Hereis the latest episode in the Chrysler Valiant Auto History Series - the VF. New Pacer, a Hardtop and a long wheelbase VIP were just some of the highlights. Plus, a very rare model you have probably never heard of! If you like these videos please be sure to hit the 👍Like👍 button and Subscribe. It really helps the channel. Thanks for watching. 👍
I bought a 770 hardtop with 318, factory air and power steering in 2015. One day I went back to where it was parked and it had a note under the wiper. Written on it was an offer I couldn't refuse.............and I have been kicking myself ever since.
Man, I feel for you on that one. Similar thing happened to me on a 1960 Cadillac Sedan DeVille I sold. Made good money at the time but it’s worth double what I sold it for now. 😢
The hardtops were great. Very American. I'm fortunate to be the custodian of a VG Pacer hardtop, because no doubt it will outlast me. For a one year only car...it says much with the stripes etc.
That's a VERY comprehensive review Mark!! Many things i did not know. From what i know the Valiants of this era were all designed with a small South Australian team - incredible!! Just subscribed to your channel. Can't wait for the VG review.
I was still at school. In the holidays I worked at a factory in Adelaide that made car parts. I saw the drawings for the Sigma a year before it was released.
G'day Mark. Another awesome video! Beautiful looking cars. I've heard of the Chrysler VF Valiant, but not being from Austra'ya, I've never seen one before. 🙂
The Valiant VF was worlds ahead of the R series. But, at the time we yanks were gaga for the new Challenger/Cuda models. Now, that Ford AU's LTD was a head turner. I like the US Torino merged with Galaxie/LTD DNA in it's side profile. And the front facia is LTD Cougar cool. A very elegant mid size performance sedan. Really ahead of it's time. Nice history lesson, thanks.
Another small fact the air-conditioning thermostats were all sent out wrong. My master refrigeration mechanic had boxes of them and had his daughters and him re tuning / calibrating them while watching TV at night . Each daughter had a role with the final being a dob of paint on the differential screw. And a man from Chrysler was back in the morning to pick them up.
Well done ! My VF Regal 770 is a great car, had it for 38 years now. One note on sales volume's is I read or heard somewhere that the VF in run-out sales, actually outsold the Falcon XW for a few months late 69 or early 70
Thanks. Interesting. I have not heard that. It was not unusual at the time to get dealers to register demos for bonus money and then sell the cars at reduced prices to clear the old model. 👍
Hi Mark, like the Valiant VF Coupe / Hardtop and the ute. I have seen a green Valiant wagon can't remember the engine size but it was a 6 cylinder, at a classic car and bike show not to far from me, about 5-6 years ago it was a G reg ( G reg was from 1 August 1969 to 31 July 1970 ) the car belong to a nice elderly couple she was Welsh and he was an Australian he told me he ordered the car through the Routes group, Chrysler UK and picked it up from a Hillman / Sunbeem dealer in Wrexham ( my home town ) by then he had the car for 49/50 years from new, they also had a 1971 Hillman Hunter Estate / Wagon in a cream colour, both cars were very nice and in great condition for the age. As always a great video and would like to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2025, Take care
@@shaun30-3-mg9zs Thanks Shaun. Merry Christmas to you and the family too. That is a great story. It would have been great to get that guy’s number to say “if you ever decode to sell” etc. He probably received a few of those requests? 👍😀
Hi Mark, when we moved in finally to the house in Roseville, in November 1970 and was making the school bus ride to Mosman High, I used to see in the afternoon return trip in Falcon St Crows Nest a Yellow Pacer wagon each school day until I finished high 3 years later. I always thought that it was a mocked-up fake not realizing that Chrysler Aust' made a mere 20 examples, so you do learn something new each day !!!
