Show of hands if you remember the original Dodge Colt. Well, I do now, but it was out of sight and out of mind for me as far as ChryCo’s rebadged Mitsubishis go. Today’s find, courtesy of Rocco B., is a 1977 Colt that has undergone an engine transplant (no, it’s not an LS) but is still in the project stage. We don’t cover these often so that’s all the more reason to look this one over. Aztec, New Mexico is its home port and it’s available, here on craigslist for $3,000.
Dodge’s Colt first darkened our domestic doorway in 1971. It was based on Mitsubishi’s Colt Galant and, through the years, has undergone transition among seven different generations. Our two-door sedan subject car is a member of the second-gen which was produced between ’74 and ’77. Other body styles included a two-door hardtop, a four-door sedan, and a station wagon. As for sales, Dodge moved almost 70K Colts in ’77 in what is recorded as a high water mark for this compact model. Appearance-wise, this Colt shows well, the white finish, claimed to be original, is deep and contrasts nicely with the red vinyl top. There’s no evidence of rust, crash damage, or other unfortunate vehicular mayhem. Capping off the exterior is a set of white-coated lattice wheels – the perfect performance hint.
Research indicates that an 83 HP, 1.6 liter, inline four-cylinder engine, working through a four-speed manual transmission was the original order of the day. Not anymore as the listing states, “Has a turbocharged Suzuki 1.3 4 cylinder out of a Swift GTi. 5-speed manual out of a 2WD Suzuki Sidekick. Aftermarket Tighe BD-10 camshafts with a TD05h turbo.” Hmmm, what an unusual choice! So, how’s it run? Well, not so well as the seller adds, “Project car I’m giving up on, no spark…ready to run but no spark when cranking and I’m tired of messing with it.
The interior appears to be finished off with white vinyl upholstery positioned upon a red carpet. The above image details things in a not-yet-completed mode. The interior is claimed to be all original, including the headliner which has managed to stay stuck to the underside of the roof, right where it belongs.
On the surface, this Colt seems like a pretty good buy for $3,000, at least considering its overall condition and what the seller has likely invested. But…that non-running matter with an engine from a different marque, one that’s no longer sold domestically, puts a wrinkle in things. The seller advises, “Willing to separate car and drivetrain if a decent enough offer comes in from a samurai or swift gt guy.” That’s an interesting position to take as he seems to put more stock in the powertrain than he does the actual car – and as noted, the car looks like it’s in pretty decent shape. Well, if you’re a Suzuki Samurai or Swift fan, here you go.
Good eye Rocco. Sharp little car, with a powertrain twist lol.
J.O agree with you on those wheels, they look great.
I had a 1976 GT version. I believe the GT came with a bigger motor. It was a 5 speed. I loved that car-drove it back and forth to college. Unfortunately someone decided to pull out in front of me and that was the end of it…it was bright orange with black stripes.
I had a 1976 GT version. I believe the GT came with a bigger motor. It was a 5 speed. I loved that car-drove it back and forth to college. Unfortunately someone decided to pull out in front of me and that was the end of it…it was bright orange with black stripes.
Neato, you usually don’t see them with a red vinyl top.
Not me.
Notice the lack of “Member” after the name?
If imitation is some sort of flattery, I guess that I should be impressed.
It should handle better without the LS.
I really don’t understand how some people think. If I wanted to make a slow Mitsubishi fast, there are plenty of good engine choices from Mitsubishi.
A teacher brought one of these into our Texaco to check it out in the early `80s, after she’d bought it.
She was told beforehand that Dodge was a good car.
We did an oil change and immediately smelled the 90 weight gear lube that had been put in the crankcase…
An Apsen of the same era would have been in better shape than that poor thing was.
We ended up giving her a `78 Corolla we’d inherited, and parted out her Colt as a favor.
I bought a new 1974 Colt wagon and it was a total nightmare. I would describe the body tin as just that, like a coffee can. Never again!
Rode around in my buddy’s dad’s ’76 Colt for a summer. A fairly unexciting tin can, as I recall. I’ll take the ’93 Mark VIII, listed later, for the same cash.
I suppose it could make a fun sleeper but I’m not into the small import cars give me a nice v8 car to play with and get myself in trouble
My friend bought a 4 dr after he sold his 65 Mustang fastback. He wanted better gas mileage.
Learned real quick to make sure to carry his toolbox and a bunch of misc. spare parts around because it would breakdown somehow every time he took it out.
I had a Dodge Turbo Colt, fantastic car, a little hot rod.
In 1984 I worked in a body shop and needed a car because the engine in mine bit the dust. The owner of a tow company we dealt with told me he had a 77 Colt 4 door that got totalled because of a minor accident that bent the fender and hood he’d sell me for 400. I looked at it and bought it. A junkyard hood and fender and a little paint and I was in business. I honestly can’t remember if it was a 4spd or 5spd. Mine was a great car! Myself and my mother took a vacation from Arizona to Northern Wisconsin and back and that little car never missed a beat. Kept it in the family for years. I have nothing but good things to say about the one I had.
My wife had a 77, when we got together and it was a great little car, she got a new one in 84′ and sold the 77′ What a mistake ! the 84 was junk.
This will sell, these are very popular amongst the Latino crowd.