Mitsubishi Colt 800
Encyclopedia
The Mitsubishi Colt 800 is the first of a series of passenger cars produced by Mitsubishi Motors
from November 1965. It was introduced as a two-door fastback
sedan, the first such design in the Japanese market. The series was discontinued in 1971, after the introduction of the company's Galant
sedan but without a real replacement.
two-stroke engine of 843 cc capacity producing 45 PS. Equipped with a four-speed manual gearbox and weighing a scant 750 kg, top speed was 120 km/h (75 mph). While it may have looked like a hatchback, the 800 was never available with a rear hatch. However, both a little pickup version ("ute
" in Australia, where many of these were sold) and a wagon ("Van" in Japanese parlance) were marketed. The Van was clearly based on the ute, with a horizontally split rear tailgate and workmanlike interior. Production of the two-stroke versions ended in 1968, as customers across the world were beginning to stear away from cars with these types of engines and new stricter emissions standards were looming. The similarly sized and engined Suzuki Fronte 800
was discontinued without replacement around the same time; these were the last Japanese two-strokes bigger than a Kei car
.
In September 1966 the two-stroke 800 engine was complemented by the larger four-stroke 977 cc pushrod powerplant from the more traditional Colt 1000. 800 production ended in the last months of 1968, shortly after the introduction of the 1100. The engine in the Colt 1000F, "F" for "Fastback" to set it apart from its stodgier sedan counterpart, produced 55 PS. In August 1967, the 1000F finally received the lifting tailgate that the car's design had always promised. The 1000F remained in production until May 1969, after which only 1.1 liter models were available.
s and Dakar Rally
wins began with an unexpected class victory, and fourth place overall, in the 1967 Southern Cross Rally
in Australia with a 1000F fastback.
sibling: 1100Fs finished third overall (and first and second in class) at the 1968 Southern Cross Rally
.
In May 1969 the lineup was revamped and renamed the Colt 11-F (chassis code A82). The 11F lost the peculiar top-hinged rear side windows, instead getting a single large piece. The grille was also new. The "cooking" version (Standard, DeLuxe, Super DeLuxe) came with a 62 PS version of the pushrod KE44 engine, and was available with all five different bodystyles. The 11-F Super Sports (shortened to 11-F SS in October for the 1970 model year, a version which also gained front disc brakes) received the same 73 hp engine as the previous Super Sports, and only in the two-door body. Production ended in March 1971 without any true replacement, although the compact Galant FTO
can be said to have taken up the Super Sports' mantle. Rallying duties had in any case already been passed to the Colt 1500 Super Sports.
Mitsubishi Motors
is a multinational automaker headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. In 2009 it was the fifth-largest Japan-based automaker and the 17th-largest in the world measured by production...
from November 1965. It was introduced as a two-door fastback
Fastback
A fastback is a car body style whose roofline slopes continuously down at the back. The word can also designate the car itself. The style is seen on two-door coupés as well as four-door sedans.-History:...
sedan, the first such design in the Japanese market. The series was discontinued in 1971, after the introduction of the company's Galant
Mitsubishi Galant
The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...
sedan but without a real replacement.
Colt 800
The 800 was powered by a three cylinderStraight-3
A straight-three engine, also known as inline-three engine, or a triple, is a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine with three cylinders arranged in a straight line or plane, side by side....
two-stroke engine of 843 cc capacity producing 45 PS. Equipped with a four-speed manual gearbox and weighing a scant 750 kg, top speed was 120 km/h (75 mph). While it may have looked like a hatchback, the 800 was never available with a rear hatch. However, both a little pickup version ("ute
Coupé utility
The coupé utility automobile body style, also known colloquially as the ute in Australia and New Zealand, combines a two-door "coupé" cabin with an integral cargo bed behind the cabin—using a light-duty passenger vehicle-derived platform....
" in Australia, where many of these were sold) and a wagon ("Van" in Japanese parlance) were marketed. The Van was clearly based on the ute, with a horizontally split rear tailgate and workmanlike interior. Production of the two-stroke versions ended in 1968, as customers across the world were beginning to stear away from cars with these types of engines and new stricter emissions standards were looming. The similarly sized and engined Suzuki Fronte 800
Suzuki Fronte 800
The Suzuki Fronte 800 was a 2-stroke subcompact car built by the Suzuki Motor Corporation in the latter half of the 1960s.-History:Introduced in August 1965 , the Fronte 800 was an attempt at competing in a higher market segment than the Suzulight Kei jidosha class offerings...
was discontinued without replacement around the same time; these were the last Japanese two-strokes bigger than a Kei car
Kei car
Kei cars, K-cars, or , are a Japanese category of small vehicles, including passenger cars, vans, and pickup trucks. They are designed to comply with Japanese government tax and insurance regulations, and in most rural areas are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is...
.
Colt 1000F
Competition
The Colt 1000F became Mitsubishi's first ever rally car. The company which would go on to score multiple World Rally ChampionshipWorld Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
s and Dakar Rally
Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid type of off-road automobile race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation...
wins began with an unexpected class victory, and fourth place overall, in the 1967 Southern Cross Rally
Southern Cross Rally
The Southern Cross Rally was a major international rally mainly held in the Port Macquarie region of New South Wales, Australia, between 1966 and 1980. The rally attracted many of the world's leading rally drivers and factory teams....
in Australia with a 1000F fastback.
Colt 1100F/11-F
In August 1968, the Colt F received the 58 PS engine from the Colt 1100 sedan and became the Colt 1100F. This also marked the introduction of a four-door version with a fastback styled rear but again without a tailgate, only ever available with the 1.1 litre engine. Top speed was 140 km/h (87 mph) while the 400-meter sprint took 19.7 seconds. A 155 km/h (96 mph), 73 PS, twin-carb "Super Sport" version also appeared in October 1968, and was able to go one better than its Colt 1000Mitsubishi Colt 1000
The A20-series Mitsubishi Colt 1000, 1100, 1200, and 1500 is a 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 bodystyles and on two different wheelbases...
sibling: 1100Fs finished third overall (and first and second in class) at the 1968 Southern Cross Rally
Southern Cross Rally
The Southern Cross Rally was a major international rally mainly held in the Port Macquarie region of New South Wales, Australia, between 1966 and 1980. The rally attracted many of the world's leading rally drivers and factory teams....
.
In May 1969 the lineup was revamped and renamed the Colt 11-F (chassis code A82). The 11F lost the peculiar top-hinged rear side windows, instead getting a single large piece. The grille was also new. The "cooking" version (Standard, DeLuxe, Super DeLuxe) came with a 62 PS version of the pushrod KE44 engine, and was available with all five different bodystyles. The 11-F Super Sports (shortened to 11-F SS in October for the 1970 model year, a version which also gained front disc brakes) received the same 73 hp engine as the previous Super Sports, and only in the two-door body. Production ended in March 1971 without any true replacement, although the compact Galant FTO
Mitsubishi Galant FTO
The Mitsubishi Galant Coupé FTO is a rear-wheel drive coupe produced by Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors from November 1971 to March 1975. "FTO" was meant to stand for Fresco Turismo Omologato, in a fine example of Japanese Italian...
can be said to have taken up the Super Sports' mantle. Rallying duties had in any case already been passed to the Colt 1500 Super Sports.