I’ve always dug these “captive import” Dodge Challengers, and was sorely tempted by one in the Georgia stash I wrote about last week as a Barn Finds Exclusive. This Challenger is in slightly better condition (ha!) as a running, driving car, but if you pick it up, I can make you a deal on a parts car! And, frankly, given their obscurity, you may need it. Find this nicely preserved example here on craigslist, and thanks to Barn Finds reader Ian C. for the find.
Yes, many purists cried foul seeing the Challenger nameplate on a car built in Japan by Mitsubishi. Can’t say I blame them – especially a car as significant as the Challenger was to Mopar – but at least they did a decent job of making an otherwise vanilla Japanese car slightly more interesting to look at. Based on the Japanese-market Galant Lambda, the Challenger and its Plymouth twin, the Sapporo, did what Chrysler Corp. needed: provided a stop-gap until they built a fuel efficient car on their own.
One aspect of the Challenger/Sapporo that’s always impressed me is the seemingly high-grade interior. They never seem all that tired, suggesting they’re made from hard-wearing materials. On top of that, they’re downright stylish, even today, with a driver-focused cockpit and most cars seemingly equipped with a manual transmission (like this one is). Again, you’re not going to convince the guy who owned a 440 in high school that this is some sort of crowning achievement, but as far as captive imports go, it could have gone far worse.
This Challenger certainly has come minor cosmetic sorting to do and the McDonald’s-themed paint job isn’t flattering. While I don’t suspect these vehicles will rise in value, I’ve had a fascination with the Sapporo ever since seeing this car posted for sale and featured a few years back on Barn Finds. How good does that look with period mesh wheels? I love it, as some subtle “tuner” mods would work well in paying homage to the Challenger’s Japanese roots without distorting its thoroughly American image.
import fighter? I thought it wuz an import…built here? By who (mitsu or mopower)?
All way liked these (for their styling – inside’n out).
Thanks for the share Jeff.
Don’t know much about these. Could you shoehorn a 6. 2 L Hellcat V8 into this thing?
We have these in Australia and its typical to put a 302 in them. Don’t know if a 6.2l would fit. Would make a great little pocket rocket if it did…
The listing is gone
I loved driving these old Mitsubishis. They are a lot of fun.
How much was it offered for? The ad is gone.
I “think” it was in the $2500 range. If my memory isn’t shorting out again.
Love the looks of these and the Mitsubishi motors got amazing gas mikeage. Would be a daily driver for me.
I sorely want one of these so I can refit it to JDM standard.
Posting’s gone – what were they asking for it?
Mopar sure took a long time to come up with something new of their own… those starion/conquestTSI were a neck snapper that had a high speed plateau into the 140’s with ease and safety. Every now and then one those surfaces for sale too. Some folks did stuff V8’s in them too.
Does it have a hemi?
Believe it or not, it does!
The Mitsu 4-cylinder came with a hemi head.
Little Bro had a 78 Sapporo in navy blue metallic with that brushed aluminum band over the top.
A true hardtop. All the windows rolled down. I think the ones in the Challenger are fixed due to the slats covering half the rear side windows.
Amazingly quiet and smooth riding.Seat trim was plush with a light blue velour.
I was pretty impressed with it, especially as a hard core lover of doemstic products at the time.
All windows rolled down on every model, here’s mine in 1980, In Middle East we got the American style bumpers in 1980 with some differences like the engine, steering wheel and color variations in n out.
Fixed up a ’74 Dodge Colt for my favorite uncle back in ’82. 4 cyl, 4spd. Also a mitsubitshi, I belive. Solid body was the only reason I tackled it. Had to replace the rings, valve seals, steering box, rear center section, Hood and front grille. Came out as a nice car that was adequate power wise and got excellent fuel mileage. He had it for years. Had trouble insuring it as the ins. co. claimed there was no Dodge colt in that yr! I sent him several stick-on oval Ford emblems that futher confused everyone.
The Mitsubishi-built Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Sapporo were built in Japan – not quite import beaters.
The Dodge Colt was the first car Mitsubishi built for Chrysler for 1971, with Chrysler Canada offering a Mitsu-built Plymouth Cricket (1973-75) and Plymouth Colt (1976-199?) for Plymouth dealers. Even had a Formula S instead of the Colt’s GT hardtop in the 1970’s.
They weren’t big sellers but did well in the import market.
Wow truly embarrassed that an American car company named it what they did. I would have loved to hear the pitch somebody made to their boss to come up with this THING,(NO offense to VW)!
I had an eagle TALON TSI it was turbocharged and pulled 200 hp out of the 4 cylinder, I made a lot of nasty V-8 cars look mighty silly in the stoplight grand Prix, they couldn’t touch AWD!
Do you remember what 1978 was like, or maybe even earlier?
People were selling the Challengers for whatever they could get for them because people couldn’t afford the gas.
The name Challenger was not a revered name like it is now, or people think it is now.
It was a different time and people had different attitudes back then.
You have a point Miguel I wasn’t driving yet when the fuel shortage started but I remember high school I wanted to buy a 71 Cuda with a 440 it also had some work done with cam, carb, intake, converter and gear ratios, I loved the car when I told Dad I wanted to trade my pickup for the Cuda he looked at me like I was on CRACK! In hind sight I would guess that Cuda would have been a 10 to 12 mpg car being nice to it.
Actually he was probably thinking that the first time you pushed down the right hand pedal, you would be killed.
The 440 was just too big of an engine for the mid size body.
“The 440 was just too big of an engine for the mid size body.”
BWAA HAAA HAAA!!
Too much power…. I have never heard of such a thing!!
I had a fox body with a blown 347 stroker a few years ago. Absolutely USELESS. It would get crossed up when you nailed the gas at 55mph in 4th gear. But it was fun. Kinda liking poking the proverbial rattlesnake with a stick. Good times!
I will never understand this obsession with power. I’m more concerned with driving this around town getting looks and comments parking next to some boring plastic bubble and while getting 30mpg. Classic cars shouldn’t be hot rodded. Remember that next time you see some 2017 Challenger wrapped around a tree or a telephone pole. Which is quite often if you watch the news.
Derek I have to agree with you. While having 400+ h.p. on tap is awesome, when do you use it? I have heard the new mid-engine Corvette, with the correct boxes are checked off the options sheet, can reach 1000hp. Beyond impressive mechanically, but again….where are you using that horsepower? Unless you are taking that car to the track, you are paying an s—t ton of money for power that you probably will never use 60% of.
Low end torque is where the fun is at in my opinion.