My uncle was a Chrysler apprentice mechanic, he said the 2 special VF series was the VFX and the VIP 2 door 340 4 speed. The VFX was the first of the 265 prototype s to shake down the new engine. The VF VIP two door was a 340 v8 fourspeed car in black only. The books were printed an intended to use up last coupe bodies. It was faster than a phase 2 . But the argument with USA sent this variant to the Sims bin. Apparently 200 were ready. His final car was a VF VIP before his stroke
Thanks Mark for the great video. I remember these cars when they were new. I was only 8 years old at the time and thought they were one of the best looking cars around at that time
Thanks for another very informative video Mark. As I commented in your Chrysler by Chrysler video, back in the early 90's my cousin had a VF VIP (as well as a Chrysler by Chrysler) that was delegated to paddock basher duties. Even as a 14-year-old I was quite saddened to see the VIP being treated in such a manner as while the mechanicals were starting to get a bit tired & in need of a freshen up the body was straight, all but rust free and the interior was neat as and complete (and yes it had the factory Airtemp air conditioner). Nevertheless this was the early 90's & while the high performance Chargers were starting to get some collector creed, ordinary everyday Chrysler's were generally perceived as value-less (the company had just gone out of business a decade prior) & nobody considered a VIP as being collector material hence many were sent to the wreckers / demolition derbied or became paddock bashers without a second thought. I really wanted to buy that VIP as even thou I was just a 14-year-old at the time I could see it's potential, however my humble earnings as a paper boy and the logistics of transporting it 800 km's back to my hometown put that idea to rest. Like you I would love to have one now, or a Regal 770- those buffalo pattern seats are so cool. Merry X'mas and a happy 2025 to you & all your viewers, Cheers.
Little me wasn't a (VE, VF) Valiant fan, the shape just seemed 'wrong'. I knew what I liked, I was a car kid who looked at interesting cars walking home. .Ofc hindsight is 20\20. Thanks Mark, happy Christmas everyone from Canberra. _This dropped just as I was off to bed I don't sleep early lol._
@@UncleJoeLITE Very conservative and staid but it worked, they sold very well. it's classy lines had snob factor and was appealling to older more conservative buyers than its rivals.
Mark, I had a 1969 VF 318, 210 V8, marketed as a deluxe model. It had front disc brakes. No air conditioning. At a relatively low mileage, I had a rear main bearing fail that required the crank to be ground down and built up with hard chrome and ground back to standard size. I was told the hardening wasn't deep and was a bit of a problem. The hydraulic lifters did not like multi grade oil, so stuck with SAE30 as per the manual. Excellent series, thanks from NZ.
I bought a VF hardtop when I was 15 in high school. It was a 225 auto, brown with a cream roof. I paid $15 for it, it ran ok and we cruised around our neighbourhood after dark. None of us had even a learner's permit 😅😅😅
The 2 door hardtop was a good looking car. Can’t say I ever remember seeing one. Mind you I was 3 years old when it was produced. Love the brochure photo, it came with a shotgun on the front seat
My old man bought a brand new VF Pacer in white with black interior & 3 on the floor, he put a set of U.S Racer mags on it & it really looked shmick until 3 weeks later one morning he came outside to find it sitting up on bricks with the U.S Racers gone, but he said the scumbags were good enough to stick 4 stock steelies with 2 nuts per wheel bolted back on it, there was still honour amongst thieves back then, l also remember in the early 70's coming home from the easter show & the gearstick coming off in his hand
Hey Mark, how goes it? Nik Frame here. You may, or may not recall that I owned a red Valiant VF Pacer? In 5 years of ownership, this car never gave me one mechanical problem and could easily keep up and even pass my mate Kev's, 253 V8 Holden Van. The Pacer I had was ultra basic. No heater demister, no radio, or carpets. Three on the floor, high back seats (they advertised them as 'airplane seats') and loads of personality! I also owned at different times, a Valiant VF wagon and a VF VIP V8 (a 360 I think? might be wrong) that went like the clappers!
@@OzyNick G’day Nik. I hope you’re well. Merry Christmas. Yes, I remember that and also John had a hardtop too. Paul used to say that Pacer of yours was a terrific car. Nice to hear from you. 👍
Was always puzzled why Chrysler didnt fit the 340 into the VF. They're a very capable V8 and would have been interesting to see the HOEY and 340 go at it. Not putting down the 265 Hemi they were great as well. Anyway that's history. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Mark I also don't remember this car in any real detail. No doubt it was about. I always regarded Valiant's as not so common and a bit special. Most people I knew had Holden's or Ford's. My father had an FJ Holden that was not replaced until well into the 1960's with the most basic EH Holden sedan in light green. No radio or any extras at all like the later model that followed it in white. He always bought a manual because he could drive anything. My mother never seemed to worry about this, although she really liked my TC Cortina XLE I bought in 1973.
