While Ford and General Motors rolled out their own subcompact cars in the 1970s, Chrysler opted for badge-engineered imports instead. One example was the Plymouth Arrow, which was a Japanese Mitsubishi Celeste in disguise, sold in Canada as the Dodge Arrow. That’s what the latter is, a survivor in okay shape and found in Campbell River, British Columbia. It’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $6,500 CDN ($4,662 USD). Our thanks go to MisterLou for this “Mopar” tip!
Looking for a subcompact for American buyers, Chrysler partnered with Mitsubishi to bring over the Celeste to sell as the Arrow at Plymouth dealers in the U.S. and Dodge dealers north of the border. This arrangement lasted from 1976 to 1980 for a little car with typical engineering of the day – rear wheel drive with a carbureted inline-4 engine up front. While standard fare was a 1.6-liter motor with a 4-speed manual, the seller’s car has the optional 2.0-liter with a (sluggish?) automatic tranny.
The seller has the Canadian version of the Arrow in GT trim from 1977, and it has low miles (40,000 kilometers, less than 25,000 miles). It’s in fairly good shape, but there is some rust on the hood and around one rear window (these cars had rather thin sheet metal). Since the seller says the car has new “rubber” all around, we assume that refers to tires. We’re told the contrasting interior is nice and tidy. Would one of these captive imports be on your shopping list?
Kind of a grungy car. If those are new tires I don’t even want to see the old ones. Bet the engine compartment is a real beauty.
The hood has a Plymouth badge on it.
They even look like the Sunbeam Alpine GT which was built by Chrysler over in England.
Whoa ho, a “GT”, who was sportin’ that kind of cash, especially in Canada hey, just kidding, Canada is A-OK,,,hey. There is a shred of merit there, however, as I read the GT cost $500 MORE ($3654) than a base Arrow( $3172). Let’s call a spade a spade. At that time, Chrysler was caught with their pants down. The Dodge Omni was probably frantically being put together( 1978) and Pinto/Vega/ Gremlin were already reaping huge profits, Chryslers stop gap measure, import the Arrow, that should hold them. And hold them it did. Blissfully unaware of the Omni that very next year, Chrysler sold a whopping 47,345 Arrows in 1977, so the market was clearly there. While it’s splitting atoms which Asian car was better, I doubt many regretted buying the Arrow, they were good cars. I’d gladly give them the $500( $698.18 CADs)( what’s a CDN?) they are asking,,,what’s that? $6500 CADs?,,,good heavens,,
The big difference between the Arrow and other Japanese imports was the nice design. Clean lines, a laid back windshield and a low belt-line made the corresponding Toyotas and Datsuns look downright frumpy. I had a ’76 with the larger engine and a stick and loved it. Unfortunately those bodies weren’t made to last.
The Arrow was sold under the Plymouth brand in Canada, not the Dodge label.
One of my grade 12 classmates, bought a new 1977 car just before class started. It was badged as a Plymouth.
Our town only had one Chrysler dealership, and it sold all makes including Plymouth.
Arrow was Plymouth in the states also
My 79 is badged a dodge … Canadian car..
“Me and my Arrow……Taking the high road….”
Oh NOOOOOO, I just forgot about that song, thanks a lot Poppy. On a humorous note, I read, Harry Nilsson demanded a Mercedes Benz from Chrysler for using his song to promote the car. Initially, Chrysler refused, but due to the success of the car, they gave him a M-B after all.
Back in my high-school days, i remember a guy building a pro-street arrow. Did a google search & here’s the link:
https://www.hotrod.com/features/killer-october-1986-982-1344-94-1
I always thought it was something else.
Randy in Topeka KS.
Being Mitsubishi, these are incredibly strong cars with alot of suspension travel. (Like the Colt before it) Steve Nowicki drove a Fire Arrow starting in 1981 (the one with the 2,600cc 4 cylinder) to 5 consecutive SCCA pro-rally production class championships. Hendric Blok tried to kill several navigators in a very short period of time in one. He even rolled one a couple of times, tearing off the navigators door and kept on competing until the navigator decided that life was better than a rally trophy and walked off into the woods! There is an Arrow not-far from me sitting along side a house and hasn’t moved in years. I’m tempted to try and build a tribute rally car.
Hi Wayne, the Plymouth Arrow was incredibly popular in drag racing around this time. Some big names drove Arrow funny cars. Kenny Bernstein, the Snake, Blue Max and many more, even Bob Glidden before he went Ford. Not sure why. Kenny Bernstein set a record, 1st into the 5s ( 5.99) in 1981 with an Arrow and the 1st of his Budweiser King sponsorship.
My friend had a red & black ’78 Arrow Jet. Not sure why there are so few Arrows left today – maybe 20?!
Rust and Chrysler pulling the plug.
Rust and Chrysler pulling the plug.