1977 Dodge Colt Hemi Comparison Ford Pinto Chevy Vega Chevette Datsun B210 Promo

This is a 1977 Dodge Promotional film which could have been viewed in any of the Dodge Dealers across America that had the Dodge Demo Screen. The Dodge Colt was a range of cars built by Mistubishi. This was in 1977, one full year before the Dodge Omni was introduced. This was all Dodge and Chrysler had for the subcompact Market. These were also sold in Canada and Puerto Rico as Plymouths. This is a film that compares the Colt and it's features to the Vega, Pinto, Chevette and Datsun B210.

[@RoadCone411]

I got the feeling they really were not trying to get that second tennis racket into the Datsun!!!

[@raydencurtis249]

i know im asking randomly but does someone know of a way to log back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly forgot my account password. I would love any help you can give me.

[@quincyfinnley2653]

@Rayden Curtis instablaster ;)

[@Quad8track]

I'm convinced! I'm going to rush out and buy a Dodge Colt.

[@robertswedo1027]

Ok, hands up. Who remembers when the film in the projector in school started making that noise like it does in the last 45 seconds of this video??

[@bobtepedino5661]

Within the warbling I heard "Carter is an agent of the Unholy. Sugar is the enemy - not fat. Buy the Dodge."

[@MeanGino]

In the early 80's, I drove a 74 Dodge Colt in high school. It was good on gas, a nice car. We lived in the South, so we didn't really ally worry about salt and snow. I wish I still had that car.

[@metalmoto]

My first car was a 77 colt coupe. It went 177,000 miles before throwing a rod. And it still kept running with no oil pressure. It got me home safe and sound. That's all I can say.

[@wx4newengland]

WOW 6 models of one car! Thats more than dodge has today

[@joelholston5668]

I was in the automobile business back then and sold a few of these , I liked them a lot and they were made by Mitsubishi , great cars !

[@ew1usnr]

The 77 Colt was made by Mitsubishi and it was an extremely well made car. I had one in the early 80's and put over 100,000 mile on it before I replaced ANYTHING on it. The original factory battery lasted over 100,000 miles. I had the 1600 cc motor and the 4-speed manual transmission. It provided both very good gas mileage (47 mpg highway!!!) and great performance. I wish that I had one of these cars now,

[@johnnymason2460]

It's too bad car commercials aren't like this today! Imagine the possibilities!!!

[@STARDRIVE]

Love the voice over getting possessed by a demon at the end! Great uploads Osborn, love the bashing of the competitive cars.

[@OsbornTramain]

Are you suggesting that Wink Martindale is the Devil reincarnated? lol

[@Blaze0357]

OsbornTramain Hey, Didn't ya know that 'everyone' in entertainment has an open deal with the devil? All bullshit aside though, I wouldn't doubt it! Thanks for the cool video O.T. ; )

[@ronaldderooij1774]

I loved that too. All car salesmen have sold their soul to the devil, right! This one just could not keep the human facade long enough to make it to the end, haha.

[@ecf766]

😈😈😈😈😈FUDGEDODGE!

[@MisterMikeTexas]

And its name is Bell & Howell!

[@forterierocks]

Well I haven't seen a Colt, Pinto or Datson on the road in like 10-15 years but I still see the odd Chevette!!! Long lime Chevy!!!

[@OsbornTramain]

Yep, Dodge called Everything From Mitsubishi Colt, in 77 they had both the Lancer and Galant with the same badge'

[@russelljohnson1303]

I've never seen a Colt in person. BUT I DO OWN A CHEVETTE! And it's 38 years old, and I daily it!

[@sixtythreekraft2608]

1:39 Wow. Colt can hold TWO (count 'em - 1, 2) tennis rackets! Sold!!

[@stevedeleon8775]

I remember one of my high school friends got a Brand New 1977 Colt for our graduation 👍

[@lasuvidaboy]

I forgot how goodlooking the Colt 2-door hardtop was. That must have been one of the last compact 2-door hardtops offered.

[@richardschickling6962]

It was the colt caravelle, and had an exterior vent on the C pannel to let out the inside air. Almost bought one.

[@simonf8902]

In Australia the Chrysler Galant coupe. Very posh.