@@markbehr88 Yes and I recall the number plates no problem. Also those of cars I frequently drove in my work and occasionally was allowed to drive home.
@@markbehr88 Mark the last Holden Sedan we had at work in 1980 was a HJ I think in Lime Green, a basic model 6cyl but a really nice car to drive. It had the RTS like the VC Commodore I bought that year. Should have got one of those on reflection now.
Got 2 photos of VF7-S-45 -17 from a car show in about 2012 it looks like Navajo Beige from the photos. I’ll email em through later. From memory at the same show there may have been a vfx wagon. But will need to trawl through old photos.
Yep, #17 is Navajo Beige. The last one #20 was actually a VF-X, with a pre-release Hemi 6, and finished in Toledo red (Wild red VF Pacer, or Little Hood Riding Red in VG).
@@TAVOAu cool yeah, #17 looks light beige on photos but phone cameras werem’t as good then and the bonnet release cable kinda blocks the paint code but it starts with BALM10992. It also has brake option B41 and driveline option D91 stamped next to the right of body number.
Thank you Mark. This model looks like the Dodge Dart the was being sold in the United States during that time. You confirmed it by what you stated. The interior looks similar. The exterior did have differences. They were indeed catering to the Australian market. They sold that styling in Brazil too. There was a different VIP in the United States that was a Plymouth. The Dodge Phoenix in Australia was a Plymouth Fury in the United States. This was quite good especially hearing what Ford and Holden were producing and how they competed. Chrysler was struggling in Australia and the United States it seems. Who knew? This was a good and informative video. It is just interesting what Ford, GM, and Chrysler did with what they were given in the United States.
@@OLDS98 Thanks very much Olds98. Apart from the specific model history, I like to give some competitive context too. Have a Merry Christmas in Texas! 🎄👍
@@markbehr88 You are most welcome. It is nice when you share the dimensions as well. I wish you and your family a very happy holiday and seasons greetings in Australia!
I didn't know a Pacer wagon existed. Learn something new every day. Maybe it was a marketing exercise to to test the waters for a sporty wagon. Pity about the lack of a 4 speed box until years later thanks to local content rules and exchange rates. The 225 slant had plenty of torque to handle a 3 speed with overdrive.
@@markbehr88 Mark. When you're done working through all the Valiant models perhaps you could top it of with mention of SOA as over the years there was some unique Valiants like 360 5.9L fitted to VK sedans and wagons to get rid of the last of them due to upcoming emission standards they couldn't meet. Pacers that were auto. E38,E48,E49 peromance packages fitted other than in Pacer/Charger etc etc. There's some unique oddballs out there.
For a model that was in production under a year, I’ve seen a lot in my life. I have an enduring memory of seeing an Italian looking family, piled in a white one at nighttime with that blinker on the fender operating as both a blinker and park light with the light alternating bright and dim instead of flashing fully. On the transmission, these were first to get the Borg Warner 35 auto with the sixes, only the V8s and perhaps the highs performance six would have got a Torqueflite. I have heard the TF was an inefficient transmission and the BW 35 has a shorter ratio first gear. The VF was to be the only model to combine the slant six with that gearbox.
A small point on the VIP and Regal 770. The VIP was completely revised to compete on more levels with the Fairlane, having a more basic 6 cylinder, bench seat version, to compete with the Fairlane Custom, with buckets and centre seat/arm rest optional. The buckets and centre seat were standard with the V8, and console shift optional. That left a gap in the range from the VE VIP's departure, which was filled by the Regal 770, having everything the old VE VIP had as standard, except for power steering.
