 to  Colt Galant 16LGS There were three "Colt Galant" models in the new series, the AI, AII and AII GS (Grand Sports), and it was the AII GS that was used as the base for the new machine. The Colt Galant AII GS was powered by the newly developed 1.5 litre type 4G31 engine, and the whole package was put through a rigorous test program both domestically in Japan and also in Australia. Entered in the 1971 Southern Cross Rally, the new machine was in the lead for most of the event, but struck trouble in the final stages and fell back into 3rd place. 3rd outright was a noteworthy result for a debut event, but the real reward came the following year. Further improvements to the 140 horsepower AII GS saw the birth of the new "Colt Galant 16L GS", which had a power output of 150 horsepower, and it was this refined car that was entered in the 1972 Southern Cross Rally. The result was Mitsubishi's first outright victory in an International Rally. The technical knowledge built up from the program that started with the "Colt 1000F" in 1967 had, at last, brought the fruits of victory. In Mitsubishi's motorsports history the year 1972 has very special significance. That is because it justified the years of effort and improvement that started in 1967.
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Copyright 1998 by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.