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Closed Auction- Unsold

1977 Mitsubishi Colt Lancer GSR

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  • Mileage~2,800 indicated
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine1.6L
  • LocationGlasgow

AUCTION CLOSED

1977 Mitsubishi Colt Lancer GSR

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Introduction

Stuart McIntyre
Professional Consigner

The rally legend which earned the title "King of Cars" in Africa and across the motorsport world, the Colt Lancer GRS.

The A70 was the first-generation of the Mitsubishi's long-running Lancer nameplate. It was first introduced in 1973, and filled the gap between the small Minica Kei car and the larger Galant. This example is a high-performance variant of the Lancer, known as the '1600 GSR' which was developed to further Mitsubishi Motor's aspirations in off-road racing, especially the Safari Rally of Kenya. This race was one of the most gruelling rallies in the world, and tis is where the 1600 GSR earned the name "King of Cars".

Street versions developed 100PS, and even after production ended the car remained popular with privateers way into the '80s.

This example is coming to sale with extremely low mileage indicated, and in highly original in its factory colour with vinyl roof. The car has been in Arthurs careful hands for 44 years and is now being sold as needing mechanical recommissioning as it was last used in 2014.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Stuart after meeting Arthur the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

44 years of cherished ownership, this car is a joy to drive, and always appreciated by those in the know.

Arthur discovered this car while working on a property and quickly fell in love with it. When the original owner decided to sell Arthur was in a prime position to put an offer forward.

Over Arthur's ownership, the only extra he has fitted is a Thatcham alarm, apart from that the car is highly original. He last drove the car around 7 years ago while touring Scotland. He mentions the car is a joy to drive for its ease, lightness, and nimbleness on the road. With a lack of use over recent years, he is keen for the car to go to a new home.

Any of your questions in the comments below will be answered by Arthur's niece Ronnie who's helping with the sale.

Arthur
Vehicle Owner

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CONTACT OWNER

Exterior

Square boxy good looks, straight from the '70s finished in its original head-turning yellow paintwork.

Wheels and Tyres

The car is fitted with sporty-looking 13" steel wheels which appear in good condition, there are signs of rust beginning to appear.

The rubber looks to be in good condition, in line with the age and mileage of the car, it has Bridgestone RD-201 steels fitted.

Please take a look at the photos and videos for a closer look.

Bodywork

The bodywork looks great, all the panel gaps look even and correct. The shut lines are good across the car and the doors, boot, and bonnet open and close as they should with the rubbers having been replaced recently.

There are some slight signs of surface corrosion under the front bumper, we recommend taking a good look at the exterior photos to fully appreciate this well cared for Lancer Colt 1600 GSR.

Paint

Finished in a vibrant yellow, the car doesn't fail to turn heads whether you're on the rally track or road.

The car appears to have been polished to a deep lustre. The evenness and consistency of the finish are clearly evident in the photographs and video.

The only thing we noticed were a very small paint chip on the passenger door and a small area of cracking on driver's doors.

Glass and Trim

The glass and mirrors appear clear and in great condition for the car's age with no issues to note.

The brightwork has been well looked after however the rear bumper is showing signs of pitting and hazing.

As always we have prepared an extensive photo and video gallery for you to see the condition of the exterior in great detail - please see below.

Interior

Comfortable and purposeful, the 1600 GRS offers a clean and practical layout of dials, switches and controls.

Seats and Carpets

Just as you would expect from a low mileage example, the seats appear in excellent condition with none of the usual wear-and-tear marks.

The carpets present in a very good condition with no areas of concern, a very clean and tidy example. The door cards and headlining tell a similar story, this example really belongs in a museum!

Dashboard

The dials are presented in excellent condition along with the dashboard, which is free from any cracking or major wear.

Arthur reports all the gauges, controls, and switches were working the last time he used the car in 2014.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

Just with the rest of this interior, this steering wheel looks very clean and tidy, free from your usual wear and tear marks.

The car is fitted with a 5-speed gearbox and a gear shifter with a white face, all looking in great condition. As always we have prepared an extensive photo and video gallery for you to see the condition of the interior in great detail - please see below.

Mechanics

Speed and power weren't the Lancers only trump cards, these units were very reliable and offered smooth effortless performance.

Engine and Gearbox

The rally spec version of the GSR delivered 171BHP, however, due to tight regulations the road versions were limited to 100PS, still impressive for the 70s.

