What I find most amazing is that under that skin is a '84 Dodge Colt Turbo with the "twin stick"
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1984-BUMPER-CAR-FULL-SIZE-COLT-TURBO-DUEL-RANGE-4-SPEED_W0QQitemZ110309366485QQihZ001QQcategoryZ6472QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Might as well, I mean look at the amount of hit-and-run damage on my cars.
Someone needs to start a group buy
Combine it with a high-MPG hybrid or electric engine, and it might be the perfect commuter car.
What it needs is really HUGE turn signals. With big blinkers and bumper car bumpers all around EVERYONE would clear you space for lane changes.
jl1rp
New Reader
11/10/08 1:33 p.m.
It's just what you need for Nw York city driving.
Do I smell a challenge theme?
Poor Colt turbo......
I morn the loss....
Now, what about this group buy?
-Rob
SVreX
SuperDork
11/10/08 6:04 p.m.
I spent part of this weekend on the carnival rides.
I wonder if they managed to get the steering to do the same thing- when you turn all the way to the lock, it goes in reverse the opposite way!
OK, now someone explain to me this dual range 4 spd manual trans (that means 8 speeds). What it got a secondary transfer case? An electric reduction gear? Is this standard on the Colts?
SVreX wrote:
I spent part of this weekend on the carnival rides.
I wonder if they managed to get the steering to do the same thing- when you turn all the way to the lock, it goes in reverse the opposite way!
OK, now someone explain to me this dual range 4 spd manual trans (that means 8 speeds). What it got a secondary transfer case? An electric reduction gear? Is this standard on the Colts?
I couldn't tell you the point of the two speed transfer case-but I can tell you when you are 16yo you think team shifting through all 8 gears with the passenger handling the transfer case is a hilarious way to street race.
ddavidv
SuperDork
11/11/08 6:08 a.m.
Lousy pic, but...
Twin Stick
Just to the driver's side of the main shifter is the second stick. It only moves one notch fore/aft and IIRC is labelled "economy" and something else ("power"?). It's essentially like having a two speed rear axle or diff in a big truck, or an overdrive that operates on all gears. A useful fuel saving gimmick that worked flawlessly, from what little I know. I drove one once or twice, and it was amusing yet functional. The fwd Colt wasn't a bad little car, even if it was a Mitsubishi.
The saddest part is someone probably spent a lot of time building that thing...
ddavidv wrote:
Lousy pic, but...
Twin Stick
Just to the driver's side of the main shifter is the second stick. It only moves one notch fore/aft and IIRC is labelled "economy" and something else ("power"?). It's essentially like having a two speed rear axle or diff in a big truck, or an overdrive that operates on all gears. A useful fuel saving gimmick that worked flawlessly, from what little I know. I drove one once or twice, and it was amusing yet functional. The fwd Colt wasn't a bad little car, even if it was a Mitsubishi.
Can you change ranges while moving? Of course it would require a rev match, but most transfer cases don't have synchros and wouldn't pretend to put up with a rolling shift for a second.
Also I think this vehicle makes a good statement about the automotive world and the way people drive - it would have been best if it was based on a brand new car.
When I was a teenager, the local mechanic had one of those as a loaner....my god was it fun.
You can definitely change from low to high while moving. We tried to make the car faster by using it as an 8 speed box!
Yep, mom had an 84 Colt with the twin-stick. Fun car.
She used to race along twisty highway roads when she lived at the beach (hey she used to drive my brothers and I around in various Sprites and MG's) Typically she would upshift or downshift between corners using the dual-range stick. Made a funny whirring noise when she moved the lever due to the spring attached to it.