21.b. HEMI 265ci in line 6 cylinder 218bhp/163kW
2014 Gore Aussie Muscle Mania Car Show (12-4-14)
The Chrysler Valiant Pacer:
The Pacer added to its street cred with fully calibrated gauges and sports steering wheel. The gear change, however, still lacked reverse gear lock out - a common criticism of the Valiants. At $3878 the Pacer was a solid performance package that offered far more individuality than most other makes. It was fitted with the mandatory body stripes and screaming new colors, but under the look-at-me style the car was a big improvement on the old car. It was $85 dearer than the VG Pacer, but for the money you got a new, high-performance version of the 265 engine that put out 218 bhp at 4800 rpm 120 more than VG's undisclosed figure (and 273 lb/ft of torque at 3000 rpm 128 lb/ft more than the VG). Quarter times were in the high fifteens with a top end of more than 120 mph. Wide 61/2 in. road wheels were standard.
The Pacer Comfort Pack -
Unfortunately there was no four-speed gearbox - the VH retailed the close ratio three-speed driving a high-performance 3.23 diff. A $95 "comfort pack" equipped the car with carpets, reclining buckets, three-spoke sports steering wheel and dressed-up instrumentation. The 6.5-in. sports wheels and 185 radials were standard. The seats in all but the basic Ranger were good, and the driving position was considered, by most, to be superior to the VG. Rear legroom too was increased - the foot space was up two inches better and the seat was wide and better designed, but headroom was still compromised - strange on a car of its size.
Road testers claimed the brake feel was good, and the clutch was smooth in all but the Pacer's, which was heavy and tiring. There was a new lever handbrake, the first of its type on an Australian Big Three car. It was much easier to reach and operate than the old pull-out type. The trim, paintwork and finish was considered by motoring journalists to be far better than previous Valiants. It had a quality look and feel.
A 1972 VH Pacer Sedan, with a manual 265 two barrel, originally sold for $3235. The engine ran 218 hp (163 kW) @ 4800 rpm, 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) @ 3000 rpm. Top speed 112mph (179km/h), 0-60 mph 7.6sec, standing quarter 15.9 sec, weighing in at 3120lb (1415kg). (Stats courtesy Craig Cummerfield)
The next year, the VH models came out. The VH Pacer had a higher performance 265, and it set a record for being the fastest mass-produced four-door sedan with a six cylinder engine produced in Australia (the record was indisputed until 1988). The relatively inexpensive Pacer's 265 had 218 hp and 273 lb-ft, leading to a 15.9 second quarter mile, 8 second 0-100 km/h, and top speed of 185 km/h (with a three-speed).
21.b. HEMI 265ci in line 6 cylinder 218bhp/163kW
2014 Gore Aussie Muscle Mania Car Show (12-4-14)
The Chrysler Valiant Pacer:
The Pacer added to its street cred with fully calibrated gauges and sports steering wheel. The gear change, however, still lacked reverse gear lock out - a common criticism of the Valiants. At $3878 the Pacer was a solid performance package that offered far more individuality than most other makes. It was fitted with the mandatory body stripes and screaming new colors, but under the look-at-me style the car was a big improvement on the old car. It was $85 dearer than the VG Pacer, but for the money you got a new, high-performance version of the 265 engine that put out 218 bhp at 4800 rpm 120 more than VG's undisclosed figure (and 273 lb/ft of torque at 3000 rpm 128 lb/ft more than the VG). Quarter times were in the high fifteens with a top end of more than 120 mph. Wide 61/2 in. road wheels were standard.
The Pacer Comfort Pack -
Unfortunately there was no four-speed gearbox - the VH retailed the close ratio three-speed driving a high-performance 3.23 diff. A $95 "comfort pack" equipped the car with carpets, reclining buckets, three-spoke sports steering wheel and dressed-up instrumentation. The 6.5-in. sports wheels and 185 radials were standard. The seats in all but the basic Ranger were good, and the driving position was considered, by most, to be superior to the VG. Rear legroom too was increased - the foot space was up two inches better and the seat was wide and better designed, but headroom was still compromised - strange on a car of its size.
Road testers claimed the brake feel was good, and the clutch was smooth in all but the Pacer's, which was heavy and tiring. There was a new lever handbrake, the first of its type on an Australian Big Three car. It was much easier to reach and operate than the old pull-out type. The trim, paintwork and finish was considered by motoring journalists to be far better than previous Valiants. It had a quality look and feel.
A 1972 VH Pacer Sedan, with a manual 265 two barrel, originally sold for $3235. The engine ran 218 hp (163 kW) @ 4800 rpm, 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) @ 3000 rpm. Top speed 112mph (179km/h), 0-60 mph 7.6sec, standing quarter 15.9 sec, weighing in at 3120lb (1415kg). (Stats courtesy Craig Cummerfield)
The next year, the VH models came out. The VH Pacer had a higher performance 265, and it set a record for being the fastest mass-produced four-door sedan with a six cylinder engine produced in Australia (the record was indisputed until 1988). The relatively inexpensive Pacer's 265 had 218 hp and 273 lb-ft, leading to a 15.9 second quarter mile, 8 second 0-100 km/h, and top speed of 185 km/h (with a three-speed).