Chrysler Valiant
When I was wearing flairs and paisley shirts and had long uncontrollable hair (no really), this was THE car.
Big, bold, solid, curvy, powerful, yeah and a real novelty - a dashboard push button selector for the automatic gearbox.
This was the 2nd model (S series) release of the Australian made Valiant.It is rare to see these on the roads here now, as like me, they are getting long in the tooth. This sharp little number though, has been parking in the office carpark for the last couple of weeks near where I park my motorbike.
Automobile Challenge
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If you are interested, below is an edited bit of history.
The Chrysler Valiant is a passenger car which was introduced by Chrysler Australia in 1962 with production ceasing in 1981. Initially a rebadged locally assembled Plymouth Valiant from the U.S.,
After the American QX1 imported for evaluation had difficulty in converting to right-hand drive because the slant of the engine prohibited a simple steering box move, the first Australian assembled Valiant was released — The R Series in1962.
The RV1 Valiant was an instant success. Not everyone was taken instantly by the car's styling, but the general consensus was that the car had a modern, almost space age quality about it.
Mouth watering features included -
Floor-shifted three-speed manual with a non-syncro first gear or
Pushbutton-operated three-speed TorqueFlite automatic.
Options included a heater-demister unit and
"Moparmatic" deluxe pushbutton transistor radio.
It was the first Australian car to come with an alternator instead of a generator, and instead of coil springs, there was torsion bar suspension.
Many years later, the valiant ceased production and Chrysler Australia joined with Mitsubishi to produce their cars but production of passenger vehicles was discontinued altogether in March 2008.
The company continues to operate today as one of Australia's major importers of road vehicles.
Chrysler Valiant
When I was wearing flairs and paisley shirts and had long uncontrollable hair (no really), this was THE car.
Big, bold, solid, curvy, powerful, yeah and a real novelty - a dashboard push button selector for the automatic gearbox.
This was the 2nd model (S series) release of the Australian made Valiant.It is rare to see these on the roads here now, as like me, they are getting long in the tooth. This sharp little number though, has been parking in the office carpark for the last couple of weeks near where I park my motorbike.
Automobile Challenge
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
If you are interested, below is an edited bit of history.
The Chrysler Valiant is a passenger car which was introduced by Chrysler Australia in 1962 with production ceasing in 1981. Initially a rebadged locally assembled Plymouth Valiant from the U.S.,
After the American QX1 imported for evaluation had difficulty in converting to right-hand drive because the slant of the engine prohibited a simple steering box move, the first Australian assembled Valiant was released — The R Series in1962.
The RV1 Valiant was an instant success. Not everyone was taken instantly by the car's styling, but the general consensus was that the car had a modern, almost space age quality about it.
Mouth watering features included -
Floor-shifted three-speed manual with a non-syncro first gear or
Pushbutton-operated three-speed TorqueFlite automatic.
Options included a heater-demister unit and
"Moparmatic" deluxe pushbutton transistor radio.
It was the first Australian car to come with an alternator instead of a generator, and instead of coil springs, there was torsion bar suspension.
Many years later, the valiant ceased production and Chrysler Australia joined with Mitsubishi to produce their cars but production of passenger vehicles was discontinued altogether in March 2008.
The company continues to operate today as one of Australia's major importers of road vehicles.