@@TAVOAu Yes that is correct. I mentioned the six but not the bench seats. The Fairlane Custom was never a big seller and I imagine six cylinder VIPs were only a fraction of the overall volume? 👍
@@markbehr88 The Hardtop I believe should have been marketed as a Dodge Dart with the standard version, Dodge Dart Swinger as the Pacer spec, and Dodge Dart 770 as the luxury version with a Dodge Dart VIP for the future Chrysler by Chrysler and Landau by Ford buyers. I think it would've worked. To call it a Valiant would've been like Ford grabbing a Comet Cyclone, putting an XW dash and front on it and calling it a Falcon Hardtop...No just no. I also think that could've made a Valiant Delivery Van out of the Safari. All the tooling was done. It would've been cheap to make. Low roof delivery van with standard trim.
I had a VF Pacer in dark blue in 81 brought in Newcastle with 14 x 7 spit fire alloys with T/A tyres Factory LSD 323 . I ran a modified exhaust and carb modes sat well and went great . You can adjust the valve lash a bit more and index your plugs. Still out ran many other V8 brand X . VF buckets were higher than the VG model Pacer . There seats were ahead of Ford and GMH for safety . It don’t take much to make a 318 a 351 killer very easy . My younger brother had a Regal 160 hp bored 60 thou shaved head extractors into twin 350 Holley with a try angle ram flow air cleaner tune to a inch of its life by my brother in law in Tamworth a ACE mechanic it at the time would eat my other brother 307 HK . I raced him in my VC V8 on a straight road out the back of Tamworth To 110 mph neck and neck and that 273 was not factory . We owned a gold VF Ute as well I also owned in the early 90 s a VF Regal in white with black trim with a lot of preformance mods 👌. Dad Boss brought a light yellow pacer in Newcastle Dad was the manager of Total fuel ⛽️ at the time . And the bloke over him had the pacer he only had it for a sort time and someone stole the caps of it . 🙃. Those 253 and 308 were no Mach to my younger brother Regal VF put many to shame been there and done that with slants . It was nothing in those days in our Valiants to sit on 80 mph or a quick run to 110 mph and they sit the fine . Always run the Same size tyres all round same shocks all round not jacked at the back sway bars front and back sass steering wheel get it to breath carb exhaust index you plugs decent size air cleaner as your engine is a air pump . Iv seen Tilleys at Gulgong doing 13 . 2 in slants down the quarter one cousin doing 14 . 1 with triple SUs slants have but many makes to shame and if you no what your doing they handle way better then all those HJ Hq HZ and those whale early Statmans be for I go my younger brother boss owned a 350 HQ Statman so after work out the back of Tamworth it was on with his VF Regal it ate the 350 at lest in distance 5 car lengths we go by the white post . So his son had a HQ 253 Ute extractors with a 350 they lined up after work yep the slant ate that Ute . Yes Scott got to still keep his job on the farm great people and great cars in those days 👌🇦🇺✌️Mopar to the Front .
The first VF Pacer wagon I saw was a yellow one in the early 90's if memory serves. It belonged to a friend (now deceased) in country Vic. That car was featured in at least one magazine article after it was sold, shipped to the NT, and redescovered later. I don't know where that car is now or whether it still exists. It was an SOA car. The back seat in them had not received Pacer style trim to match front buckets as it was not really an official model.
Well researched video. Hemi Pacer, Family Racer. Chrysler favoured the sedan for it's VF Pacer option for a couple of reasons: less weight and shorter wheelbase than the hardtop. It also displayed greater rigidity due to the B pillar. The VG Hardtop Pacer existed primarily in the 245 Hemi 185HP base option (there may have been a handful of E31's released?). Chrysler Australia may have been budget minded at the time but also wanted to source all of the major components from within Australia as you pointed out. The E38 Charger pushed the limits.
Wow! They started with 3 litre engine as lowest spec!! Also never heard of VF pacer wagon!! (Only very few would have been sold too!) Also really interesting to know about the bumper bars front and rear are same and other details like that! I really like the Hardtop as for me it is the "ultimate" car shape and would love to own one, however they are far too expensive now... Maybe a really bad convertible option and will use it as challenge to find a better convertible options Fortunately for me I have fond memories of my estranged uncle's NC LTD/Fairlane so will very happily settle for those!