[@MidKid61]

I also forgot to mention AMC Gremlin, Ford's Mustang II, Fiesta and Capri II and the Renault R5 (LeCar).

[@OsbornTramain]

thanks for watching. No. sorry, no volare road runner promos...but I do have an Aspen Promo I'll be loading up soon..once i get it converted from film to video.....it has the Aspen R/T in the film if I recall. I've not seen the film in almost 30 years...that's the fun part about the transfer process...i see things i remember from 30 years ago.

[@reginaldhall6871]

Al Bundy would be the perfect Dodge salesperson.

[@Kntryhart]

I owned the Red and White Special. It was a great car!

[@OsbornTramain]

I was a teen and worked at a Factory owned Dodge Dealer. We sold so many of these little Colts, the were well built and fun to drive. I always thought the front end styling of this car was reminiscent of the 1963 thru 1965 Dodge Darts. The Single headlamps looked very "Chrysler Style" to me. I know some people would or might disagree. I want to find one to own someday. They seem very rare now a days.

[@jimreed1157]

How many smaller 30+ year old Dodges, Fords, or Chevys are still on the road today? I'd say the Pinto is the only one people are really interested in, but that is only because of its macabe history! :-)

[@thevoxofreason8468]

Man, they're really talking up the adjustable steering column and cigarette lighter.

[@OsbornTramain]

sunk it? it was sold in the USA for almost 30 years! It's still sold in the USA now but under it's original name, Mitsubishi Lancer and Galant

[@Mark1405Leeds]

I'd have the Datsun any day!

[@upperleftcoastchelseafan7718]

The only car out of all of these that are still running, the Dodge, Chevy and Fords were on the scrap heap a long long long time ago.

[@Tacomadome24]

1:34 A bigger trunk space means I can fit two tennis rackets in my trunk as opposed to one....i'm sold.

[@matthewharvey2493]

I guess at 6:40 she has to leave that suitcase full of coke at home

[@saganich74]

The vase nearly shattered when placed on the iron duke engine

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Man I remember those so well! They where actually great looking little car’s! Specially the gt sport coupe! It kinda looked like the Toyota celica at the time! Beautiful!

[@OsbornTramain]

I think they looked like modern smaller 1963 dodge darts!

[@DobermansRock]

I had a 74 Colt in 95 and I liked it a lot. Good little cars to get around in.

[@club1fan552]

I have a Colt 4 door. Yes, it is very groovy and I just love the adjustable steering wheel and the (fake) woodgrain dash! It has a lot of power too. Seriously! The thing only weighs 830kgs.

[@relic69]

Nice workout adjusting the steering wheel! Kidding

[@club1fan552]

@@relic69 That's very true Dan. It saves me on gym membership!

[@darrenleaguecity]

Where do I get one of these groovy babies? I went to the dealership asking about the Colt and they looked at me like I was nuts!

[@AlexYounger]

I like that lady’s leisure suit. And the music. We had a Vega and a Chevette. A Colt really would have been better.

[@Mrzlad101]

I lol'd on how they compared trunk sizes with the Datsun.

[@jason75]

My understanding the colts came from Japan, under mitsubishi

[@RayEttler]

later version, yes. [edit: not sure anymore]

[@bradlemmond]

Yes en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Colt

[@keithcurtis6671]

@@RayEttler They were throughout the 70s. I worked at a Dodge dealer and had a 78 Colt. It was the only Mopar vehicle of the mid to late 70s that wasn't in the shop twice a month for carburetor issues when gas was switched to unleaded.

[@stephenmoutafis5587]

@@keithcurtis6671 They weren't too bad

[@Infinitrium]

I know the Colt was a badge-engineered Mitsubishi, but I can't help but notice (at least to my eyes) styling similar to a Ford Maverick, Dodge Aspen and even a touch of AMC Matador depending on the viewing angle

[@OsbornTramain]

I totally see 1963 Dodge Dart in this, particularly the front end

[@gulfy09]

Better mileage than any cars built nowadays

[@RoadCone411]

Japanese cars were thought of as quirky little pieces of junk in the 1960s, when owning an import car meant a VW Bug or a British sports car. But the Japanese makers turned a corner in the 1970s and quality went up, as did desirablity during the gas crisis. The 1977-81 Colt was a decent little car. It was inexpensive, simple, economical, returned great gas mileage and was an honest value. The mechanicals were solid, but the bodies tended to rust quickly, typical of small import cars of its era.

