Japanese car with a taste for rallying

The Lancer became the first Mitsubishi with which Europeans fell in love

In the 1970s Japanese cars were becoming a familiar sight in the UK and one model left a very lasting impression.

Mitsubishi is now celebrating 43 years in the UK and it all started with models like the Lancer.

Mitsubishi was then known as the Colt Car Company, a UK distribution arm, and the first Lancer of 1974 drove in with a whole new accent on British family motoring.

The Lancer was an ambitious car because other Japanese cars companies had a firm toehold by the time it was launched, in addition to the established home brands which had reigned supreme for years.

But the Lancer became the first Mitsubishi with which Europeans fell in love.

It used reliable mechanicals, economical engines, ranging from 1.2 to 1.6 and was very attractive.

It was a rewarding driving experience too and it quickly made a name for itself in motor sport.

The Lancer was a potent rally weapon and in 1600 GSR form it found considerable success.

One of the jewels in the Lancer’s crown was taking the spoils in the gruelling Safari Rally of Kenya.

A factory team of Lancer 1600 GSRs was entered in what was deemed the toughest rally in the world between 1974 and 1977, a high point being the 1976 even where Mitsubishi took first, second and third places.

Since then the name Lancer has been inextricably linked to rallying and has highlighted Mitsubishi’s ability to build sturdy cars that can take on anything.

My main recollection of the 1974 Lancer was the reaction of interested passers by when I had one on a road test. It gained many comments on its appearance, and one person stated that it was much better looking than other Japanese cars.

If the Lancer had a drawback it was a rather choppy ride and although its quality of construction was good, the rustproofing left a lot to be desired.

As a consequence many went to the crusher with many more miles left in the mechanicals. But most cars of the time rusted too.

It was almost as if the pace of mechanical engineering left body protection in the slow lane which is sad. WRC LEGEND END OF THE ROAD COLT LANCER BORN TO RUN The A70 series were first launched in Japan in February 1973 1974 Mitsubishi Lancer A72 rally car at Motor Sports Japan 2015 Tommi Makinen on Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 during the 1999 Monte-Carlo rally Mitsubishi is ceasing production of the Lancer in August this year MITSUBISHI LANCER