INCP--Plymouth Champ
Inappropriately Named Chrysler Products week continues ...
As cars go, the Plymouth Champ is anything but a champion. A small, morbidly sluggish economy car is very rarely a "champ" of anything except, perhaps, fuel economy. The Plymouth Champ can't even claim to be the champion of awfulness among small cars in the late 1970s-- the Chevrolet Chevette and Ford Pinto were the easy leaders in that category. And, to be honest, the rebadged Mitsubishi Colt was a pretty sweet-natured econobox for the time.
If all of this is the case, why am I making this a Car Lust and not a Car Disgust? Well, I have a great deal of sympathy for small, poorly performing hatchbacks, and as I've said, the Champ was really quite nice. Plus, there's no way I could spurn a car so similar to my much-beloved Colt Vista.
I actually kinda like the Champ, and in a way, its inappropriate name in its diminuitive form is cute enough to make me want to have it around. Its combination of bravado in a tiny, hapless package reminds me of a dachsund that enjoys barking at passing pit bulls.
This image comes from Ryu's album from a 2007 vintage Japanese car show. Isn't it funny that these are now vintage cars?
--Chris H.
Stacey on February 13, 2008 at 01:00 PM
My husband and I owned a Champ from 1980-86, until it was hit in an intersection and totaled. We were sorry to see it go; we absolutely loved that car. It was great fun to drive, with its manual 4 speed and dual "power shifter," which I will admit to always keeping in full power mode. Our Champ got terrific gas mileage and was hardly ever in the shop, a fact I remember each time our 2003 Jetta turbodiesel is out of commission. It was also great in the snow; we passed many larger, heavier cars hopelessly stranded on our way up the hills in our town near the Poconos.
I wish car makers would come up with another such as the Champ/Colt - inexpensive, fun to drive, great on gas. It certainly makes as much sense today as it did 30 years ago!
Incidentally, we owned another Mitsubishi-produced Plymouth Colt 1988-89 and loved it; it too was totaled after being hit in an intersection...
David Colborne on February 15, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Like most Chrysler products of its time, they were a lot better with turbo. My folks had an '85 Colt Turbo that, compared to other cars of its day, had a fair amount of pep. It ran great until the transmission nuked itself.
Roger on February 15, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Stacey: You should avoid intersections. :-)
Brett on February 15, 2008 at 12:56 PM
I agree w/Stacey. You're being way too hard on this car.
I bought a 1981 Champ when I started commuting 60 miles/day to college and I loved it. In fact there were three of us (all over 6 feet) in that car for that trek and it was relatively comfortable.
The twin stick eight speed transmission was an absolute blast for a boy of 18. For fun a buddy and me would see how many gears we could chirp the tires in. Because of the twin stick it took two people to drive it this way, the passenger had to steer. I could only "get rubber" in four gears but my buddy could do it in five. I had heard of someone who could do it in six but I can't verify that.
I never had any problems with it except I had to put a clutch in it. The way I beat that thing that's a good record. I bought it used with 43K miles on it and drove it until it had 100K plus on it. I gave it to my sister and she destroyed the transmission within 5K. Although I'm sure I played a pretty big part in the damage done to the tranny, I never forgave her for destroying "The Chump"
Michael on March 09, 2008 at 11:07 AM
I loved my 1982 baby blue Plymouth Champ. Had a moon roof. Bought it at auction in 1987 for $500 and it got me through most of high school and college. I wept after her ('Veronica' was her name) final voyage to the junkyard in January 1994.
This entry should not be on a car-lust blog. Surely it was car-love.
Susan on April 24, 2008 at 10:37 AM
My father bought a last-on-the-lot 1981 as my college graduation present in 1982. It was my first car, and I thought it was real sweet. That twin shift handled hills beautifully in upstate New York winters. Same cream yellow as the model shown, but had a wide tan racing stripe and tweed upholstery.
Also would put it into "turbo mode" in the summertime merely by turning the air conditioner off. Lot of pep for an econo-box. Very reliable. I wasn't good about keeping the salt cleaned off the undercarriage, though. I moved down south and a mechanic inspecting it for oil leaks said, "Lady, what have you been doing to this car? Driving it in the ocean?"
Kept it until 1989 when I bought a 1990 Geo Prizm (rebadged Toyota Corolla).
The Champ gave me an appreciation for Mitsubishis -- my current and third car is a 1999 Mitsubishi Diamante, which I like *almost* as well as the Plymouth Champ, give or take a few horsepower!
Stephen on April 28, 2008 at 06:17 AM
I bought a new Champ in 1982. The miles per gallon were 52 highway.I drove it for 152,000 plus miles. What has happened to over 50 miles per gal. cars. I bought a Mitsubithi Mireage because of that cars durability and got the same thing just less mileage per gal.
AL on April 29, 2008 at 06:29 PM
Sluggish is definitely not the word for the Champ. I had a 1980 Champ and that little Power/Economy levers could do wonders. I burned out taking off all the time while in high school in that thing. Friends of mine LOVED driving around with me because it was so fast. I used to beat buddies with much "faster" cars off of stop lights all the time.
Also the top speed was pretty high as well... the speedometer maxed at 85, but I was able to get it to to what we guesstimated was ~115 once on the 15 heading out to Vegas.
I think you're calling it sluggish based on the specs and the type of car it's "supposed" to be rather than actually driving one and seeing what it "is".
bill blackwell on June 14, 2008 at 05:11 AM
I had a 19080 Plymouth Champ and loved it. Except for the weird orange-reddish color it came in that seemed to change tint by the month. Twin stick was a blast and used to play with it all the time, only changed the oil about every 15,000 miles, drove through 10 years of Hudson Valley winters with more ease than my Dad's Audi.
