31K-Mile Survivor: 1979 Dodge Colt
Believe it or not, Dodge did actually make and sell a Colt that looked like this car in 1979, they weren’t all the new hatchback style. It was a transitional year and at least for a few months, they sold both styles of the Dodge Colt. The seller has this third-generation 1979 Dodge Colt posted here on craigslist in Eldon, Missouri and they’re asking $3,200. Thanks to Pat L. for sending in this tip! Here is the original listing.
It was an unusual time in the captive import market when Dodge introduced the new rebadged front-wheel-drive Mitsubishi Mirage as the Dodge Colt hatchback and they still offered the rebadged rear-wheel-drive Mitsubishi Lancer as a Dodge Colt coupe and four-door sedan. They also offered a Mitsubishi Galant Sigma as the Dodge Colt Wagon, not to mention the Mitsubishi Galant Lambda as the Dodge Colt Challenger/Dodge Challenger. That doesn’t even take into account Plymouth’s versions of these vehicles.
Are you still awake? Hey, you in back, you’re snoring. Dodge offered this version of the Colt beginning in late-1976 for the 1977 model year and they were offered into the 1979 model year and then they went away. They were a much more formal design than the new hatchback which eventually would receive various graphics packages and a turbo engine as the Dodge Colt Turbo. Not to mention the famous Twin-Stick manual transmission which this car never had. The trunk looks good and it looks even better under the carpet.
The interior appears to be spectacular in this car front and back and there is even a sunroof, although the headliner is sagging a bit around that. This one has a Chrysler TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic rather than a manual. It’s the exterior that worries me a bit, there is some rust to deal with in several areas. It looks absolutely rust-free in the trunk which I didn’t expect after seeing the few spots of rust on the body. If the rust can be stopped and fixed before it gets to be catastrophic, this could be a good buy.
The engine is a Mitsubishi 4G32 1.6L inline-four with 77 horsepower. The automatic won’t help it move along on freeway ramps but for an unusual weekend car to tinker with, fix the rust as you can, and just watch the reactions when you stop for gas or groceries, this would be fun to own.
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Comments
This will be slower than molasses, and good luck finding parts.
Cute little car, you never see them because they weren’t real popular when new, and the ones that did sell are now deceased. I had never seen one with the “sun coupe” style sunroof.
If I thought it would be easy to buy parts for & if I thought I could drive this safely on the interstate, I would probably buy it. Even with the rust, it is priced well. Alas, I think the yellow one from a week or so ago is more practical. And that one isn’t real practical either.
Can you be any more negative?
Oy 🙄
It’s a cute little car. I myself liked the 75-77 Colt GT. I was a teenager when these were new. Body parts might be a problem. Mechanical parts could still be available. You might have to look a little harder. Technically it’s a Mitsubishi so that might be a plus when you’re looking for parts.
Sorry if I come across as negative. I see it as realistic. I like to drive my toys. I had a Horizon TC3 that I sold here. The car was dangerously slow on the interstate. It had a top speed of 55 mph, and it was running well. Now with 70 & 80 mph speed limits, these cars are dangerous. And for this one, being a badge engineered Mitsubishi that is over 40 years old, finding parts will not be easy. Is it a nice car? You bet! It is very cute & in great shape for what it is. Just not real practical for the real world as we know it.
Had one for about 5 years, sold it last year. Parts were not any more difficult to find than any other vintage car. Got most off of eBay and they were often inexpensive. It drove fine and safe on the freeway, much like any vintage small engine car. They have a following online.
My dad had a dealership and I drove a first year TC3 from Michigan to Texas and back, it could do well over 55 mph on the interstate without a problem. Kept if for ten years and the Michigan tin worms got to it eventually. Not a Camaro, but did more than fine at interstate speeds.
wuz this the one or the nxt gen w/the twin sticks (econo as 1).
Or
the pre mini-vans that were mini minis of early ’80s (vista – almost the mazda 6 style/size?). Like them: eagle summit, nisan stanza, vista?, mitsu MPV ?
Gone already.
i love the car my parents had one in all blue
Nice car, would be something unique to own.
I am in agreement that finding replacements for the rusty body parts might be a challenge.
No is not. It’s harder to find parts for a 10 yr old electric vehicle than this one guys.
The girl I had the hots for in high school had one of these (circa 1985-1987) – hers was a 4 door white sedan and I can still remember the license plate number :).
I did end up dating her for awhile 20 years later but the car was long gone by then. After awhile, she was gone again too…
In high school i.had a 78 Plymouth Arrow, which was a captive import Mitsubishi. Same 1.6L and auto. Ran good but very very slow. 65 was about all i felt like pushing it. Just not fast enough for modern driving
Someone got a good deal, great little grocery-getter!
Hey Scotty; nice write-up and neat early ’79 car. Love the black and white interior. This one’s too nice to fiddle with, but find one for $350 with no drivetrain and I can picture an S2000 or Miata swap. Enjoy 30+ MPG in a unique ride and let it rip once in a while. Thanks for giving this RWD Colt some love!
My dad and I picked this one up on 3/12/22. The car drove the 175-mile trip back home without any issues, even at sustained speeds of 60+ mph on the highways and interstate. You have to get enough speed going downhill to generate momentum to carry yourself uphill… it was being driven in the Ozarks.
I measured approximately 23 mpg at my last fuel-up. Not as good as it would have been brand new, but 23 is still 3 times better than my 454 square body truck! I like weekend roadtrips but the truck doesn’t handle as well as a car. The gas mileage on the Colt is a plus with the way gas prices have been.
One frame rail is pretty rusted. Exhaust from the manifold back needs replacing. My dad’s been a body man for 35 years, but I doubt we’re going to do major overhauling to the car. Lord-willing I might just drive it in nice weather and enjoy it while it lasts.
Today my dad and I were looking at the sun top closer. We think it was most likely not factory. The interior of the sun top, though white in color, is not the same material as the headliner. The screws and weld job on top does not appear to be a neat factory-done job, either.
Unless some other fabrication is done to cover the sun top, the car will probably be parked inside or put under a cover during the rain. Can hardly get the top pulled all the way forward and latched. Even then it doesn’t have a gasket or seal to keep water out if you were driving in a downpour.