What is the Plymouth version of the Dodge Colt?
The Plymouth version of the Dodge Colt was the Plymouth Colt—a badge‑engineered variant of the Mitsubishi Colt sold by Chrysler in North America during the 1970s. It served as Plymouth’s small-car option alongside the Dodge Colt, sharing the same underpinnings and engine family but wearing different branding for each dealer network.
Origins and branding
Chrysler’s North American compact strategy in the era relied on importing and badge engineering to broaden the lineup. The Mitsubishi Colt was licensed for sale in the United States as the Dodge Colt, and Chrysler created a Plymouth counterpart to offer consumers a second brand choice on the same platform.
Key facts about branding and platform:
- Both the Dodge Colt and the Plymouth Colt were badge‑engineered versions of the Mitsubishi Colt, sharing nearly all mechanicals and bodywork.
- Each variant carried its own brand identity, with dealer networks and showroom presentation tuned to Dodge or Plymouth customers.
- Body styles typically included compact two‑door and four‑door hatchback/sedan configurations.
- Engine options were small Mitsubishi inline‑four units, commonly in the 1.2L–1.6L range, offered with manual or automatic transmissions depending on year and trim.
In practical terms, the Plymouth Colt was the Plymouth badge‑engineered twin to the Dodge Colt, designed to expand Chrysler’s footprint in the North American small‑car market.
Lifecycle and market presence
The Colt family appeared in Chrysler showrooms during the early to mid‑1970s as part of the automaker’s collaboration with Mitsubishi. The Dodge Colt generally remained the more prominent variant in the U.S. market, while the Plymouth Colt provided an alternative branding option for Plymouth retailers and buyers.
Key lifecycle points and market notes:
- The Dodge Colt and Plymouth Colt shared the same platform and mechanicals, differing mainly in branding and trim specifics.
- Production and sales existed primarily in the 1970s, with the lineup gradually phased out as Chrysler shifted focus to domestically developed compact cars and later, newer imports.
- In North America, Chrysler’s small‑car strategy evolved toward models like the Omni/Horizon in the late 1970s and beyond, reducing the presence of Colt‑based twins.
- Outside the United States, similar Colt badge variants appeared in various markets reflecting Chrysler’s global distribution sometimes aligned with Mitsubishi’s own Colt lineup.
Today, the Plymouth Colt is remembered as part of a broader era of badge engineering, illustrating how Chrysler marketed Mitsubishi‑built platforms under multiple brands in the 1970s.
Related variants and context
Beyond the Plymouth Colt, the Dodge Colt also existed as its twin, and Mitsubishi’s own Colt lineage (in other markets) continued in various forms. The broader story includes how Chrysler’s early‑intercity collaborations with Mitsubishi shaped the compact segment before later domestically developed or more contemporary import models took over.
Summary
The Plymouth Colt was the Plymouth‑branded counterpart to the Dodge Colt, both based on the Mitsubishi Colt platform and sold in North America during the 1970s. As part of Chrysler’s badge‑engineering approach of that era, the two cars offered similar mechanicals with branding differences, serving as a practical solution to expand the compact‑car lineup before newer models reshaped the market.
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| Dodge Colt | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Motors for Chrysler Corporation |
| Also called | Plymouth Champ Plymouth Colt Eagle Summit Plymouth Cricket |
| Model years | 1971–1994 (US) 1971–1995 (Canada) |
| Assembly | Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan Thailand: Laem Chabang (MMTh) |
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