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The introduction of the Portage Colt additionally observed the introduction of the expression 'horse auto' which is a term used to depict an American auto that is both energetic and reasonable. Most Horse autos are exemplified by their modesty, little minimal size and over fueled motors. 

In the late 1950's Passage saw offers of its 2 situate Thunderbird decay and in 1958 presented another bigger 4 seater variant which after its presentation in 1958 was staggeringly fruitful. 

The opposition amongst Passage and Chevrolet has dependably been wild with both huge organizations attempting to speak to comparable markets. This prompt to the presentation of the Chevrlet Corvair in 1960 that was the impetus that constrained Portage to make the Thunderbird's successor which was known as the Futura and Futura Sprint. The opposition lead the other producer to take after Portage's case with Plymouth presenting the Valient Seal and Avoid making the Dash GT and it wasn't much sooner than Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Buick joined the opposition. 

These autos were a business achievement yet some top auto administrators including Portage's Lee Iacocca trust that there was a greater market that they could catch. They saw that there was a specialty market of more youthful auto purchases with a discretionary cashflow hoping to buy reasonable autos with a more lively picture. 

This prompt to the making of the Passage Colt in 1964 which ended up being a huge achievement. Passage at first estimated offers of only a mear 100, 000 however arranges totalled 22,000 in the principal day alone. Before that year's over deals had achieved an amazing 618,812 units. 

The Passage Bronco turned into the auto that the various producers needed to imitate and prompt to the new expression 'horse auto' being received. The term was initially utilized by Dennis Shattuck who was the manager at Auto Life magazine around that time and made it in light of the equestrian sounding Portage Bronco. 


The Portage Colt is one of Passage's most seasoned running names together with the F-Arrangement and the Bird of prey which is still underway in Australia. Throughout the years there have been 5 eras of Colt with the 1970's seeing a redirection from the lightweight unique Bronco encouraging enthusiasts of the mid 1964 plan to drive Portage to retreat to its 1960's underlying foundations. 

Original 

The original of Colt was made under the attentive eye of Portage's Lee Iacocca and boss designer Donald N. Frey and took year and a half. The first model saw the auto having a mid-mounted V4 motor and just 2 situates yet this was surrendered for a 4 seater 2+2 plan because of the low deals figures of the Portage Thunderbird. The 2+2 outline was accepted to have been picked because of the accomplishment of autos like the Panther E-Sort. 

The new body configuration was made by Joe Oros which delivered a triumphant plan in an opposition presented by Iacocca. 

"I told the group that I needed the auto to speak to ladies, however I needed men to yearning it, as well. I needed a Ferrari-like front end, the theme focused on the front - something overwhelming resembling a Maserati, yet, if it's not too much trouble not a trident - and I needed air admissions as an afterthought to cool the back brakes. I said it ought to be as energetic as could be allowed and appear as though it was identified with European plan." - Oros 

So as to keep the expenses of advancement to a base the auto depended on parts from autos as of now underway, for example, the Portage Fairline and Passage Hawk. 

Second Era 

The second era of the Colt was fuelled by the vitality emergency in 1973 which made the extensive petrol parched before autos drop out of support because of the ascent in fuel costs. 

The new littler Horse II was discharged in 1973 and Portage objective was to go up against the little Japanese imports, for example, Toyota Celica. However the last auto was much heavier than its initial partner antagonistically influencing the execution. 

Third Era 

In 1979 the third era of Colt was presented depending intensely on the Japanese market for its plan. The auto was intended to be all the more obliging to 4-travelers, the storage compartment size was expanded and the motor sound was extended to make upkeep less demanding. 

Fourth Era 

In 1994 the Third Era Colt experienced a noteworthy restyling taking signals from the first 1964 outline and surprisingly since 1973 the hatchback form would never again be accessible. 

The first motor was a 3.8 OHV V6 evaluated at 145 bhp however throughout the years this was moved up to a 4.6L V8 delivering a huge 225 bhp by 1998. 

Fifth Era 

2005 saw the presentation of a totally upgraded Colt in view of Portages new D2C stage. The body took a considerable measure of itemizing from the prior 60's Colts which Passage's VP of configuration named "retro-futurism".