 Chrysler introduced another captive import, the Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Sapporo.
In 1979, the Colt was redesigned and the Champ was introduced. Chrysler also brought out the Mitsubishi-designed and built Ram D50 and Arrow minitrucks that same year. The Arrow coupe was eliminated after 1980, and the Sapporo/Challenger were eliminated after 1982. The Arrow pickup also disappeared in the early 80s.
The Champ nameplate was changed in 1983 to Colt. A 4-door hatchback was introduced in 1982 as standard. The prices ranged from $4995 to $5995.
These two cars were equipped with MCA Jet Valves available on two engines, the 1.4L (1410 cc) and the 1.6L (1597 cc). The 1.4L was standard with 4 speed manual transmission & manual dual mode (power/economy) transmission. The 1.6L was an optional engine with an optional automatic transmission or standard 4 speed. Turbo was introduced in 1984.
Other options included A/C, am/fm 4 speaker stereo, power mirrors, roof rack, rear wiper with defroster, cloth seats, ashtray light, larger fuel tank (13.2 gal), tachometer with trip odometer and warning lights including low fuel.
The fuel economy was impressive with both engines and transmissions. The 1.4L with 4 speed got 28/37 mpg and the optional 1.6L with automatic got 27/35 mpg.
During the 1980s, Mitsubishi built cars with Hyundai on the same platform as the Colt and Champ. The Hyundai Excel shared many parts with the twins like brake drums, CV axles and shafts, oil filter, air filter, transmission filter, fuel filter, spark plugs, and PCV valve. An entire exhaust system from the twins was used for Hyundai, from the manifold to the tailpipe.
 |
| Anthony Gubbels' 1971 (Australian) Colt |
For 1986, an upshift light was made standard on non-turbo models with the five-speed; the turbo package was revised, and the GTS dropped; 5-mph bumpers were standard on sedans, and a third brake light was added; new 14 inch aluminum wheels were optional on GTS Turbo, and standard on Premier; a manual remote driver’s side mirror was added to DL; a new deck lid luggage rack became optional; red and blue interiors were added, along with cloth seat and door inserts on DL; and an electric rear defroster was made standard on DL. In this year, three trim levels were available (E, DL, and Premier), all except Premier available as a two-door hatch or four-door sedan. Premier was only available as a sedan. The hatch on two-door hatch models held 6.2 cubic feet of cargo with seats up and security panel stretched out, 26.4 cubic feet of cargo with the rear seats folded down; the trunk on sedans held 10.9 cubic feet.
The four-door Colt Vista wagon was closely related to the Colt, but was arguably one of the first crossovers; it was taller than a standard Colt or wagon, and had optional all wheel drive. Powered by a 2-liter engine with two-barrel carburetor, driven by a five-speed stick-shift, the Colt Vista attracted a small but hard core group of owners who kept their cars visible for many years.
Chrysler wrote in 1988:
MacPherson-type strut front suspension with shock absorbers mounted within coil springs is standard on all Colt models. Lower control arm rear bushings have asymmetrical spring characteristics for stability and an excellent ride. Colt's rear suspension is "U" shaped with two trailing arms and struts (shock absorbers)-with improved rubber bushings and progressive rate springs for a compliant ride. The trailing arms carry the spindles for the rear wheels. The struts are mounted adjacent to the coil springs with lower mounts bolted to the trailing arms and upper mounts bolted to the car structure. A Sport Suspension with higher rate springs, front and rear antisway bars and gas-pressurized front shock absorbers is included in the Turbo Packages available on the Colt DL 3-door hatchback and on Colt Premier 4-door sedan.
Although designed for different purposes, Colt and Colt Vista both have versions of strut and coil spring independent front suspension and trailing arm rear suspension with coil springs and shock absorbers. Both vehicles have front and rear antisway bars to add stability to the ride.
The new Colt DL 5-door station wagon featured an exclusive 3-link rear suspension with two trailing arms, track for coil springs and shock absorbers.
1986 Engine Compression
Horsepower Torque lb-ft 1.5-liter (91.5 CID) 2-bbl 4-cylinder (Mitsu) 9.4 51@5500 82@3500 1.6-liter (97.1 CID) Turbocharged ECP (Mitsu) 7.6 102@5500 122@3500 2.0-liter (121.9 CID) MR 4-cylinder (Mitsu) 8.5 88@5000 108@3500 Chrysler engines for comparison Compression
Horsepower Torque lb-ft 2.2 liter, TBI 9.5 97@5,200 122@3,200 2.2 liter, turbocharged 8.1 146@5200 170@3600
1988 Engine Compression
Horsepower Torque lb-ft 1.5-liter (91.5 CID) 2-bbl 4-cylinder (Mitsu) 9.4 68@5500 85@3500 1.5-liter (91.5 CID) MPI 4-cylinder (Mitsu) 9.4 75@5500 87@2500 1.6-liter (97.1 CID) Turbocharged ECP (Mitsu) 7.6 105@5500 122@3500 2.0-liter (121.9 CID) MR 4-cylinder (Mitsu) 8.8 88@5000 108@3500
1988 Vehicle
Engine
Manual Trans.
