When the three-diamond marque decided to provide Malaysians with a sensible compact hatchback, this Colt was introduced with a 1244cc engine mated to a 4-speed gearbox ‘Super Shift’ gearbox. The Colt was sold as a 3 door hatch and also a 5-door hatch and soon it was well accepted by the market. Yes, the Lancer was then the best-selling Mitsubishi car but this little Colt was rising favourite with its 54hp engine that pushed a decent 90Nm of torque.
The Colt was an efficient, reliable car that was easy to drive, decent looking and a comparatively economical. This 1980s model was arguably one of the best looking small cars for its time. It first arrived with an 8-valve, single overhead camshaft engine. This engine can struggle at highway speeds up to 147km/h when it best tune with a full load of passengers on board. This Colt will accommodate 4 in comfort, has a decent sized boot, is cheap to maintain and comes with better build quality than a used 1st generation Kancil with added power and comfort.
Later the same year a 1.4L (1411cc) version was introduced and this Colt pushed out a decent 68hp and 106Nm of torque. Popular colors were a dark brown and an apple green but don’t expect any used units to still have the original color today.
The driving position is comfortable enough and the seats are firm and the manual gearshift should be smooth if all well maintained and will deliver good mileage. This Colt carried the early Mitsubishi ‘Super Shift’ gearbox which added 4 extra forward gears to the conventional 4 speed manual. This allowed the driver to get better power and economy but more shifting meant more work for the driver. Its life ended with the Mitsubishi Tredia sedan that did not do well in sales despite its high specification and handsome boxy looks.
Repair and replacement of engine wear parts is not an issue but can be a little pricey. High mileage engines might be better of being replaced than overhauling. Half cut engines are not easy to find in the junkyards. The earliest cars are now available for low low low money from RM1,000 upwards depending on interior trim condition and engine running.
Reliability is excellent and parts not as pricey as you might fear; the car is much cheaper than most to maintain. Make sure the exhaust is in good condition and that the tyres have plenty of wear left in them.
