Win a dashcam

Mitsubishi Lancer (A70)
Overview
Also called	Chrysler Lancer Chrysler Valiant Lancer Colt Celeste Colt Lancer Dodge Colt Dodge Lancer Mitsubishi Celeste Plymouth Arrow Plymouth Colt
Production	1973.02–1979.03 (sedan) 1973.09–1985.02 (van) 1975.03–1981.07 (Celeste)
Designer	Shinichi Yamamura (design) Munechika Namba (engineering)
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door sedan 4-door sedan 5-door wagon (van) 3-door hatchback coupé (Celeste)
Layout	FR layout
Platform	A71A-A78A, A141A-A149V
Powertrain
Engine	1,187 cc 4G42 I4 1,238 cc 4G36 I4 1,244 cc 4G11/G11B I4 1,410 cc 4G12/G12B I4 1,439 cc 4G33/G33B I4 1,597 cc 4G32/G32B I4 1,995 cc 4G52/G52B I4 (Celeste)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,340 mm (92.1 in) (sedan)
Length	3,960–4,105 mm (155.9–161.6 in)
Width	1,525–1,545 mm (60.0–60.8 in)
Height	1,360–1,385 mm (53.5–54.5 in)
Curb weight	765–900 kg (1,687–1,984 lb)
Chronology
Successor	Mitsubishi Lancer (second generation)

The Mitsubishi Lancer (A70) is the first generation version of Mitsubishi's long-running Lancer nameplate.

When introduced in 1973, it filled the gap between the Minica kei car and the considerably larger Galant. It was a replacement for the Colt 1100, last sold in 1971. Although sedan production ended in 1979, vans continued on until 1985. This Lancer also formed the basis for the Lancer Celeste sports coupé of 1975 through to 1981. These Lancers were sold under a multitude of names in different markets.

North America

 

Dodge Arrow GS (Canada)

Chrysler introduced the "Plymouth Arrow" as a captive import of the Celeste in January 1976 as an extension to the Dodge Colt lineup. It was also known as the "Dodge Arrow" in Canada and as the "Dodge Celeste" in Puerto Rico.

The Arrow was a rear-wheel drive car utilizing a solid rear axle and leaf springs in the rear, with MacPherson struts in the front. Transmission types included four and five-speed manual transmissions and a three-speed automatic. A 1.6 L I4 engine was standard with an optional 2.0 L I4. It was produced in various trim levels including the 160, GS and GT. The first year Arrow is easily identified from later years because its quarter-window louvers have two slats in the center, which were changed to three on all later years. The 1976 Arrow also came with a single windshield-wiper fluid nozzle on the hood, which was changed to dual nozzles for 1977 and remained that way for all later year Arrows.

Sporty exterior finishes were also offered, such as the Arrow Jet package, first offered in 1978. The Arrow Jet paint package was an eye-catching two-tone finish, typically in spit-fire orange and black. The entire car was spit-fire orange, but the entire bottom half of the car was covered in a solid flat black stripe with the words "Arrow Jet" stenciled out of the stripe on the doors so that the underlying body color showed through. This color combination of spit-fire orange and flat black seems to pay tribute to one of the design inspirations for the Plymouth Arrow, that being the Plymouth Barracuda. In 1971, the Barracuda was offered with a "billboard" decal option, which was a large, solid flat black decal that covered the entire back half of the car on both sides (often in a red and flat black color combination).

 

Dodge Arrow GS (Canada)

For 1979, the styling was freshened with the addition of flush bumpers, a smoother grille with rectangular headlights and hidden turn signals, chrome strips on the tail-lamps, and larger rear glass for the hatchback. Inside, the steering wheel previously found only in the Arrow GT was now standard. The rear axle was also extended 2.5 inches for better traction. A sporty variant called the Fire Arrow was first offered this year, which had special decals and a sporty interior, as well as a 2.6 L I4 engine and four-wheel disc brakes. The Fire Arrow had one of the best horsepower/weight ratios among U.S. production cars at the time because of its light weight. For 1979 and the succeeding year, the 2.0 L I4 engine was unavailable as an engine option.

The styling changes of the 1979 models carried over to 1980. The Fire Arrow however, was changed significantly. The 1980 Fire Arrow was now available with two new paint schemes: tan with a darker caramel-colored hood, and blue with a dark blue hood. These colored models were available with the smaller 1.6 engine and, like the base-model Arrows, had bumpers that were chrome instead of body color. The white Fire Arrow was also changed, and now had a matte-black hood and cowl, with the black paint continuing along the tops of the fenders and doors and ending under the quarter-windows. Unlike the colored versions, the white/black Fire Arrow had only one engine option, the 2.6 I4.

The Arrow was discontinued after the 1980 model-year and was replaced by the Plymouth Sapporo/Dodge Challenger which was larger, heavier and had more amenities. The Sapporo/Challenger retained rear-wheel drive and was itself the forerunner to the Mitsubishi Starion. A pickup version of the Arrow was released in 1979 which was also available with the 2.6 L engine, but they shared few, if any parts. The Arrow's styling influence can clearly be seen in the Plymouth Arrow Truck and its cousins; the Dodge D-50 and Mitsubishi Mighty Max pickups.

The Harry Nilsson song, "Me and My Arrow" (from The Point!) was used in television commercials in the United States promoting the Plymouth Arrow during the 1970s.

One of the more interesting options available for the Arrow was a small tent. When the rear seats were lowered and the tent was clipped over the open hatchback, it would allow the back of the car to be used for camping. General Motors would borrow this design many years later for the Pontiac Aztek.

Specifications and timeline

Data tables expand. Models listed are primarily as available in the Japanese domestic market, with notes on important export variants. For information on the Lancer-based Dodge Colt see that article.