Automatic
City Hwy City Hwy Colt Base Hatchback 1.5L 2-bbl 34* 38* NA NA Colt E Hatchback 1.5L 2-bbl 34* 38* NA NA Colt E 4-door Sedan 1.5L 2-bbl 32 37 30 32 Colt DL Hatchback
1.5L 2-bbl 32 37 30 32 1.6L Turbo 25 31 24 26 Colt DL 5-door Station Wagon 1.5LMPI NA NA NA NA Colt Premier Sedan
1.5L 2-bbl 32 37 30 32 1.6L Turbo (ECI) 25 31 24 26 Colt DL 4-door Sedan 1.5L 2-bbl 32 37 30 32 Colt Vista 2WD 2.0LMPI 23 29 23 24 Colt Vista 4WD 2.0LMPI 21 27 NA NA
Review: Living with a Dodge Colt or Plymouth Champ
Today, I drive a 1982 Plymouth Champ with all the options including the 1.6L automatic. I have 134,000 original miles on the engine and transmission. We had to replace the cylinder head once already because the car couldn't run on 3 cylinders any more. The alternator was changed as well as the starter, water pump, timing belt with tensioner, and an entire exhaust system from a dead Hyundai Excel. I even put two Hyundai alloy wheels on the back of the car. The parking is great because I park anywhere no one else can park. The fuel economy is great whether it's city or highway driving and it runs on cheap $1.00 gas. I qualify for a Florida "Collectible" tag in 3 years.
[David Rosicke wrote: the Plymouth Cricket was imported to the US and Canada for 4 years - 1970 to 1973 with some models sold into 1974. It was a re-badged Sunbeam/Hillman Avenger - British make. The Colt came over in 1971 - a Mitsubishi product from Japan. It had a larger motor but less interior space and harsher ride.]
Plymouth Champ review by Roger Lister
From September 1982 until December 1986, I owned a 1982 Plymouth Champ that I bought after test driving the Ford Escort, the Mazda GLC (later became the 323), and the Chevy Chevette. The Chevy was out of the picture. The GLC handled better than the Escort. But when I drove the Champ, I couldn't believe it was a 4 cylinder. The car I bought was a 2 door, 1.6 liter motor with the optional dual stick 4 speed. Two ranges were available, Power and Economy. The Power mode was essentially an underdrive. I will say that in Power mode, you could smoke the front tires. Surprised a few muscle car folks with that trick.
I had two major problems with my Champ. Clutches and brakes. I had to replace the disk pads twice before I hit 20,000 miles. This problem was due to the non ventilated disks never cooling down. To say the least, my driving style is still a bit aggressive. This problem was later solved by replacing the non ventilated rotors, and struts with the same components from the later Colt Turbo. Those Turbo disks were slightly larger diameter, had better calipers and were ventilated.
Second problem was the clutch. Again, I solved that problem with the clutch from the Turbo car. The car put out more power than stock due to a Weber 2 bbl downdraft carb, K&N filter, John Baker cam, complete Mallory ignition system, and a custom built exhaust header and 2.25" exhaust system with no catalytic converter and a Thrush Turbo Muffler. I had a set of Toyota Celica GTS/Supra wheels with 50 series BF Goodrich tires. I had to modify a set of Datsun 240Z rear fender flares to keep the rubber inside the fenders, and had the front fenders "stretched" to keep the tires under as well. I had performance product stickers in the rear window, just like the muscle car guys, including one HUGE Direct Connection sticker. Does that count as riced out?
While the stickers didn't add anything to the performance of this car, the products they advertised certainly did... Oh, wait, that was before the current import trend...
I truly enjoyed that little car. It was fast, good on gas and handled very well. I traveled a lot at night and had 4 250,000 candle power lights on the front bumper. I could melt the brass buttons on a troopers coat at 50 yards... Every problem that I had with this car wasn't covered under the additional warranty I bought. Go figure.
If I had kept that car, I was going to get the roof cut off and make it a roadster. I already had the sources lined up to reinforce the chassis. When I say fast, I got a ticket in Texas "In Excess of 115 MPH". Not bad for an economy car. In fact, I got more tickets in that car than any TWO cars I ever owned.
I last saw this car in 1994 running around San Diego, California. I hope it still lives...
 |
 Robert Marks' Champ is now officially registered as a Florida antique car. |
Plymouth Colt notes
James Schueller wrote:
My first car is a 1986 Plymouth Colt. It has a 1.5L 68hp engine, 4-spd, 2-dr. It has seen its better days. It has 128,000 miles and uses a quart of oil in 150 miles. I got the car after my sister had it for her first car. She did not take good care of it at all. She never checked the oil in it. Never let it warm up on a cold day. The list goes on. She also drove it with the oil light on... TWICE!!! So it is a miracle that it still runs.
