Wicked Wednesday: 1972 Dodge Colt Pro Stock is Small but Mighty
Nine-second 1972 Dodge Colt Pro Stock drag car might use a small block engine, but it has made a big impression on the owner.
The 1970s were not kind to car enthusiasts; the tighter emissions standards, and oil embargoes that lead to fuel shortages did not bode well for those power chasers of the era. Instead, it led to creations such as the Dodge Colt, an essentially a rebadged Mitsubishi Colt with a paltry 4-cylinder engine making around 80 horsepower.
A win for gas mileage and stricter standards but a gigantic loss in the performance world at the time. . Of course, Dodge being Dodge saw an opportunity with the Colt. They stretched the wheelbase and crammed 426 Hemis in them so they could compete in the NHRA Pro Stock series. They were terrors on the dragstrip in more ways than one. They were very quick. But the short wheelbase (just under 96 inches) and high center of gravity made them a handful to control. The NHRA eventually banned them from Pro Stock competition. This 1972 Dodge Colt Pro Stock is different.
This week’s “Wicked Wednesday” is all about this 1972 Dodge Colt Pro Stock. It is owned by Rick Wahl from Louisville, Kentucky. Wahl loves the little Colt, but he was not interested in building a big block beast that he couldn’t handle. Under the hood you will find a 360 small block with two four-barrel Holleys on a Weiand intake. It produces a healthy 530 horsepower and 525 pound-feet of torque. That is enough to get it down the quarter mile in 9.89 seconds at 136 mph. And more importantly, it handles great. A video of Wahl and his car is on the Holley YouTube channel, from the 2021 Holley MoParty.
A Proud Father
Wahl talks about his 1972 Dodge Colt like a proud father speaking about his kid that just graduated from medical school. You can hear it in his voice and see it in his face that he loves this little car. It goes about as fast as he wants it to go, and it handles great. It allows him to compete and have fun with it. He has been asked several times to sell the car, but he always refuses. He likes the car that he has and has no interest in changing. That is a rare thing these days. A lot of people are always looking forward to the next thing, even if the car they already have they really like.
Appreciate What You Have
There is a saying that to be happy you should not want for what you don’t have but want what you already do have. Wahl can say that is where he is with his 1972 Dodge Colt. He still loves the car and nothing else seems to tempt him. Can you say the same thing? Is there a car or truck that you own today that you would never sell no matter what the price?
Making it Special
If you do have that dream car or truck today that you can never imagine parting with, what makes it so special to you? Was it a dream car that you always wanted? Was it something that was passed onto you when a friend or loved one passed away? Does the vehicle that you would never sell have special meaning because you built it yourself or with a family member? Head on over to the Dodge Forum forums and share why you will never sell you current ride.
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