[@geolehman]

Can I get it with a Hellcat engine? I need to transport two tennis rackets from a fully reclined position and don't want to be under powered.

[@capworld]

A hellcat with silent shaft

[@jeffe4297]

Don’t forget the adjustable steering column

[@RoadCone411]

The 1970s were great - a trip odometer and locking fuel filler door were considered "premium" features. It seems hard to imagine now, but it was rare for any cars to have cruise control or power windows in 1977. Those were truly luxury car accessories. It is hard to find a car in 2018 without one or both of those items; you truly have to look at the most hairshirt, basic trim models of cars like the Nissan Versa or Kia Rio. I think I would rather have had this Colt than any of the cars it was compared against in this film. As a youngster, I spent the better part of a couple of weeks in the backseat of a rented Colt as my family toured the western US. Many miles driving between Southern and Northern California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. The car DID have air-conditioning, but the hot desert sun on those vinyl seats left them too hot to touch after leaving the car parked for any period of time, and the A/C could barely cope with the high temperatures! Conspicuously missing from this comparison was the Honda Civic. Although only available in a 3-door hatchback and "sedan" in 1977, it was at least a match for the Colt in terms of economy, style , performance (what there is of it), comfort and definitely personality. My first car, a twelve year old '78 Civic, did not have a tilt steering wheel - that was a bit of a novelty in small cars - but it did have a locking fuel door, trip odometer, room for four (more or less), heated rear window, comfortable vinyl seats, and full carpeting. It's the little things, folks! And it took regular or unleaded gas, with no catalytic converter! It may have cost more than a comparable Colt though...like the Colt, but unlike the American small cars, the Civic had great reliability and high levels of fit and finish for a small economy car. However, like so many Japanese cars, if not all cars from that era, they tended to rot very quickly. Modern rustproofing may not be perfect, but cars do not rust away quite like they used to.

[@SnakeRiverFishing]

Gotta love the bell bottoms on the station wagon owner lol

[@RoadCone411]

Pretty sure most people realized it was a Dodge in name only. In the 1970s and early 80s, the reason Dodge/Plymouth sold Mitsubishis, Ford rebadged Mazda trucks, and Chevy sold Isuzu Luv pickups is because they knew they could not compete with these cars and trucks with a domestically sourced vehicle. Yet these smaller vehicles were popular because of gas prices and perceived quality of the Japanese makers. The 1977 Dodge Colt will not go down as a great car, but it served its purpose well.

[@enerrivers4392]

My cuz had 1 in PR. In PR it has some very steep hilly roads. I recall 1 time the car had 5 healthy ppl inside. We began climbing this very steep hill. The car slowed to a crawl. My cuz shut off the A/C & it helped but not enough. Finally, 4 of us got out & practically pushed the COLT the rest of the way. Going down with all 5ppl, brakes faded & stunk. It certainly was an experience

[@Blaze0357]

It's funny how the guy measures the back seat of the Colt from side to side, when we all know the important measurement is from back to front.. "Leg Room"

[@DMH-bb2ds]

My family bought to of these cars in 77. My sister wrecked hers shortly after buying it but the other just kept on going. It had almost 320000 miles on it before we retired it. Mitsubishi knew how to make a damn car.

[@OsbornTramain]

Funny, my family bought a couple Dodge Omni's about the same time, 1978, My Father had a wreck in it the very first week he owned it.....but we bought more of them, they were great cars too. I've got a 1976 Dodge Colt, the Highway Cruiser Edition

[@doug9066]

I remember when my parents bought a Dodge Colt wagon then sold the 1972 Ford LTD Country Squire station wagon but the Colt they had was newer than this one in video.

[@hrpearce2001]

I want one today. We need more smaller engines with great gas mileage.

[@seanmcgivney7631]

Mitsubishi mirage!

