1970-1975
The original Mitsubishi GTO was launched in 1970 as the two-door hardtop variant of the new Galant sedan, and was known as the Colt Galant GTO. Designed by Hiroaki Kamisago, who had previously been sent by Mitsubishi to study at the Art Center College in Pasadena, it incorporated many stylistic cues from contemporary American muscle cars like the Mustang, Firebird and Cougar, including a long hood, raised cut-off ducktail rear, and rounded quad-headlamps and tail-lamps. It was also the first Japanese passenger car to have full side windows and a pillarless design.
There were three variants available at first, all powered by the Saturn engine: the M1 (1600 cc SOHC, 4-spd), M2 (1600 cc SOHC, 5-spd) and the top-spec MR (1600 cc twin-carb, DOHC 5-spd), a 125 hp (92kW) version only available in Japan.
In 1972 Mitsubishi upgraded the powerplants with their new Astron units. The range now consisted of the LS (2000 cc single-carb, automatic transmission), GS (2000 cc single-carb, 5-speed manual) and GS-R (2000 cc twin-carb, 5-speed manual). They were also given a mild facelift to distinguish them, comprising a one-piece slats-type grille and three-piece tail lights. Additionally, the 125 hp GS-R had wider 185-section tires, flared guards and a black-painted rear panel between the lights.
In 1974 there was a second styling tweak where the car gained a honeycomb-style front grille. Also, some of the very last cars gained the Astron 80 engine with balancer shafts, before the entire range was discontinued the following year in favour of the Celeste, a smaller coupe based on the Lancer sedan.
Cumps
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