No engine as small as a three litre in Australian Valiants. Standard was the 225 of 3.7 litres and minimum of 145 HP. Smallest was much bigger than any six from Holden or Ford until the later Ford 250 4.1 litre. When the next model VG went with a hemi six there was a new base 215 of 3.5 litres but not too many sold. Valiants were the high power cars for all of the sixties until the rarely sold 351 Fords came out in 1969.
@@johnd8892 Oh just doubled checked what my Kingswood with the 202 was actually 3 something littres! I always thought ti was 2.2 littres! It was 6 cylinder of course...
I can still remember the old black and white TV ad spiel for this Valiant quoting the front end...... ''and these must be the indicators''...stating the obvious! Cant help but wonder if a photo of the VF floated across the desk of the Chinese Zeekr.
I owned two 2-door vallies back in the 80s, the first one had round headlights, the VF grill, and a 225 slanty. The second had (factory) square headlights, the VF grill (curved outwards), and a 245 Hemi with 3-on-the-tree. Which model was the latter, a VG?
My VF coupe had a green block 318, bucket seats, centre console, torque flight, sports steering wheel and no power steering.The rear window was like a magnifying glass and it used to over heat the interior.I liked driving it but would've been better with power steer - a Chrsler invention I think.My big gripe was even with a capacious loading space I couldn't quite fit in my ten speed bike.A solid well built car from the 70 's.
The biggest memory of the coupe was for the worst reasons. In the late seventies and eighties lots got butchered into slapped together convertibles. Looked horrible with the top down and worse with backyard top up. If they had a top. If only the owners had kept them standard and looked after they would have quite a nest egg.
The engine bay was lengthened over the VE model due to the requirement to fit the Hemi six. I remember seeing a VF with a factory Hemi six for sale on Gumtree in W.A. It was listed as a Chrysler test mule for the Hemi. It was lying in a paddock looking very sad. Can't remember the price but it was expensive! Pity Chrysler never offered the 340 in this model. It would have been equal to the 350 or 351. There were even 383 and 440 Dodge Darts available as well as a limited 426 Hemi model available in the U.S.
Which Valiant model is your fave, mine is AP5 and AP6 and love the2 door hardtop, it’s a cool looking car. Just wanting an educated answer as I’m still learning, reading watching about Valiants. Thanks
@markbehr88 I ashamed of myself, watching this video has made me realize that the VF VIP has the small rear window and padded vinyl roof like the VG VIP has . Forever, Iv'e thought the VF VIP was like the VE VIP ,with the big rear window and non padded roof .
@@markbehr88what stood out for me with my VF 318 Regal 770 , was that the light rear end could actually be dangerous, sometimes , even with light application of the throttle it would suddenly lose traction and in an instant you'd be spun around and pointing in the opposite direction . It was worst for that on a wet road ,or gravel, but I also remember it happening on dry hot tarseal, going around a corner, and not at all with a heavy foot. It probably wasnt helped by me usually having a maximum of a quarter to half full fuel tank , but I also had a VG 245 Hemi sedan , and it never swung out at all ( unless I wanted it to) , I suppose the extra torque of the V8 was what did it.
My father had the VG 770 two doors 318 fireball V8. He brought it 2nd hand from a deceased estate only had 25,000 miles on it. The sill panels are Galvanised. And no way of straightening them as we found out when it got T boned.
Mark, the 225 slant sixes had a problem with Crankshafts or camshafts breaking. I suspect it was the crankshafts, the 225 having only 4 main bearings. My grandfather's one and only car, a vc, was immaculate, and my older cousin used to borrow it when in town. After dropping by to visit, when leaving he commented how the Valiant was like a Swiss watch, it stopped on the freeway going to the airport My dad's boss had a VE that had a similar engine failure
.Photo of Hi performance225 Utube has extractors they were after market ? the cast iron extractor manifold was well designed and good flow unlike same holden up to HZ standard was a shocker chocked engine EFI had extractor
I have had a lot of Valiants but the one I wanted the most was a VF Pacer sedan I had a VG Pacer coupe which was very nice but I just preferred the four doors. Had a chance to buy a VF pacer a few years ago in my favourite colour Isis yellow but alas when I went to view it, it had more rust than the Titanic and had been chopped and abused... Anyway my mates XA Fairmont keeps me occupied at the moment nice bloke just not much basic mechanical aptitude, but he tries.
