Publication: Motor Fan
Format: Group Test
Date: November 1970
Author: Yutaka Kazato, Hiroshi Okazaki, Yoshimasa Sugawara, Motor Fan Editorial Staff (uncredited)

At Fuji Speedway, racing driver Hiroshi Kazato, car commentator Hiroshi Okazaki, and Yoshimasa Sugawara, president of Racing Management Co. Ltd.–now also known as the “Motor Fan Fresh Trio”–gathered to drive the latest 1.6-liter DOHC specialty cars. The two cars on offer were the Mitsubishi Galant GTO and the Toyota Celica 1600GT.

Publication: Car Graphic
Format: Road Impressions
Date: January 1971
Author: Shotaro Kobayashi

Road testing the Mitsubishi Galant GTO MII

The Galant GTO series consists of three models: MI, MII, and MR. All three models share the same body, which is cleverly styled like a Ford Mustang shrunk to 1.6-liter size, but each has a different engine. All have a capacity of 1597cc (with a bore increased by 2.4mm over the Galant AI’s 1499cc, but a still-longer stroke at 76.9 x 86mm). However, the MI and MII are SOHC, while the hottest MR has a completely newly designed DOHC head. Output is 100ps/6300rpm for the single-carburetor MI (lower than the Galant AII’s 105ps/6700rpm), 110ps/6700rpm for the twin-SU MII, and 125ps/6800rpm for the DOHC twin-Solex MR. The MI and MII have the same 4-speed gearbox as the AII, but the MR model comes standard with a 5-speed and a torque rod for the rear suspension. Prices are significantly higher than the Galant Hardtop GS, at 786,000, 843,000, and 1,125,000 yen, respectively.

Publication: Motor Fan
Format: Road Test
Date: January 1971
Author (Roundtable): Sadao Kobayashi, Masakatsu Suzuki, Osamu Hirao, Yasutaka Toyoshima, Hiroshi Hoshijima, Kimiaki Uesuna, Kenji Higuchi, Yutaka Nakamura, Chiaki Moriya, Hiroshi Okazaki, Zo Doi, Kunitaka Furutani, Yasuhei Oguchi, Kenzaburo Ishikawa, Minoru Onda, Takashi Ishizaka, Toshihide Hirata, Masanori Suda, Motor Fan Editorial Staff (uncredited)

Aerodynamic Style

Magazine: Let’s start by talking about the development aims of the Galant GTO.

Publication: Car Graphic
Format: Group Test
Date: April 1971
Author: “C/G Test Group” (Shotaro Kobayashi, uncredited)

Comparison test: Mitsubishi Galant GTO MR vs. Toyota Celica 1600GT

The Mitsubishi Galant GTO MR and Toyota Celica GT are remarkably similar cars, both in specification and character. Each is a five-seat sporting coupe aimed at essentially the same market, and both appeared at roughly the same time. Both are equipped with 1.6-liter DOHC engines and 5-speed gearboxes, while differences in external dimensions and weight are negligible.

Publication: Motor Fan
Format: “Bubble Index” Road Test
Date: June 1972
Authors: Osamu Mochizuki, Katsuzo Kageyama, Shigeki Asaoka, Yasuhei Oguchi, Reiko Ikuuchi, Kensuke Ishizu

Does the Larger Engine Deliver?

The extra 100cc has brought a noticeable improvement. Whether at low or high speeds, the GTO 17X-II delivers brisk, effortless acceleration. But in the fiercely contested 1600-1800cc class, what sort of challenge will Mitsubishi’s new GTO 17X series pose to the established competition?

Publication: Car Graphic
Format: Road Test
Date: May 1973
Author: “C/G Test Group” (uncredited)

Summary: Engine enlarged to 2 liters and 125ps, good low- and mid-range torque, tractable in city driving, acceleration performance surpasses that of DOHC 1.6-liter MR except at high speeds. Excellent 5-speed gearbox. Fifth gear can be used often, good fuel economy on the highway, average handling despite 5J rims and 185/70R-13 radials, brake pedal effort greatly reduced, excellent seats.

Publication: Car Graphic
Format: Group Test
Date: May 1973
Author: Auto Test Editorial Staff (uncredited)

Our editorial staff swapped their pens for steering wheels, and set out to experience—and verify firsthand—the sporting character of the Cherry X-1R and the Galant GTO 2000GSR.

Two machines, both wearing boldly aggressive overfenders and looking every bit the part of modern sport models, were taken to Tsukuba Circuit and driven to their limits. Making full use of whatever driving technique (!?) we could muster, we threw them onto the course and attacked corner after corner… and the result, well…