Publisher’s note: Again I called for copy on Cults.  This time by our motoring correspondent Quantum Dumpster.  Again I am foiled.  Or perhaps not, just maybe the Mitsubishi Colt did have a Cult following?

The first Mitsubishi Colt to grace our shores was a wee three door fastback in about 1966.  Its claim to fame was its acceptance by those idiot car wreckers who call themselves “Car Rally” drivers, but who are simply torturers of finely honed automotive excellence.

However, they exceed any rational vehicle adherent’s sense of decency, by over driving, over revving and over rating their own skills – the likes of which verge on Kamakazi stupidity.  The Colt’s attributes were its extraordinary lightness, its robust body and its free revving engine.  It could “Hang its tail out” with the best of them because of the lack of mass in its rear end.

For the public, who really weren’t thrilled to own a two passenger door car (albeit with a third, the “Hatchback”), were the rear seats’ side windows which pivoted from the top – a feature for Asian countries, ravaged by Monsoon rains.  Less necessary in temperate Australia.

Colts went to front wheel drive in the mid seventies, but ceased to be imported into Australia. (Word got out that the Brand was ‘Too Primitive’).  Ford/Mazda’s Laser/323 combo were simply too dominating, and had succeeded the Holden Gemini as the “Cult” car of the young and the restless and the prim housewife’s shopping trolleys.  The Gemini was a tough little critter too, but never attracted attention of the Rallying set.  It had the backing of this top selling brand’s dealer network for support and at last had given Holden a viable small car.  In addition, it was made in Australia at Acacia Ridge in Queensland.  Such Street Cred!

Then news filtered across the Tasman that there was a new generation “Mirage” there that would be sold as a Colt in Oz.  Why should that puny population of NZ have something we didn’t?  However Chrysler / Mitsubishi’s marketing was a little overwhelmed at the multiplicity of models they could offer.  There were Hillman Hunters and Arrows and Valiants.  Chrysler US had bought the Rootes Group in UK ( and Simca in France) and there appeared to be wealth of opportunity about!  Only the 1968 win of a Hillman Hunter in the hands of Andrew Cowan in the London to Sydney Rally actually lifted sales of the Hunters.  From Simca came the “180” which was large but underdone in the engine bay.  This became the Chrysler Centura.  Unfortunately this was merely a slightly preshrunk Valiant behemoth.  Its underpowered engine matched its weak sales.

When Holden (per inspiration of John “Bags” Bagshaw) dropped a Holden six into the Torana, Australians were gobsmacked.  So Ford and Chrysler did the same to Cortina and Centura.  Sadly their sixes were too heavy for these essentially light cars, and understeered dangerously, whilst having too much power and torque.

All of the above distracted the marketing department of C A L / M M A – Chrysler Australia and Mitsubishi Motors Australia – to the extent that the poor little Colts were seriously neglected.

The Colt was well presented, well finished and well equipped but sadly Australian motorists who had been spoilt by too many Automatic automobiles did not see the advantages of the “Twin Stick” gear shifting mechanisms, which was an unwanted and strange novelty.  Actually, the twin stick shift was an unnecessary complication for buyers and few could see the slightest benefit.  A simpler 5 speed ‘box was less of a challenge!

So the Colt has been consigned to the dustbin of history.

Fortunately for MMA their Japanese masters had created the newly designed “Sigma”, which did capture heaps of buyers and made 4 cylinder motoring viable as well as lining MMA coffers.