The “hot hatchback” category draws fans from around the world who enjoy performance in a small package with a priority on fun *and* fuel economy. These budget speedsters have moved markedly upscale since this 1984 Dodge Colt GTS Turbo hit the streets, but none of today’s high-tech marvels will slap a smile on your face faster than this white hot hatch. The diminutive Mitsubishi-built Colt in Pasadena, California may or may not have been owned by a little old lady, but it was parked “about” 10 years ago, purportedly running at the time. It seeks a new owner in as-is condition here on eBay where $7500 and a click of Buy It Now seals the deal. I bought one of these in similar non-operative state in the late ’80s for 10% that price, exactly $750.
Man, does this bring back some memories. I learned each hose, clip, and connector under the hood of my Colt, and nearly every nut and bolt is 10mm. I still call my 10mm wrenches “The Mitsubishi Tool Kit.” The 1.6L SOHC fuel-injected turbo four makes 102 HP. That would be a bad joke today, but propelled the sub-2000 lb two-door to 60 MPH in 8.1 seconds, the same as that year’s V8-powered Mustang GT. The sport-minded 1984 Toyota Celica GT-S managed the same feat in 11.6. Grab the wheel with two hands before you bury the pedal, because when the boost comes on, energetic torque-steer will pull you into the adjacent lane with brutal disregard for inattentive piloting.
Much of this car’s GTS-unique body cladding is gone, a real shame for anyone planning to hit the car show circuit with their factory-perfect Colt Turbo. Buyers looking for simple quick transportation with retro flair, on the other hand, won’t give a hoot about superfluous and impossible-to-find plastic parts. The price, on the other hand, targets the factory-perfect category. Those stamped steel bumpers sprouted rust annually on my Pennsylvania specimen, but they look great on this California Colt.
My turbo Colt was silver with this same red interior. It held up well and this one looks great too. It’s hard to find a lawn tractor with manual steering and manual brakes these days, but those low-budget features are a blessing on this overpowered front-driver, giving excellent road feel through the steering wheel, and precisely communicating the threshold of braking grip on the non-ABS hatchback. The dual-range Twin-Stick manual transmission gives you a close-ratio four-speed for city use and an economy-minded higher range for highway driving. I rarely got less than 30 MPG from our Colt, and the boost from a light tip into the throttle, accompanied by a light whistle of the happy turbo, pulls all but the steepest hills in fourth. I’d consider daily-driving one today! My wife put 30,000 miles on the Colt in one year, commuting to college, and it just kept on ticking. Speaking of ticking, be sure to accelerate in a tight circle when test-driving a running specimen to listen for worn outer CV joints. Do you have a soft spot for hot hatchbacks like this ’84 Colt?
Happy little turbo. We have found Bob Ross’s former car.
Cute little bugger! Todd should sell these for a living. After reading his description, I want one. And to think I used to laugh at these pocket rockets lol.
My wife and I bought a 1981 Plymouth Champ with the twin stick. Ours was Cherry red with red interior and white pinstripes. Also had the styled wheels. What a blast to drive that thing! Ous was not a turbo, but it still felt plenty quick for the era. Took it to Ohio from Connecticut and got 44mpg!
Reminds me of my Turbo Sprint. I kept my 87 from 93-2015. Sold it for more than I paid five years old and 107k back then. Dangerous as F. Quick. Good on Gas.. but Parts? It got to the point I had to ket Whistling Death “Go”. Fun, though.
I bought a 87 white Turbo Sprint brand new in 87.
3 cylinder SUZUKI motor.
8 gal fuel tank.
I used to drive from Riverside CA to Vegas on one tank of gas……about 220 miles.
Sub-2000 pound…no wonder that torque steer demanded attention.
I drove several of these in my dealership days, very fast, torque steered like a mother. The price is VERY ambitious imho
The honeycomb grills on the Colt Turbos were there because the heat of the turbos caused the slotted grills used on regular Colts to melt and warp. Cool survivor though.
My sister had the Mitsubishi-badged version of this car for a couple of years. it was a regular econobox by day, but if you put your foot down and waited for the turbo to spool up, it was faster than stink. And that torque steer was no joke; I nearly piloted it into a house before I got it under control.
I’d happily drive another one of these.
As a young early 20ies young man who took the bus daily to work… at my spot there was a small dealer with one in the window. I would dream one day to own it.
Cool car never seen this twin stick model set up. True pocket rocket 🚀 👍
I learned to drive using the family’s 1978 Grand Prix, a car with such sloppy handling that I had to give the front suspension advance notice of any curves approaching. What a revelation it was to drive my sister’s 1980 Plymouth Champ. The manual steering was so tight and tactile that you could actually feel how smooth or rough the road was through the steering wheel. These are under-rated, under-appreciated cars.
Footnote: My father was a long-time employee of US Steel, Research Division. He was very much a “buy American” guy. We had only American-made Zenith TVs in the house! Anyhow, my sister and her husband drove home in her New Plymouth Champ. They had been considering Hondas and Toyotas, and my father had given them grief. My sister honestly thought she had bought an American-made car, and she was crushed when Dad made her park in the street!
I had the GT version, met. grey with black trim. Always said it was the Mini-Cooper I never had. Torque steer, YES, [just about put you one lane over] fun? YES! Trying to go through ALL the gears? Priceless!