Mitsubishi Colt Galant A I Custom
The first Galant paired Mitsubishi's first overhead-cam passenger-car engines with a sharp new sedan shape made for Japan's highway age.
1969 Mitsubishi Colt Galant AII Custom L.jpg · TTTNIS · Public domain (PD-self)
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
The Colt Galant arrived in December 1969 as the first Mitsubishi to wear the Galant name. Mitsubishi developed it around goals of better looks, performance, width, quietness and luxury as Japan's highway network expanded. The A I was the 1.3-litre branch—not the 1.5-litre A II—and this profile narrows further to the four-speed A I Custom. Its 4G30 was one of Mitsubishi's first OHC passenger-car engines, while the cabin added generous leg and head room, a large trunk and a patented non-reflective instrument visor. The hit sedan later expanded into hardtops and vans, but those bodies are outside this launch profile.
Look a little closer.
The trunk lid doubled as the radio antenna, letting designers delete the usual metal aerial and keep the body sides cleaner.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A I and A II are different engines
The Roman-numeral-looking badges are easy to blur together. A I identifies the 1,289 cc 4G30 car rated at 87 PS, while A II identifies the 1.5-litre branch and included a 105 PS twin-carb GS. Keeping that distinction prevents the quicker A II numbers from inflating the A I profile.
Source: MotorFan archive · Colt Galant A I Custom ↗A new visual language for Mitsubishi
The Galant's wedge-like “Dynawedge” surfaces, long nose and raised rear-window line were a deliberate break from Mitsubishi's conservative image. Deleting front vent windows and the pole antenna made the shape cleaner, while a lowered trunk lid helped rearward visibility.
Source: MotorFan archive · Colt Galant A I Custom ↗Where these facts come from
- Mitsubishi Motors · Car History
- MotorFan archive · Colt Galant A I Custom
- GAZOO · first-generation Colt Galant catalogue
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 1, 2026.