Mitsubishi Colt Lancer (1974 – 1979) Review

Mitsubishi Colt Lancer (1974 – 1979) At A Glance

3/5

+Now-cool 1970s Japanese styling, reliable, and fun to drive on smooth roads

-Poor body protection, harsh ride, and cramped for tall drivers

The A70-generation Lancer was first launched in Japan in February 1973, and was a hugely important car in the development of its maker, filling the gap between the Minica and Galant. In its home market, it proved a capable rival to the Toyota Corolla and Nissan Sunny, two cars it was inevitably compared with in the UK when it arrived on our shores two years later. It was a conventionally engineered rear-wheel drive saloon, that majored on equipment, good value and reliability - and was a major factor in establishing the Colt name in the UK. It siffered from confused identity globally, too - it was also sold as the Chrysler Valiant Lancer, Dodge Colt, Dodge Lancer, and Plymouth Colt.

The Colt Lancer was offered in three body styles, two- and four-door saloons and a five-door estate version, introduced six months after the saloons. The smooth overhead valive 1.2-litre Neptune 4G42, an overhead cam 1.4-litre Saturn 4G33 and 1.6-litre 4G32 were offered - all were lusty for their size, and earned the Lancer a reputation for sparkling performance. Steering was light, handling was sharp, ride was choppy, and equipment and build quality were class-leading. Sadly, the rustproofing wasn't up to the same standard - accounting for the abysmal survival rate today.

Ask Honest John

How much is my Mitsubishi Lancer GLS worth?

"My dad is 82. He has an old Mitsubishi Colt Lancer GLS (W reg). It’s very low mileage and the interior is immaculate. Could you tell me roughly how much it would be worth? "
I love these - great cars. And very rare... which makes it very hard to value. It sounds like it's in good condition, but you don't mention if it's still on the road or if it's been stood and needs recommissioning to get it going again. I should think you'd be looking at about £3500 to £6000. If you're looking to sell, it might be worth getting in touch with a few auction houses to get a guide price: you could try Classic Car Auctions, Anglia Car Auctions, Brightwells or perhaps Historics. And remember, it may not sell on the first (or even second attempt) because, although these are few and far between, so are the people who would like to own one (compared to something like, say, a Ford Escort).
Answered by Keith Moody
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