[@ronaldderooij1774]

My father had a Mitsubishi Lancer 1200 L from 1978 Same car as here, but then in European trim and a smaller engine. Slow, but great car. Indeed roomy and extremely reliable. Prone to rust, though. That is what killed it in the end. But the engine and gearbox were as good as new after 200.000km.

[@wsbill14224]

I remember these cars. The Colt was a nicer car but the Datsun was a better car. Both were rust buckets. By today's standards neither would be allowed to be sold.

[@OsbornTramain]

Agreed, I never see Pintos or Colts. Once in a very rare while, I'll see a Datsun. I do see Cheveties occasionally, but they also sold significantly more of them in numbers than the latter. So statistically speaking, you would expect to see more if they had the same survival rate. Which for most cars s about 2% after 20 years.

[@jonminnella2168]

My friend had this car in high school he put some money into it and actually came out pretty good little car in the end we used to drift that car all around the parking lot all the time

[@OsbornTramain]

@ChanticleerHegemony I doubt any of them are still running. Can't remember when the last time was that I saw any of these models driving down the road.

[@bdh70]

I know this is an old comment but just have to say that I saw a blue one just the other day, looking pretty sharp, parked at Target. Also when I visit my friend in Bellingham every summer I see a brown one that belongs to somebody in her neighborhood who uses it as a daily driver. So there are at least two!

[@tymac3306]

If u made a commercial today like this with these features u would be laughed out of business,...how things have changed

[@joejones5653]

the vase full of water on the engine was a real gas!

[@donkeyboy585]

No need for the cig lighter in the Pinto. Just back into something

[@billchambersmarquez2768]

Ahahahaha! Good one

[@stromeurm7410]

The Colt was the queen of the oil consumption . Courtesy of premature tired valve seat from mitsubishi and not from bad compression ring . I remenber mine gulp about a pint per 300 miles . Hot or cold , whenever you starting , there a small blue cloud spit by the exhaust , guaranteed .

[@russellennis7428]

stromeur M Vega pinto 2 quarts a tank pint was good that first 30000 miles started burn

[@DanKirchner5150]

these were killer cars ,unstoppable esp w the 5 speed stick,lotta fun believe it or not

[@yamomsballs]

That got kinda creepy in the end, but yeah I kinda want one

[@OsbornTramain]

@ohguy1991 These mileages are correct. The economy cars back then weighed less and had smaller engines. They weren't loaded down with pesky safety equipment like Steel in the doors and Safety cage construction. They weren't bogged down by the weight of air conditioning or sound deadeners or power motors to operate windows. I regularly got 45 miles per gallon in my 78 Renault LeCar. VW Rabbit Diesels were capabile of getting over 50 mpg. Honda Civics got over 30 mpgs in 1973.

[@hasbeengood]

Waw! A new car for 2900 bucks.... where did we go wrong!

[@OsbornTramain]

Nope, I did. I was 17 years old and worked for a Factory Owned Dodge Dealer. It was manged by the New England Region Zone Office of Chrysler in Natick Mass. At the time, it was the largest Dodge Dealer in New England, 10 acres of Dodges, "Surburban Dodge, Sales, Service and Satisfactions, the Super S."... I worked there thru the 1977 thru 1980 model years. I saved so much junk from the Dumpster, including these films. I don't think other copies exist! I have more to come!

[@aceautonewportky]

My mom and dad bought a 1974 GT two door for my mom and dad had a wagon both were red the GT had the black stripe on the side. they were both great cars.

[@decnijfkris3706]

that was the time American car builder still wanted to sell cars. Strange Dodge used model names that were taken over later by Mitsubishi.

[@OsbornTramain]

Why not, cause then it would make the Colt look Bad, you can say the same thing about the 1977 Honda Civic, they were better than the Colt......but this is a Dodge Promotional film, so of course they are only going to compare the car to other cars that are not as good as there. In 1978, I looked at ever one of them Brand after Brand and for me. I bought a new 1978 Renault LeCar. I loved that car, the ride and seating. Way better than a Toyota or a Colt in my mind

[@sunilayya8948]

Colt was a mitdubishi lancer. They were quite reliable and well built .

