Descrizione
Sadly the time has come to part with my very rare 1975 Mitsubishi T120 Colt 1400 eight seater passenger van. Perfect classic motoring for anyone with a large family (or lots of friends!), or has the potential to make a fantastic camper conversion, albeit a small one! This model is the predecessor to the square Mitsubishi L300 van which ran from 1979 to 1985. Originally launched in Japan as the Mitsubishi Delica in 1968, the model you see here is a face-lifted version which arrived in 1974. To my knowledge the UK never received this model at all, so it is likely this is the only example on the road here.
You can watch a video on youtube of the T120 shot back in 2018courtesy of the excellent HubNut at…
- details above
Currently it is operating under MOT exemption as it’s doing very few miles, but I am more than happy to put it through an MOT test for the new owner. If you have any questions or would like to see more photos, please ask. You are welcome (and very much encouraged) to come and view the van near Louth in Lincolnshire. The T120 body is mounted on a sturdy separate ladder chassis and is in virtually perfect shape underneath as you can see in the pictures. Its time in storage has caused the paint to deteriorate somewhat and there is patina and patches of surface rust, although none of it heavy or perforating apart from one area which would require repair should you want to restore the van. This is to the left hand roof/ gutter area above the passenger door, the seam where the front panel meets the A-post below, and the bottom of the passenger door itself. Everywhere else the body is excellent. The interior is in very good shape, although it could do with some new sections of head lining fitting, as only the rearmost section is still in place. This is a simple, foam backed, perforated material which is glues directly to the roof. The original carpets and boot mat are still excellent. I have made a full width black mat to place over the existing front carpet to protect it from wear.
The van is all original with the exception of the addition of some front seat belts (fixed) and a heater, neither of which were fitted when the van was new. The heater is a universal unit but is quite unobtrusive. There are only belts fitted to the front seats. There is a factory radio fitted, but it only has a single wave band, possibly short wave, as it doesn’t pick much up!This particular T120 was sold new in Malta, and prior to being imported to the UK in 2017, it looks like it may have stood unused in storage for a very long time. The previous owner did the bulk of the recommissioning required to get it roadworthy in the UK, including overhauling the brakes and reconditioning the radiator. Since I have owned it I have done a couple of thousand trouble free miles in it.
Very little original paperwork came with the van from Malta, but I do have all of the documentation since it arrived in the UK. I have the V5 (registered in my name) and the T120's original handbook. Mechanically, the Colt is in really excellent condition, as you might expect with it having only covered around 15, 000 miles from new. It still feels nice and tight, with a remarkable absence of rattles or squeaks. The 1378cc “Neptune” OHV engine pulls well and the 4 speed column shift is very easy to use. Steering is very light. The brakes are drums all round and they pull the colt up nicely. The overall gearing is rather low, so although a top speed of well in excess of 70mph is entirely possible, it is probably happiest cruising at around 60. The original cross-ply tyres have been replaced with radials.
I am including a few spare parts I have found for it, comprising of some new, clear front indicator/ side light lenses, a pair of brand new front door handles, a pair of shock absorbers and the original “dog dish” hubcaps, of which sadly one is missing.
