The Mitsubishi Galant Coupé FTO is a rear-wheel drive coupe produced by Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors from November 1971 to March 1975. "FTO" was meant to stand for Fresco Turismo Omologato, in a fine example of Japanese Italian. The compact Coupé FTO can be seen as the replacement for the earlier Mitsubishi Colt 11-F Super Sports.
The FTO was first introduced with an 1,378 cc 4G41 "Neptune" engine, until it was replaced in a February 1973 redesign by a pair of 1,597 cc 4G32 "Saturn" powerplants, offering either or depending on the state of tune. There was also a 1,439 cc Saturn engine, offering . In October 1973 there was a minor facelift, and the lineup was restricted to four versions as the EL, GS, and four-speed SL versions were cancelled. Production gradually came to an end in August 1975, after the introduction in March that year of the more staid Lancer Celeste.
The FTO was based on the chassis of the first generation Mitsubishi Galant, shortened by for extra agility and lightness. It carried the chassis codes A61 (Neptune 1.4), A62 (Saturn 1.4), and A63 (Saturn 1.6). 1600 GSRs built before October 1974 (when safety standards were changed) received black plastic wheelarch extensions to accommodate a wider track, resulting in an even more aggressive look. The GSR also featured a standard limited slip differential.
The FTO name was again resurrected twenty years after production of the original had ceased, when the company introduced the front-wheel drive Mitsubishi FTO in 1994.
Data Primary data sources for each model are given in the first row. Data sourced elsewhere is referenced in each individual cell where it is used.
Mitsubishi Galant Coupé FTO G I, G II G III 1400 EL, GL, SL–5 1600 SL, SL–5TAM 74/75, p. 460 1600 GS–5, GSR Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive Transmission 4-speed manual 4/5-speed manual 5-speed manual Suspension F/R Coil sprung independent MacPherson struts, anti-roll bar / Live axle and semi-elliptic leaf springs Brakes front drums, G II: discs discs drums or discs discs rear drums Wheelbase Length Width 1580–1655 mm (62.2–65.2 in) Height Empty weight G II: Engine Neptune 4G41 (A61) Saturn 4G33 (A62) Saturn 4G32 (A63) Water-cooled OHV inline-4, two valves per cylinderWater-cooled SOHC inline-4, two valves per cylinder Displacement 1,378 cc (76.5 x 75.0mm) 1,439 cc (73.0 x 86.0mm) 1,597 cc (76.9 x 86.0mm) Carburetor 1 twin-barrel Stromberg 2 single-barrel Stromberg 1 twin-barrel Stromberg 2 single-barrel SU Power (JIS Gross) at 6,000 rpm at 6,300 rpm at 6,300 rpm at 6,300 rpm at 6,700 rpm Torque at 4,000 rpm at 4,500 rpm at 4,000 rpm at 4,000 rpm at 4,800 rpm Top Speed Acceleration (0→400m) n/a 17.2 s n/a n/a 16.4 sMitsubishi Galant Coupé FTO, catalog. Mitsubishi Motors, 1973. Tires 6.15 × 13 4PR 6.15 × 13 4PR optional: 155 SR13 n/a 155 SR13 GSR: 175/70 SR13
References
Mitsubishi Motors history, 1971–80, Mitsubishi Motors South Africa website Mitsubishi Galant FTO specifications, Histomobile