In the notorious Safari Rally, over arduous terrain and searing temperatures typically only one car out of five would manage to reach the finish line. For Mitsubishi, only 1 out of 13 failed to complete the course!

Arthur has had the car stored and unused for the previous 7 years therefore it'll require some prep work before starting the engine. It's being sold needing recommissioning as a result. Please take a look at the photos and videos for a closer view of the engine bay, and underneath the car.

Suspension and Brakes

Arthur reports the car brakes and suspension were fully working in 2014 with no unusual knocks or noises coming from either. When you look through the underside pictures, looking past the surface corrosion it looks like a very tidy package.

Please take a look at the extensive videos for a detailed view.

The Drive

With all the fluids full, including the 50-litre fuel tank, the car weighed just 890kg, the lightweight aerodynamic design and rugged suspension made the car a huge success in the motorsport world. The road version of the 1600GSR isn't short on performance either, Arthur loved using this car around the roads of Scotland.

Electrics and Other

Arthur confirmed the electrics are all original, with the addition of a Thatcham alarm, he mentions everything was fully working last time he used the car in 2014.

History and Paperwork

You rarely come across 1600 GSR's anymore, especially ones with miles this low. Presented in very good condition, this example once recommissioned is sure to be a delight.

The car was first registered on 1st August 1977 and is now reading ~2,803 on the clock.

The car comes with its V5, 3 MOT reports (1982, '82, '03) and its original owner's handbooks and 2x keys.

Arthur has hardly used the car over his ownership and last drove the car 7 years ago. Since then it's been carefully dry stored in his garage for safe keeping, just rolled out to mop it down now and again. It's a once in the lifetime opportunity to own an A70 Lancer GSR with miles this low in highly original condition.

We've done all our usual checks on the seller ID, V5 and HPi is clear.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
05.03.2003 MOT 1,886
24.08.1983 MOT 1,795
19.08.1982 MOT 1,713
Key Details
  • ModelLancer GSR
  • TransmissionManual
  • Reg. Date05.09.1977
  • CC1,597
  • Mileage~2,800
  • HistoryPresent
  • ColourYellow
  • Interior ColourBlack
  • Chassis #6700527
  • Engine #2G50008
  • MOT ExemptYes
  • Road Tax ExemptYes
  • HPi ClearYes - clear
  • Former Keepers1
  • Tyre BrandBridgestone
  • Security SysThatcham
  • # of Keys2
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned37 years
  • Key FeatureOwnership and condition






Auction Closed

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This car didn't meet its reserve price and may soon be available as a private sale - please contact us for more information.

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Ask Questions
Post a comment or ask the owner a question about the car.
Kulraj Salh
Admin

Great to see some last minute bidding, I’d recommend some bigger increments though to get things going! Good luck, Kulraj – Trade Classics

substantia
Member
substantia

I’ll follow your lead! ?

Kulraj Salh
Admin

I’d say £1,000 increments, as we are quite some way off the guide price. Best, Kulraj – Trade Classics

Dayno
Member
Dayno

Hi, is the engine seized? Have you tried starting it? Kind regards, Ryan

Ronnie
Guest
Ronnie

Hi Ryan
The engine has not seized it’s been well lubricated as was instructed as we knew it was going to be stored for a while. It just needs drained and should be ready to go.

Ronnie Dawes
Guest
Ronnie Dawes

Hi Ryan
The engine has not seized it’s been well lubricated as was instructed as we knew it was going to be stored for a while. It just needs drained and should be ready to go.

Masood Nasir
Guest
Masood Nasir

Is their a reserve?

Ronnie Dawes
Guest
Ronnie Dawes

Hi yes there is a reserve. We are a long way off of it!

Gary Topper
Guest
Gary Topper

I have a friend that lives in East Kilbride. I wonder if he could come and see it tomorrow?

Ronnie
Guest
Ronnie

Hi yes of course he can. What time were you thinking of coming?

nez70
Member
nez70

Guide Price £31,000 to £34,000 Is this estimate from the consigner?

Ronnie
Guest
Ronnie

Hi the estimate from a very respectable auction was in the region of 65k! We were asking a lot less for personal reasons. It is a very rare car as there isn’t any in the UK I believe

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Vehicle Location

Glasgow

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