Joe on July 02, 2008 at 05:27 PM
YES! The Plymouth Champ WAS a CHAMP.. I disagree with the caption/Paragraph.. Has anyone mentioned that it got 40 miles to the gallon??
MINE DID!
Where are they now, and why is Chrysler not re tooling for the production of the Champ???
litesong on July 03, 2008 at 08:57 PM
Had an 81 Champ with 4 speed. The engine had 2 valves per cylinder with an extra tiny inlet valve that would activate at low rpms to swirl the air-fuel mixture for more complete burning...42 MPG average & 50MPG on the highway. Took Champ up many rough Cascade mountain logging roads & to many National Parks & Monuments so I could hike the vastness of America...just wonderful. Had Champ 22 years & 150,000 miles. Sold it & still saw it running around town 2 years later.
Marian on July 08, 2008 at 09:13 AM
My very first car was a 1980 Plymouth Champ and I absolutely loved it. It was awesome in the snow ... a little tank. I sold it in 1988 to someone my husband worked with and he had it for quite a while. We lost touch with him so I don't know what happened to it, but I used to see it driving around Rockland County quite often up until a couple of years ago.
Tony on July 18, 2008 at 12:24 AM
I purchased a 1981 Champ new for $5,000. No radio, AC, etc. It had the smaller engine with a four speed geared for 37 city 50 mpg highway. Even with the economy settings it was not slow. This was a quick little car that could thread through the tightest little spots with precision, while getting mileage only attained by a $20K hybrid today. It was well made and fun to drive! The car opened up in the back like a can opener and you could put huge things in there with the rear seat folded down. Unlike the Honda Civic of that time, I could sit up without hitting my head on the ceiling in this car. What a great little car! They haven't made a car at a reasonable price that is this efficient since.
Ben on February 18, 2009 at 11:12 PM
i looked for a Champ before i bought my current '79 Rabbit. they're incredibly hard to come by, and unfortunately the ones you do find are always beaten to scrap and rusted out beyond all repair, but i always thought they'd make great cars if you threw in a turbocharged mill from a newer Mitsubishi
Plymouth Champ with a Evo IX draivetrain? muahahahahah!!!
Joe on February 22, 2009 at 08:57 PM
I have had a 1980 plymouth champ since 1997, I bought it for $30.00
the odometer had turned at least once. so I have know idea of the actual milage. I have beaten that car up to the point that it should be toasted. I have driven across rivers, gone up and down mountains forward and backwards. I have changed the clutch once and put a new set of points and coil. this car has unbeatable quality that will not die. I have had the motor tached at 7400 rpm. It will not die!!!!!
Bob M on April 06, 2009 at 03:35 PM
Underpowered? "Chump?" I can only assume you drove the 1.4 liter automatic, because you sure as heck didn't drive the 1.6 twin-stick. I bought my Champ in 1979 just before graduating from college. In Power mode, it could go 0-60 in 10.5 seconds - pretty darned quick for a subcompact - and in Economy mode got over 40 MPG. Not "40 MPG highway," 40 MPG period. When i wore out my first set of tires, i replaced them with the widest Goodyears the rims would fit, and it would corner like it was glued to the road.
If this car were sold today, i'd buy it in a heartbeat. Hands-down it was the best car, dollar-for-dollar, that i've ever owned.
Glenn on April 15, 2009 at 11:39 PM
Long live the Champ!!! The Champ got me through high school AND college. I will swear to this day that it was possessed.... the car finally blew up, after years of abuse, on the highway while I was on my way to get my motorcycle license.... great car, greater memories.
Steve on April 21, 2009 at 07:38 AM
I turned 16 in 1996 and my first car was a black 1980 Champ with gold pinstriping and tan interior. This may have been one of the worst/best cars I have ever driven. It was only the worst because it was 16+ years old and had 180k + miles on it at the time, and the roof and hood were spraypainted matt black. Every day I had a car full of guys going to baseball practice singing "peggy sue" on the oldies station because that is all it picked up. We all loved it because it cornered like a go cart and the clutch was as forgiving as any car I have ever driven. My brother and I even took our Champ off roading through an abandoned Christmas tree forest and never once got close to being stuck. This little car had a whole lot of power and traction for its size. My parents finally sold the car with 198k miles on it, and we saw it on the road multiple years later. I loved that car, but at the same time I was glad to see that thing ride off in the sunset.
Chris on May 15, 2009 at 04:58 PM
My first new car was a 1982 and "1/2" Plymouth Champ purchased for %5,200. It was a manual twin stick model. About a year after I purchased it the head gasket blew. The dealer fixed it under warranty. 170,000 and seven years later I sold it for $1,200. During the time I owned it I replaced the tires and two clutches (my own fault). The car got over 50 MPG. Loved it Loved it Loved it. I saw it on the road going strong two year later. Amazes me that today we think that 30 MPG is great. Bring back the champ and stimulate the economy.
veronica montes on June 07, 2009 at 09:02 PM
i totally and completely disagree with the heading as well... i currently have a 1.6 liter plymouth champ. and she runs great.. i couldnt of ask for a better deal on a car.. she gets about 45 miles to the gallon. and with gas prices now a days, im grateful.. but im looking to sell it... anyone interested give me a call at 1(785)317- 8228..ask for veronica..