[@OsbornTramain]

The Colt name was used on a series of Mitsubishi products in the USA thru Dodge, Plymouth and Eagle dealers. The Lancer and the Galant among others were all called "Colt"

[@sunilayya8948]

@@OsbornTramain The lancer won the east african safari in 74 i think.

[@timhiltonsuperstar]

This should be digitally remastered...

[@OsbornTramain]

lol and who's gonna pay for that?

[@anthonyrivers4351]

I was sold, ready to take two at that price; at least I was until the film and projector started to come apart.

[@pintosnfiats]

Remarkably, I saw a colt coupe driving today. Decent shape, could use some love but I was glad to see it since I haven't seen one in a decade at least.

[@joh2]

We had these here in New Zealand sold as Mitsubishi Lancer (in 4-door sedan form only) - I'll say now that the wagon and hardtop versions would be rare wilderbeasts...

[@user-sb2go4we3o]

Loved my 77

[@paulskuhn]

What a great car. I wish I'd gotten one instead of my 78 Celica GT Liftback. Or maybe not! Wonder why they are not comparing it to Toyota?

[@MisterMikeTexas]

Most of the Japanese imports of that day have long since rusted out, and are now reunited with mama earth!

[@adamn7516]

Back when Mitsubishi was still a competitive brand in the states.

[@rxwhat33]

Mitsubishi used to male cool cars, i daily a heavily modified 92 galant vr4 and own a 94 montero sr, stuck in the 90s i guess lol.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

The Dodge Colt looks more solid than the Datsun. The Datsun looks fragile by comparison. Neither the Chevy Vega, nor the Chevette look very attractive next to the Colt. And although the Ford Pinto has a more attractive front end appearance from previous years, it looks hideous next to the Colt, and its interior space is fine if you have children under 10 yrs of age, but forget trying to get adults to sit in its rear seat. And luggage? Maybe a grocery bag or two. I also appreciate "proper" gauges any day over "idiot" lights. Why the hell anyone would use lights over gauges anyway is beyond me. I'd choose the Dodge Colt over any of the other cars in the video.

[@MisterMikeTexas]

Lee Iacocca had priorities during the Pinto's development. Biggest one was to contain costs, so it could be sold at an attractive price. The fuel tank problem was fixed starting with the 77s.

[@Masis93]

Thanks, nice upload!!

[@CLee-oo9yl]

The hardtop coupes were beautiful

[@thardyryll]

I had a girlfriend in the mid 1980s who drove a bright yellow 1970s Plymouth Arrow, known elsewhere as the Mitsubishi Celeste. Apparently Dodge didn’t get a version of this super-sporty rig. The car suited her just right: she was blonde, tiny and super cute. Forty years later I get to know a gal at my gym and after many conversations learn the she lived next door to my girlfriend when we were dating and that BOTH of them owned yellow Arrows. What’s the chance of that? What I really remember, though, was the story that the girlfriend told me about driving home one summer afternoon in that car. It was warm, a breeze was blowing up her short dress - the only kind she ever wore. Stopped at a traffic light, she couldn’t resist any longer. She reached under that dress and, in the time the light was red, got herself off then and there. That’s what they really mean when they say “the good old days.”

[@MisterMikeTexas]

Because I'm a Ford guy, I'm still gonna go to my Ford Dealer and buy a brand new Pinto with the Lima Four and 4 speed!

[@joejones5653]

Yeah they made that 2.3 Liter for a long time

[@MisterMikeTexas]

@@joejones5653 I had the EFI version of it in both my Rangers.

[@VG-iq8xq]

Wow they what an era. Simpler times. I never knew much of anything about the Colt. Occasionally would see the little hatchback once in a while. But man hardly ever now. I'll take the wood grain wagon! It probably holds 3.5 tennis rackets! Vega? Nope. And the mileage rating? Who needs a Prius? Man that's insane if its really accurate. Wasn't there a turbo Colt in the 80's? Great video upload!

[@rickuyeda4818]

My Ex-Wife still drives her '76 Ford Pinto Wagon with a V6, auto and A/C.

[@jefffriedmann1482]

Took my drivers license road test in a '74 Pinto. Had a '78 and an '82 Chevette, the '82 was junk. The other two really weren't too bad.

