Junkyard Gem: 1982 Dodge Colt Hatchback

Various Mitsubishis served as the basis for the
Dodge Colt during its 1971-1994 run in North America, including the Galant, the Lancer, and finally the Mirage. The Mirage-based
1979-1983 Colts were the first to feature front-wheel-drive, and these affordable econoboxes sold very well during the aftermath of the
1979 oil crisis triggered by the Iranian Revolution. Nearly all have disappeared by now, but I found this well-worn ’82 at a Denver self-service yard not long ago.

This one has the “big”
MCA-Jet 1.6-liter engine, rated at 72 horsepower when new. That sounds bad, but was respectable by 1982 subcompact standards.

With the automatic transmission, though, acceleration was on the poky side.

Chrysler made no attempt to disguise the fact that this was a Japanese-built car, knowing that many American car shoppers were hooked on Toyotas and Hondas by 1982.

The car’s final owner was a lipstick-wearing heavy smoker, and the cheap operating costs of a 35-year-old Colt leave a lot of money left over for cigarettes.

Cheaper than the Toyota Tercel! Cheaper than the Mazda GLC!

In Japan, ads for the same car featured jet planes and futuristic-looking console-mounted cassette decks.

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