Love the vf. Both versions holden and Chrysler. But not the hyandai vf i40. That's unusual for Chrysler to have financial issues. Didn't happen again I'm sure
Funny because the VE or the VG style do nothing for me yet the VF does give me a chubby. My favourites are still the AP5-6. But the VH charger is the most sexy looking car ever built!
A 4 barrel manifold and carby on a 318 and the result is amazing , I don't know why that wasn't standard, feeding a 5.2 V8 with a BBD 2 barrel is underwhelming .
Bought one in a two door in 1987 for $500 cut the rear guards fitted sand tyres welded up the diff and took it to Moreton island if we only knew then what they are worth now
A lot of the Chrysler management were revheads, the problem was US management and the bean counters stymies a lot what they wanted to do. I remember an old MD telling the worker's when the R series came out, back then the body was built at the tonsley plant and shipped to the old Finsbury plant to be assembled. The MD rolled up the the Finsbury plant with a new R series, through the keys to the workers and said let it rip. The workers declined for fear of loosing loosing there job if they broke it, so the MD jumped back in the car and lit the tyres up for full length of the assembly building. That's the kind of management Chrysler had in Australia, they'd make performance cars out of whatever they had available to them.
I tend to think the VF would have looked better with square head lights, a more attractive grill, an updated six, and a slightly more modern dashboard as well as tail lights that weren't vertical. Then it may have been more successful! 😉
These were the days when Australia built cars, real cars. What the hell went wrong. Britain has lost all their motor Industry too. The US are losing theirs as well. The bottom has dropped out of the industry of the West. Australia has bottomed out to China, and God help us if we have to suffer with their motor industry as well.
Thanks again Mark for the great insight into Valiant. Always loved the pacer mainly because of this song by mental as anything, Looking for a bird, sums up the Pacer beautifully. The poor man’s GT. music.ruclips.net/video/KF3MP50NNIg/видео.html&si=CFlRxYmzLzoJOVT6
Hereis the latest episode in the Chrysler Valiant Auto History Series - the VF. New Pacer, a Hardtop and a long wheelbase VIP were just some of the highlights. Plus, a very rare model you have probably never heard of! If you like these videos please be sure to hit the 👍Like👍 button and Subscribe. It really helps the channel. Thanks for watching. 👍
Fireball 318 standard on VIP ? a/c not was a rarity in those days
Where did the name wayfairer come from.
Were wheels 5.5 x14 inch rims across the range
did valiant have TV adverts ?
Was pacer designed for a budget performance car 6pot would keep it that way discs were an option ?
The hard top was one of the most beautiful cars ever built in Australia. Thanks for your very interesting videos, Mark.
@@grahamkahabka66 Agreed. Thanks very much. 👍
I bought a 770 hardtop with 318, factory air and power steering in 2015. One day I went back to where it was parked and it had a note under the wiper. Written on it was an offer I couldn't refuse.............and I have been kicking myself ever since.
Man, I feel for you on that one. Similar thing happened to me on a 1960 Cadillac Sedan DeVille I sold. Made good money at the time but it’s worth double what I sold it for now. 😢
The hardtops were great. Very American. I'm fortunate to be the custodian of a VG Pacer hardtop, because no doubt it will outlast me. For a one year only car...it says much with the stripes etc.
@ They were a great package for sure. 👍
Well that was lapse in judgement wasn’t it?…
That's a VERY comprehensive review Mark!! Many things i did not know. From what i know the Valiants of this era were all designed with a small South Australian team - incredible!! Just subscribed to your channel. Can't wait for the VG review.
@@TigerRogers0660 Thanks very much and thanks for the Subscription too 👍👍👍
@@markbehr88 IMO, the VF was the best looking of this body shape (VE, VF, VG).
@ It was certainly a nice looking car. 👍
The 340 V8 was and still is one of my favorite engines available in this platform. .
