The GT was the top-line Plymouth Arrow model in 1976 and included the black “sport” mirrors, “over and under” body stripe, chrome bumpers and styled steel wheels seen on this GT model.
As some readers may recall, several years ago I wrote about the unfortunate Plymouth Cricket. A so-called “captive import,” it was sold by Plymouth dealers here in America in an effort to capture small car sales then being grabbed by various Japanese and European brands. Produced in the United Kingdom by Chrysler United Kingdom Ltd., one of Chrysler’s overseas affiliates at the time, the homely and lackluster Cricket was essentially a re-badged Hillman Avenger four-door sedan. After a moderately successful first year in America, sales dropped by half the following year. Before the end of 1973, the car was gone from the U.S. market and is barely remembered today.
Chrysler’s Dodge division had a much different experience with its own captive import, the Dodge Colt. Produced by Mitsubishi of Japan, the Colts were much better designed and built and were perkier to drive. Their styling was crisp and pleasant, unlike the Cricket’s bland, forgettable looks. Dodge dealers had decent success with the Colt line-up and much fewer complaints about quality, reliability and drivability.
Since Plymouth dealers still wanted a captive import to compete against Datsun and Toyota, Chrysler management eventually approved the importation of a Mitsubishi-built small Plymouth for its U.S. dealers. The new car arrived for the 1976 model year as the Plymouth Arrow.
The Arrow was unlike the Colts offered by Dodge, which was very much appreciated by Plymouth dealers, and it was a very attractive little car. The Plymouth Arrow was initially offered in only a single body style with three models or trim levels. A sleek-looking two-door hatchback coupe, Arrow boasted a low fastback roofline, clean and smooth bodysides with big wheel openings, and a simple but attractive grille. Large window areas kept the interior from feeling claustrophobic, and the rear hatch made the car much more practical than an ordinary sedan could ever be. It was just the sort of car a young person would really appreciate, and a great many did.
During its initial year on the market, the price for the base Arrow 160 was $ 3,175, which was more than reasonable, because even the basic model was nicely equipped with reclining bucket seats, fold-down rear seat, floor carpeting, an adjustable steering column, cigarette lighter, tinted glass all around, power-assisted front disc brakes and bumper guards, all of which were often extra cost on American small cars.
The mid-range model was the GS, which added woodgrain trim to the instrument panel, styled steel wheels, a carpeted cargo area, chrome bumpers (base bumpers were argent-painted), a light for the ashtray and more. We were unable to find a base price for the GS.
The top of the Arrow line was the GT. Priced at $ 3,748, it added to the GS model a floor console with coin holder plus oil and ammeter gauges, a Rallye instrument cluster with tachometer, sports steering wheel, dual black “sport” mirrors, an “over and under” body stripe, overhead console dome lamp, map lamp and indicators for low washer fluid and “door ajar.”
The Arrow’s chassis was the conventional “front engine with rear wheel drive” layout. As far as powertrains, all models came equipped with a 1600cc four-cylinder, overhead-cam engine with five main bearings and a two-barrel carburetor. Sturdy and smooth, this engine was good for 83 hp. Hooked up to this was a four-speed manual transmission on base and GS models, or a five-speed manual on the GT. Optional on 160 and GS models with the 1600cc engine was a three-speed automatic transmission with floor shifter. Both the GS and GT models could be equipped with an extra-cost 2-liter “Silent Shaft” overhead-cam four-cylinder engine with two-barrel carburetor producing 96 hp. Its special name signified it was equipped with a unique counter-rotating balance shaft that canceled out most ordinary engine vibrations, resulting in remarkably smooth-running engine at all speeds. The “Silent Shaft” engine could be ordered with an optional five-speed stick, if desired, or the optional automatic transmission.
Arrow’s wheelbase was a mere 92.1 inches and its overall length a trim 167.3 inches. Its front suspension consisted of MacPherson struts and coil springs, while the rear was leaf springs on a rigid axle. Steering was by recirculating ball, and brakes were power-assisted front disc, rear drum.
Major options, aside from the transmission choices mentioned, included air conditioning, rear defogger and a vinyl top. Introduced in January 1976, the Arrow line was an immediate hit, with some 30,400 units sold in its first model year. There were only minor changes and improvements for 1977, when more than 47,000 Arrows were retailed. Naturally, Plymouth dealers were quite happy with their new car.
New for 1978 was the “Arrow Jet” package, which included an unusual flat black-and-orange paint scheme, black bumpers and mirrors and special graphics. It doesn’t appear that many of these sporty models were sold. A total of 28,000 Arrows were retailed, down significantly from the previous year, in part because the auto market itself was turning downward. No doubt Arrow sales were also negatively impacted by its new stablemate, the Plymouth Sapporo coupe, which was slightly larger, richer and more luxurious than the Arrow. We covered the Sapporo in an earlier column some years ago.
The 1979 Arrows were treated to a new grille and rectangular headlamps, along with a larger rear window and sturdier bumpers. In addition, a new “Fire Arrow” performance package debuted for the Arrow GT, which included a 2.6-liter Silent Shaft four-cylinder engine good for 105 hp, 185/70-HR14 radial tires mounted on alloy wheels, plus four-wheel power disc brakes, easily making this the most desirable Arrow of all.
Sales never really revived, however, and beginning in 1979, Plymouth buyers were given additional captive imports to choose from in the form of the Plymouth Champ hatchbacks. The two-door Champ offered a roomy interior, better fuel economy and front-wheel drive, something becoming increasingly important to new car buyers. The age of rear-drive automobiles was ending, and this was reflected in the fact that the Plymouth Arrow was discontinued after the 1980 model run. For but a brief moment, the Plymouth Arrow hatchback had hit the mark, but the automotive landscape changed shortly after its arrival.
However, the Arrow name continued on for a time because in 1979, Chrysler introduced two versions of the Mitsubishi Forte compact truck, which they badged as the Dodge D-50 and the Plymouth Arrow pickup. Smart-looking and easy-driving, the Arrow pickup met with some success, lasting on the market through 1982.
If you’re interested in owning a spritely, good-handling sporty coupe, the Plymouth Arrow might just be the ticket for you. Prices are not outlandish, but supply seems scarce. As usual, I did a quick search of online ads while writing this column, trying to find as many examples of Arrows for sale as possible. I found none, but there were several older ads in which the cars had been sold and the selling prices listed, so I could gauge the overall pricing situation and it was encouraging. So my advice is to be patient, look hard and be ready to pounce when one goes on sale. I think you’ll enjoy it.
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