Dodge Once Imported the Challenger From Japan

Thirty-five years ago, MotorWeek reviewed the Mitsubishi Galant Lambda-based Challenger

The Challenger, which shared a platform with Plymouth’s Sapporo, was Dodge’s answer to Ford’s Fox-body Mustang. The two Mitsubishi cars, rebadged for Chrysler Corp, had different focuses. The Sapporo gave customers enhanced luxury; the Challenger oriented towards the masses.

The Japanese Challenger was reasonably economical in its day, offering 24 mpg in the city, and 34 on the highway. And with a 105-horsepower, 2.6-liter 4-cylinder, it managed to sprint from zero to 60 in about 10 seconds. It doesn’t sound like much by today’s standards, but the early ’80s were a rough time for car enthusiasts, and the Challenger nameplate.

Dodge’s sports coupe didn’t really live up to its muscle car history, in terms of power or speed. But as you can see in the “Retro Review” above, MotorWeek did find its acceleration to be on par with competition of the era. Furthermore, they were equally impressed with the car’s “stop on a Yen” braking distances.

CHECK OUT: What Forum Members Are Saying About This Japanese Challenger

However, MotorWeek didn’t seem particularly impressed with the car’s handling. They derided the car’s light rear end and stick axle. Though it did well in their turning radius tests. And they seemed to appreciate the design and inexpensive price.

It’s likely that many Dodge fans don’t really want to remember the days when a Challenger was a rebadged 4-cylinder Mitsu. But it is certainly a part of the brand’s history. To add insult to injury, that 2.6-liter inline-4 was marketed as a “Hemi” engine.

It may not have been a proud time for Dodge fans, or car enthusiasts in general, but we lived through it. And now we are living in a new, Golden Age of Horsepower. Looking back on the 1982 Challenger today, we know that the name has survived unscathed, with models now producing prodigious horsepower.