Mitsubishi passenger car history from 60's to 80's

1961

Launch of the Mitsubishi 500, a sedan for the mass market.

1962

Launch of the Colt 600, the first Mitsubishi to bear the Colt name. Launch of the Minica.
Mitsubishi 500 takes class honours in Macau Grand Prix.

1963

Production of the Colt 1000.

1964

The launch of the first generation Debonair. Mitsubishi's flagship passenger car in the Japanese domestic market.
1-2-3 finish for the Colt 1000 in the 2nd Japan Grand Prix and Colt 600 takes class honors in Malaysia Grand Prix.

1965

Launch of Japan's first fastback, Colt 800.
Production of the Colt 1500.

1966

Launch of the first generation Minicab. The Colt 1000F and Colt 1100 go into production.
Colt F3-A wins Japan Grand Prix Formula Car Race.

1967

Production of the Colt Pickup, a small half-ton bonnet-type pickup truck.
Colt 1000F takes class win in Southern Cross Rally.
Colt F2-A wins Japan GP Formula Car Race.

1968

Production of the Delica, a 600kg payload cab-over pickup.
Production of the new Colt 1200, 1100F and 1500.
Colt F2-B wins Formula Car Race and Speed Cup Race at the 5th Japan Grand Prix. Colt 1000F Sports wins 3rd Southern Cross Rally.

1969

Launch of the first of the Galant series, the Colt Galant.
Production of the Delica Van.
Production of the second generation in the Minica series, the Minica '70.
Colt F2-C wins JAF Grand Prix Formula Car Race.
Colt 11FSS takes class honors in 4th Southern Cross Rally.

1970

Production of the Colt Galant GTO.
Production of the Galant Station Wagon.
Colt F2D takes class honors in the '70 JAF Grand Prix.
Colt 11FSS takes class honors in the Australian Pole Trial 10,000 Mile Rally.
The Galant GS wins Japan Alpine Rally.

1971

Production of the Colt Galant FTO and Minica Skipper.
Colt F2000 wins the JAF Grand Prix.
Galant GS wins Japan Alpine Rally and takes class honors in 6th Southern Cross Rally.

1972

Production of the third generation in the Minica line, the Minica F4.
Galant 16GLS wins 7th Southern Cross Rally.

1973

Launch of the first of the Lancer series.
Production of the second generation Galant.
Galant 16L takes class honors in 21st East Africa Safari Rally.
Lancer 1600GSR wins 8th Southern Cross Rally.

1974

Lancer 1600GSR wins 22nd East Africa Safari Rally and 9th Southern Cross Rally.

1975

Production of the Lancer Celeste.
Development of Silent Shaft technology for the Astron 80 engine, the world's first application of this type of technology.
Lancer 1600GSR wins 23rd Safari Rally and 10th Southern Cross Rally.

1976

Production of the third generation Galant, second generation Minicab and the Galant Lambda (Sapporo).
Mitsubishi awarded Automobile Technology Association 'Prize for Science' for development of Astron 80 engine.
Galant Sigma (Mitsubishi Galant) wins Motor Fan magazine's Car of the Year award in mid-size passenger car category.

1977

Production of the Minicab Wide 55, the third generation Minicab, and Minica ami 55, the fourth generation in the Minica line.
Galant Sigma (Mitsubishi Galant) wins Car of the Year award in South Africa.
Lancer 1600GSR takes class honors in 27th 1000 Lakes Rally and 12th Southern Cross Rally, and wins 9th Bandama Rally.

1978

Launch of the Mirage (Mitsubishi Colt), Mitsubishi's first FF 2-box car and the first of the current Colt line.
Launch of the first generation Forte (L200) pickup for the Japanese market.
Development of Super-shift, a 4-speed manual transmission with built-in high-low range.

1979

Prodcution of the Lancer EX, the second generation Mitsubishi Lancer.
Production of the second generation Delica (L300).
Colt 1400GLX wins Motor Fan magazine's Car of the Year award in mid-size passenger car category.
L200 (Dodge D50/Plymouth Arrow Pickup) wins USA's Pickup of the Year award given by Pickup, Van & 4WD magazine.
Lancer 1600GSR wins 13th International Safari de Zaire.
Colt 1600GT wins Canada's Quebec Rally.

1980

Production of the fourth generation Galant.
Production of the L200 4WD.

1981

Production of the Minica ami L, the fifth generation in the Minica line.
Colt 1600GLX wins Car of the Year award given by Australia's Modern Motor magazine.
Galant Sigma (Mitsubishi Galant) wins Car of the Year award given by New Zealand's Motor World magazine.

1982

Several new models launched:
The go-anywhere Mitsubishi Pajero (Montero).
High performance Mitsubishi Starion.
Mitsubishi Tredia sedan and Mitsubishi Cordia hatchback.
Also the Delica 4WD (L300 4WD) was released.
Production of the third generation Lancer, the Lancer Fiore.
Development of the Orion 1400 MD (Moduled Displacement) engine for the Colt, the world's first application of this type of Mitsubishi-developed technology.
Orion 1400 turbocharged carburetor system, Japan's first application of this type system, developed for the Colt.
Saturn 1600 turbocharged carburetor system developed for the Cordia and Tredia models.
Developmeent of 2-wheel ABS for the Starion and ELC (Electronic Control) Automatic Transmission.


Pictures coming later.