It seems to be a depenable car for how much it has been neglected. I was stranded only once cause of it and that was due to a flat tire. The thing we had replaced on the car is crankshaft seal, camshaft seal, valve cover gasketket, and the fuel. There are quite a few more seals that we need to replace on it. But we don't bother with it cause the car is only worth $200.
The body is full of rust. I'm suprized that water dosen't come in when it rains!!! The interior is shot. There is no room in there if you are a big person. The radio dose not work. The best thing about the car is the fuel mileage. It gets 30mpg on average. The best I have saw it was 36mpg. The car work just good enough to get me where I want to go.
Canadian Cricket
Mike Sealey wrote:
Chrysler Canada marketed a badge-engineered Colt as a Plymouth Cricket after they stopped bringing the Avenger-based (UK) Cricket over. (This was the 2nd generation Colt with dual headlights rather than quads, possibly best remembered in this country in its cute 2-door hardtop version. An interesting note is that the Plymouth equivalent to the Colt GT was another A-body model name revisited; "Plymouth Cricket Formula S"!
The Japanese Cricket (1974-76?) had different grille and taillights from its Colt sibling, unlike Canada's "Dodge Arrow" which as far as I remember only differed in emblems.
Lar Kaufman wrote:
- Colt Mailing List
I have a Chrysler service manual entitled "1976 Colt Service Manual" and the title page "Service Manual Sub-Compact 1976" covers Dodge Colt, Plymouth Colt, and Plymouth Cricket for Canada, United States, and Puerto Rico.
The vehicle identification chart lists the car as sold in all three markets in 1976 as the Dodge Colt in Canada, as the Plymouth Colt (some models), and in Puerto Rico as the Cricket (a subset of the Canadian Plymouth Colt models). I conclude that the Cricket was not a Canadian brand for 1976. (The body work section shows no differing headlights and grille for the Cricket.)
The 1976 Cricket (Puerto Rico) was offered only as "Custom" and "Super Deluxe" sedan models (types 6H41K and 6P41U) and corresponding station wagon models (6H45K, 6H45U) with manual or automatic transmission, and were apparently the same as the corresponding US 49-state versions of the Dodge Colt.
The Canadian Plymouth Colt lineup offered the same models as the Puerto Rico Crickets, plus a "Special hardtop" model (5S23K) in manual or automatic.
The Dodge Colt was offered in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico in the same versions as the Canadian Plymouth Colt, plus "Coupe" (6M21K), "Super Deluxe hardtop" (6P23K and 6P23U) models. The Canadian Plymouth Colt models parallel the Dodge Colt models, but have a "5" prefix whereas the Dodge models have a "6" (e.g. 5S23K, 6S23K). The VIN code scheme used distinguishes between Canadian and US models, but not between Canadian Dodge and Plymouth offerings. Again, the Puerto Rico Cricket models are the same as their U.S. 49-state Dodge Colt counterparts.
The "Body and Sheet Metal" chapter of the manual shows that the coupe and hardtop shared chassis components; the hardtops are identified as "CAROUSEL" and "GT" styles for purposes of locating trim tape (remember the vinyl trim tape?).
Dodge Colt specifications
| 1970 Valiant | 1972 Colt | 1987 Colt 4-Door |
1993 Colt 2-Door |
1993 Colt 4-Door |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 108 | 95.3 | 93.7 | 96.1 | 98.4 |
| Max Track | 57.4 | 50.6 | 54.7 | 57.5 | 57.5 |
| Length | 188.4 | 160.6 | 169.1 | 171.1 | 174 |
| Width | 71 | 61.4 | 63.8 | 66.1 | 66.1 |
| Height | 53.7 | 53.6 | 50.8 | 51.4 | 51.4 |
| Turning circle | n/a | 30.2 ft | 30.5 ft | ||
| Shoulder room f+r | 55.4 | 50.2 | 52.8/52.6 | 53.9/54.1 | 53.9/53.5 |
| Headroom f/r | 38.4/37.3 | 37.8/37.0 | 37.7/37.0 | 38.6/38.4 | 38.6/36.2 |
| Legroom f/r | 41.7/34.5 | 42.7/30.5 | 40.6/30.7 | 42.9/31.1 | 42.9/33.5 |
| Trunk (cu ft) | 9.0 | 10.9 | 10.5 | 10.5 | |
| Tires | 6 x 13 | P175/70R13 | P175/70R13 | ||
| Horsepower | 115 @ 4400 (base) | 85 @ 5600 | 92 @ 6,000 or 113 @ 6,000 |
92 @ 6,000 or 113 @ 6,000 |
|
| Torque | 155 @ 2400 (base) | 90 @ 3600 | 93 @ 3,000 or 115 @ 4,500 |
93 @ 3,000 or 115 @ 4,500 |
|
| Compression | 8.5 (base) | 8.5 | 9.2:1 / 9.5:1 | 9.2:1 / 9.5:1 | |
| Bore/stroke | 3.4 x 3.125 (base) | 3.03 x 3.39 | |||
| Displacement | 170 cid (base) | 95.7 cid | 1.5 - 1.8 liter | 1.5 - 1.8 liter |