[@kelvinh8327]

And the Pinto goes off like a bomb when it's rear-ended - courtesy of Ford preferring to incinerate their customers than spend a few extra bucks to make the fuel tank safe.

[@MisterMikeTexas]

That was fixed beginning with the 1977 models. As for the alleged defect, sources say Ralph Nader and the media made it out to be bigger than it really was. According to later reports, the Pinto's gas tank was no more dangerous than other econocars in its class.

[@joejones5653]

@@MisterMikeTexas that's a fact

[@mmmfloorpie]

If the station wagon only has 4 doors, how do you get in the cargo area?

[@OsbornTramain]

+mmmfloorpie Traditionally in the USA, a station wagon would have either two or four doors and a rear Hatch or Tailgate. Tailgate parties are parties at football events where prior to the game, you'd bbq and eat outside next to your station wagon. Only recently have people begun referring to the Tailgate as a door.

[@rotarycorvette1]

my dad had a lancer version of the colt back in the day i love the rear end taillights!

[@palebeachbum]

Good point. If it wasn't making these companies money, they wouldn't be selling rebadged models.

[@Mr_Chris77]

My dad had a Colt wagon. Couldn't kill the damn thing. Great car.

[@LOGINKPW]

I like how the older cars have more "floor" between the front seats, even with a manual shifter. Too bad many cars have high-mount center consoles, which intrude on the front seat passengers's legs.

[@captainredneck0683]

If I had to choose between all those cars I would definitely take the Chevette!

[@emilsponga2081]

made first in brazil ,, then on to the usa.

[@Threetails]

Funny, out of all of those, the only ones you'll see commonly on the roads any more are the Datsuns. There are almost none of the Colts left.

[@MidKid61]

There were a lot of small cars in the same class that wasn't mentioned such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, VW Rabbit, Fiat 128, Buick Opel Isuzu, Subaru DL, and Mazda GLC. The Chevrolet Monza and Pontiac Sunbird were mechanically similar to the Vega (1977 was the last year for the Vega) and the Mercury Bobcat was identical to the Pinto.

[@SammyReed-cd4cu]

1:52 - That looks like the Chevrolet symbol engraved into that Datsun door!😃

[@OsbornTramain]

You've got good eyesight! I looked and see it too, never noticed that!

[@randallbeers5024]

Has a 74 Dodge Colt. It was a nice car but like all Japanese cars of the time the engine barely lasted 100,000 miles.

[@marcperras9072]

In 1977, I bought a 74 Plymouth Cricket with approximately 36,000 miles. It didn't even make it to 50,000. The dealer must have rolled back the odometer.

[@ProjectFairmont]

Appears like the were trying to make it look like a Aspen/Volare’. I believe the Colt Wagon was fairly popular.

[@OsbornTramain]

I think it' looks more like a 1963 or 1964 Dodge Dart. The funny thing is even the steering wheel has the old 60's style Dodge Fratzog Emblem which was featured prominantly on the Dart

[@vmlelectronics]

Darth Vader starts talking at 9"... lol

[@scottmartin455]

Haha That's gold!!

[@frankburns8871]

I loved these little cars (rusted out pretty fast, though), but calling them "Hemis" was pretty cynical. I'm sure they could justify it on a technical level, but, as Joe Biden would say, "come on, man!"

[@jimmartin7881]

Same chamber shape as a 354-392-426

[@jayjordan5555]

Colts were cool cars! way better than Pintos! Colt was the better choice!

[@SonnyGTA]

That music is infectious

[@OsbornTramain]

@eltipocool not readily available. I'm going to take a video of it soon and upload it here. I've just never gotten around to it. Love the 79's. Great little cars!

[@57thStIncident]

At least according to this promotional material, these don't seem bad at all. But I hardly saw these on the road at all compared to the competition named here which were all quite common.

[@markallen2984]

I want one of those Colt wagons with the fake wood on the side

[@joeyconservative]

What happen to you Mistubishi? My 1977 Arrow was based on Dart platform and ran like a champ.

[@quad5186]

Me and my Arrow, taking the high road...

[@thetreblerebel]

Oh it beats a Vega or a Chevette anyday. The Datsun I'd like to see race variants go at it to decide

[@BobsAutoRepair]

Cool old nostalgic commercial!