Post by Panda AE86 on Jan 8, 2008 14:45:07 GMT -5
Old School for the New Year - Fighting Evolution
1973 Mitsubishi Lancer
www.thespeedlounge.com/FeatureRide/01-08/01-08.php
Check above link for more pics...
Seeing Chito Solman’s 1973 Mitsubishi Lancer is like opening a time capsule. The car was shipped to Southern California from Japan a couple of years ago. Chito was in the market for a 1976 Lancer but he was thrilled when found this ’73 Lancer instead. He met a gentleman on the internet who lives in Japan and imports such things as old-school cars to Americans in need of them.
The Lancer was first launched in 1973 and proved to be particularly successful in rally races. At the time of its launch, Mitsubishi had the Minica kei car and the compact Galant, so the Lancer served to fill the gap in the small to lower-medium segment of the growing Japanese market. Twelve models were launched, ranging from a basic 1.2 L sedan to a more powerful rally-derived 1600 GSR model with a total of three body styles: 2-door coupes, 4-door sedans, and a rarely seen 5-door station wagon.
When the importer told Chito about this car he was sold. He says he was “even happier” with this than he would have been had he found the ’76 he was originally seeking. When he saw the car on the Internet, Chito knew he had to have it because as he says, “You only live once”.
The Lancer arrived in excellent condition. Chito kept the original motor in the car which only has 25,000 kilometers on it. Still Running after more than 30 years and making the long journey across the Pacific Ocean, the only thing the car needed was an oil change along with some new tires and it was ready to drive. Since the engine only had about 14,000 miles on it, Chito saw no need to change it out or “upgrade”. After all, why mess with a good thing?
As the car is completely JDM, that means it is right-hand drive. According to Chito, Right hand drive takes only a short time to get used to . After about a week, Chito became comfortable driving on the opposite side of the car from what we here stateside are familiar with.
Besides its stock engine and original interior, the Lancer has an eight-track tape player. Chito doesn’t know if the eight-track works because he doesn’t own any tapes to play on it. Who would have those things still? Aside from not being able to listen to any music in the car, Chito finds his driving experience thoroughly enjoyable. He is excited to drive his car around town and “show people that something like this existed back in the day”.
1973 Mitsubishi Lancer
www.thespeedlounge.com/FeatureRide/01-08/01-08.php
Check above link for more pics...
Seeing Chito Solman’s 1973 Mitsubishi Lancer is like opening a time capsule. The car was shipped to Southern California from Japan a couple of years ago. Chito was in the market for a 1976 Lancer but he was thrilled when found this ’73 Lancer instead. He met a gentleman on the internet who lives in Japan and imports such things as old-school cars to Americans in need of them.
The Lancer was first launched in 1973 and proved to be particularly successful in rally races. At the time of its launch, Mitsubishi had the Minica kei car and the compact Galant, so the Lancer served to fill the gap in the small to lower-medium segment of the growing Japanese market. Twelve models were launched, ranging from a basic 1.2 L sedan to a more powerful rally-derived 1600 GSR model with a total of three body styles: 2-door coupes, 4-door sedans, and a rarely seen 5-door station wagon.
When the importer told Chito about this car he was sold. He says he was “even happier” with this than he would have been had he found the ’76 he was originally seeking. When he saw the car on the Internet, Chito knew he had to have it because as he says, “You only live once”.
The Lancer arrived in excellent condition. Chito kept the original motor in the car which only has 25,000 kilometers on it. Still Running after more than 30 years and making the long journey across the Pacific Ocean, the only thing the car needed was an oil change along with some new tires and it was ready to drive. Since the engine only had about 14,000 miles on it, Chito saw no need to change it out or “upgrade”. After all, why mess with a good thing?
As the car is completely JDM, that means it is right-hand drive. According to Chito, Right hand drive takes only a short time to get used to . After about a week, Chito became comfortable driving on the opposite side of the car from what we here stateside are familiar with.
Besides its stock engine and original interior, the Lancer has an eight-track tape player. Chito doesn’t know if the eight-track works because he doesn’t own any tapes to play on it. Who would have those things still? Aside from not being able to listen to any music in the car, Chito finds his driving experience thoroughly enjoyable. He is excited to drive his car around town and “show people that something like this existed back in the day”.