MITSUBISHI MOTORS/MOTOR SPORTS HISTORY /COLT 1000F

COLT 1000F

I t was in 1967 that Mitsubishi actually made its first big step into the world of international rallying. As has been mentioned above, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. history began in the Shin Mitsubishi Heavy-Industries, Ltd. era with the Mitsubishi 500 mini car.
It was this machine that was also the starting point of Mitsubishi motorsports history, and after the 500 came the Colt 600, Colt 1000, and Colt 1500, these machines tracing the history of MMC's passenger vehicles as well as its motorsport legacy.
In a similar way Mitsubishi's participation can be traced from one car, the Colt 800. Going on sale in 1965, the Colt 800 was later exported to Australia and from there came a strong demand for a car that could compete in the Southern Cross Rally, an event that started in 1965 and was extremely popular at the time.
In response, the Colt engine was replaced with a four-stroke unit and the new 'Colt 1000' was entered in the 1967 Southern Cross Rally. Hence, the Colt 1000F became the very first Mitsubishi rally machine. It was equipped with only a small 977 cc capacity engine but in its debut event came fourth outright and won its class, and because of this fantastic result the Mitsubishi rally sport story began.

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