Found on CL: Turbo Colt

"Tohru" (tohrurokuno) 03/23/2015 at 11:00 • Filed to: None

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I didn't even know this was a thing, but apparently it is. (Sidenote: I love the "Imports with a Purpose" tag line Dodge/Plymouth used back then.)

One popped up in a Craigslist search under "Auto parts-by owner". He's asking $1900 obo, needs to be towed home, has no pictures, but has a clear title.

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JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Tohru 03/23/2015 at 11:11

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awwwwe yeeeaaaah!

Opposite Locksmith > Tohru 03/23/2015 at 11:14

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explain the 4x2 twin stick??

Also, 102 bhp I love it. That's a fair amount

Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage > Tohru 03/23/2015 at 11:16

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That's incredible. I thought all of those died off a while ago.

whiskeybusiness NOW A DANGER TO CROWDS NEAR YOU > Tohru 03/23/2015 at 11:19

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I would drive the hell out of that thing. Manual, turbo, hatchback, let's gooooooo.

As Du Volant > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/23/2015 at 11:26

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So how do those shifters work?

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > As Du Volant 03/23/2015 at 11:31

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubish…

McMike > Tohru 03/23/2015 at 11:34

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Really rare. AMA

As Du Volant > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/23/2015 at 11:47

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Thanks. I had a Subaru RX Turbo in college with a shifter setup similar to this. It looked like the normal Subaru Dual Range transmissions they had in their 4x4's but worked differently.

The normal Dual Ranges were just like a truck 4x4- 2WD, 4Hi, 4Lo. The RX one was full time 4WD with a hi and lo shifter and a diff lock. You could shift on the fly between high and low range, and instead of a crawler gear like on the regular 4x4's low range was like downshifting one gear.

I used to drive it around in low range all the time, and shift to hi once I needed to upshift from 5th gear. It was like having a 6-speed.

Second shifter by the parking brake.

Diff lock switch.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > As Du Volant 03/23/2015 at 11:56

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Huh! our '80 and our '86 wagons both had dual range 4x4 with the crawler low, but I never saw a Subie with that setup... the family moved to Audi in 1989, that probably explains it. We never went to a Subaru shop after '86 and I was all into Italian cars then, so I missed that period of AWD/dual-range weirdness.

McMike > As Du Volant 03/23/2015 at 11:58

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They are just like your chain ring (front) shifter on a bicycle. Shift on the fly for a taller/shorter set of ratios.

It was cable-actuated, and you could shift whenever you wanted.

I recall fourth "E" (Economy) was an overdrive, but dropping down to third to pass on the highway was a bit too much of a jump.

So you clutched, shifted into forth "P" (power) and it was about half-way in between.

You had two reverses, too.

It was a great little car, I had one when I was in high-school. It would chirp second - both of them.

It also allowed you to shift like Vin Diesel before Vin Diesel thought it was cool. I grabbed those things and shifted every chance I got.

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > Tohru 03/23/2015 at 11:59

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I actually drove one of those with the twin stick; don't think it was a turbo though. Fun little car actually.

As Du Volant > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/23/2015 at 12:05

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They only used it from 1987 to 1989, and only in the RX model which is very rare. Regular turbo models had the push-button activated 4WD, high range only.

RX's have a very distinctive look among 80's Subarus. Here's the one I had:

McMike > Tohru 03/23/2015 at 12:17

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Kinja must have burned my other reply - can't seem to get it to come up. If it shows up later, forgive me.

I had one of these back in highschool. I believe it was the most inexpensive turbocharged car you could buy in 1984.

I think the best 0-60 time they had for it was right around 8 seconds, which was pretty quick for what it was. It wasn't a bad little sleeper either, since most of the more expensive sporty things (fox body mustangs, RX7, Porsche 944) were not that much quicker.

It was the last year for that body style (78-84), but the first year they turbocharged it. The next year, it was a little heavier, and had a more traditional 5-speed.

In 88-89 they had parts on national backorder for this thing. I remember waiting like, two months for a drive shaft.

kanadanmajava1 > Tohru 03/23/2015 at 13:04

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I think all Colts with 1.4l engine had 8-speed box here in Finland (excluding the automatic option). The early Colts are pretty much gone and I think I have seen only one with 8-speed box myself. There's one for sale though.

Totally original and €2900 (~$3200).

Tohru > Opposite Locksmith 03/23/2015 at 14:41

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2 speed rear axle, like a dump truck or semi.

RustedSprinter > Tohru 03/23/2015 at 14:42

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Now thats a purpose!

Tohru > McMike 03/23/2015 at 14:42

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how'd you kill it?

McMike > Tohru 03/23/2015 at 14:51

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Parked car hit me.

Tohru > McMike 03/23/2015 at 16:12

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did the tow truck start on fire?

McMike > Tohru 03/23/2015 at 16:22

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No. I drove it home.

RichyRich > Tohru 07/06/2015 at 12:43

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It is nice to know that I was not the only one that like and fell in love with this car. So, I thought I give you all my story back then and present. Back in 1984 I was coming from work across the Bay Bridge in my Corinthian leather 78 Cordova, 8 Cil 440 engine with a 4 barrel carb, which I though it was fast, when a black new pocket Rocket got next to me and signaled with his head if I want to step on it, and so I did with a smile because at the moment I thought to my self, He doesn’t know how fast my car is, well, that smile went to an amazement when the little black car took off and I couldn’t believe how fast they were. I couldn’t stop telling all my friends and family about the little car. 2 months later, my GF and still now wife, who knew nothing about cars, bought a 1985 Colt Turbo, white, not to be outdone, the following week I went to the dealer and trade in my Corinthian leather boheaman for a new 1984 Colt Turbo. It was faster than most car but some add reason, not faster than the 85 automatic. I was also later on was left amazed once again, when on my way to LA on Hwy 5, what appears to be and 84 Colt Turbo, grey color with wider tires got next to me and left me behind and I never saw him again. It could have been one that was modify. Since we really used both of our cars a lot, both had the turbo blown at one point or another.

I have been looking for this car for the past 2 years and I finally found one and I cant wait to start my new project. And yes it will be modified, they were 0 to 60 at around 8 seconds, I am hopping I can bring it to closer than the 3 to 4 sec. I will come back to post photos as I work on it. and yes it is a manual double stick 4 speed.