Rare fastback coupes by Suzuki and Mitsubishi

Suzuki Fronte Coupe

Suzuki, which now holds an unassailable position in kei-cars and small cars, launched the company’s first four-wheeler the Suzulight, in 1955.

The Suzulight became the basis of the company’s kei-car lineup that continues to this day, and its generation has been passed down through the Fronte to today’s Alto.

In 1971, the Fronte was updated to the third-generation model, and Suzuki added the Fronte Coupe that came with a high-output engine. The car became the first rear-engine, rear-wheel drive car in the company.

The body adopted a fastback-style design that featured a sideline coming from the low-positioned front to the car’s rear end. Its design was based on the idea completed by Giorgette Giugiaro, an industrial design giant who also designed the Isuzu 117 Coupe. The car prioritized styling over the spacious cabin, which resulted in the car only having a two-seater model at launch.

Tight cabin featured low-back bucket seats and six gauges on the front panel. The car was made into a real sports car by having a 37 hp 360 cc 2-cycle inline-3 engine that came with triple carburetors.

Mitsubishi Colt Galant GTO

The Galant, once one of Mitsubishi’s flagship models, was born in 1969 under the name “Colt Galant”. It became popular as a four-door sedan with a beautiful design and excellent driving performance.

In 1970, rising demands for a high-performance sports car led to the introduction of the two-door hardtop derivative, the Colt Galant GTO. The inverted slant-nose front face with four round-eyed headlights gave a sharp impression suitable for a sports car, and the sidelines called “Dyna Wedge Line” that ran from the front nose to the tail end produced a beautiful side view along with the rear ducktail.

The engine was only selectable from a 1.6-liter inline-4 SOHC engine at launch, but a DOHC variant called “Colt Galant GTO MR” was later added. The “MR” name was later succeeded by the Lancer Evolution VIII MR.

In 1973, a 2-liter SOHC variant called “Colt Galant GTO GS-R” was introduced. The car had a powerful appearance with over-fenders. However, the car was not able to meet newer emission regulations, which led to discontinuation in 1978.

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All of the five models introduced here debuted from the late 1960s to early 1970s, an age before emission regulations started to be tight.

Some designs might be based on European and American cars, but it was also a time when many stylish models were introduced which eventually would go down in history. These designs have not faded away even the cars are half a century old.