28th Apr 2005, 21:47
I had a Champ, I believe it was a 1979...bought from my father as my first car when I went to college. Great gas mileage, good pick up. In 1989, at 285000+ the suspension went out. Nothing I have had since compares. Loved that car! Even a deer could not wipe it out!
8th Mar 2006, 15:37
We had a 1979 Plymouth Champ and it was my Dad's brand new, then he gave it to my brother. My brother drove that car into the ground. It needed it's first clutch at 120,000! The car was virtually falling apart interior wise, but ran awesome. I miss that little car, it was fun to drive with the economy and power shifter as well.
16th May 2006, 05:21
I have a 1980 Plymouth Champ that my mom gave me. She had it stored in her basement for 7 years and it's still going. It only has 80,000 miles on it as she hardly drove it.
I replaced many parts on it, but now the stick shift is broke, it fell through the floor and I replaced it with a part from the junkyard. It broke again even though I had it welded.
I'm hoping someone out there can help me so I don't have to part with it.
Please email me at:leadfootzzz@hotmail.com..Thanks.
7th Jul 2006, 22:51
As far as the shifter falling through the floor, all you need to do is to get a shifter out of a Hyundai Excel, 1980's model and it will bolt right in. In fact the seats, suspension components and many other things will bolt right in to the colt/champ. I have owned 4 colts and champs and I am actually wanting to get another one since I have now two boys driving and I need a dependable car for them.
20th Jul 2006, 18:57
I had a 1981 Champ. My father bought it new and gave it to me when I got my license in '88. It had a problem keeping up with my friends porsches and saabs and they called it the "go-go champ." I think they meant to be derisive.
The clutch went in '90 and my father thought it not worth the money to repair it so it was junked.
I loved the car anyway, like I love my dog; so much so that I just now looked up the model with the hopes of buying another one for kicks.
I'm glad others have similar fond memories.
15th Mar 2007, 08:53
A red 1979 Champ with the "red and white package," A/C, and the twin stick was my very first car in 1982. Bought it used from a dealer with 39,000 miles on it for $2500. The biggest mistake I ever made was trading it in a few years later on a big V8 Buick. I have lots of fond memories of my little red Champ. It was fun to drive, got great mileage, and was surprisingly comfortable and roomy inside for such a small car (I'm 6'3, 200#). In '85 I remember test-driving a new Colt GTS Turbo, and man, did those things ever SCREAM! 0-60 in something like 5 seconds, as I recall. Unfortunately, I was a poor college student at the time, and couldn't come up with the 7 grand it took to own a new one.
25th Dec 2007, 05:09
1980 Plymouth Champ!
By far the BEST car I have ever owned. Bought it 9 years old with 100k on it for 1400$. Drove it for another 11 years and another 120k miles, and still sold it for 700$.
NEVER failed to start or never left me stranded, did not break, and still up to 38 mpg with a carburetor!
Fond memories of the "twin stick".
31st May 2008, 11:20
May 31, 2008.
I have a 1981 Plymouth Champ which I bought new for $6500.00. Best car I ever owned. It has 362,000 miles on it. Same engine, never re-built. I did several timing belts, one water pump, and brakes. The car was shipped to the Virgin Islands, and back to the States. It won't stop running. GREAT VEHICLE! Because of high gas prices I just re-started it after 2 years and parked my Mercedes.
25th Jan 2009, 13:40
Did any one knows if there is any Champ 1981 that I can buy? That was my first car and I lost it, was stolen and I want to buy one. Please sent a message to mendezpj@alphatechinc.com with the title Champ 1981 so I can recognize you. Thanks.
29th Jan 2010, 23:17
The greatest car I ever owned. I want another one.
My odometer broke on mine at about 280,000 miles, and it still just kept going for 2 more years until I sold it to someone else who said it was also the greatest car she'd ever owned. She had it for 2 more years until the frame rot from the Pennsylvania Winters finally did it in... But it still ran.
7th Oct 2004, 13:32
Why would anyone "restore" a Champ to show at the "mo-par" shows?
The thing was built completely by Mitsubishi. The only thing "mo-par" about it is the "Plymouth" nameplate.