@@markcollins457 Yes. Great engine. 🏁👍👍
I was still at school. In the holidays I worked at a factory in Adelaide that made car parts. I saw the drawings for the Sigma a year before it was released.
That is cool. I really like the first GE Sigma. Check out an episode on my friend David’s SE wagon on the channel. 👍
G'day Mark. Another awesome video! Beautiful looking cars. I've heard of the Chrysler VF Valiant, but not being from Austra'ya, I've never seen one before. 🙂
Thanks very much. I liked how they used the same bumper front and rear and then used it almost 10 years later on the CL. 👍😀
The Valiant VF was worlds ahead of the R series. But, at the time we yanks were gaga for the new Challenger/Cuda models. Now, that Ford AU's LTD was a head turner. I like the US Torino merged with Galaxie/LTD DNA in it's side profile. And the front facia is LTD Cougar cool. A very elegant mid size performance sedan. Really ahead of it's time. Nice history lesson, thanks.
Thanks. Agree we made some cool cars. So did you guys! 😀👍
Another small fact the air-conditioning thermostats were all sent out wrong. My master refrigeration mechanic had boxes of them and had his daughters and him re tuning / calibrating them while watching TV at night . Each daughter had a role with the final being a dob of paint on the differential screw. And a man from Chrysler was back in the morning to pick them up.
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. 👍
Well done ! My VF Regal 770 is a great car, had it for 38 years now. One note on sales volume's is I read or heard somewhere that the VF in run-out sales, actually outsold the Falcon XW for a few months late 69 or early 70
Thanks. Interesting. I have not heard that. It was not unusual at the time to get dealers to register demos for bonus money and then sell the cars at reduced prices to clear the old model. 👍
Hi Mark, like the Valiant VF Coupe / Hardtop and the ute. I have seen a green Valiant wagon can't remember the engine size but it was a 6 cylinder, at a classic car and bike show not to far from me, about 5-6 years ago it was a G reg ( G reg was from 1 August 1969 to 31 July 1970 ) the car belong to a nice elderly couple she was Welsh and he was an Australian he told me he ordered the car through the Routes group, Chrysler UK and picked it up from a Hillman / Sunbeem dealer in Wrexham ( my home town ) by then he had the car for 49/50 years from new, they also had a 1971 Hillman Hunter Estate / Wagon in a cream colour, both cars were very nice and in great condition for the age.
As always a great video and would like to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2025, Take care
@@shaun30-3-mg9zs Thanks Shaun. Merry Christmas to you and the family too. That is a great story. It would have been great to get that guy’s number to say “if you ever decode to sell” etc. He probably received a few of those requests? 👍😀
Hi Mark, when we moved in finally to the house in Roseville, in November 1970 and was making the school bus ride to Mosman High, I used to see in the afternoon return trip in Falcon St Crows Nest a Yellow Pacer wagon each school day until I finished high 3 years later. I always thought that it was a mocked-up fake not realizing that Chrysler Aust' made a mere 20 examples, so you do learn something new each day !!!
Thanks Greg. Amazingly rare. 👍
My uncle was a Chrysler apprentice mechanic, he said the 2 special VF series was the VFX and the VIP 2 door 340 4 speed. The VFX was the first of the 265 prototype s to shake down the new engine. The VF VIP two door was a 340 v8 fourspeed car in black only. The books were printed an intended to use up last coupe bodies. It was faster than a phase 2 . But the argument with USA sent this variant to the Sims bin. Apparently 200 were ready. His final car was a VF VIP before his stroke
Wow. I never knew about that. Sounds like a fascinating bit of history.
Always liked those front indicators.Classy looking cars.
Yes, they looked good and it was quite a different idea. 👍
Thanks Mark for the great video. I remember these cars when they were new. I was only 8 years old at the time and thought they were one of the best looking cars around at that time
Thanks very much. Great days hey. 👍
Thanks for another very informative video Mark. As I commented in your Chrysler by Chrysler video, back in the early 90's my cousin had a VF VIP (as well as a Chrysler by Chrysler) that was delegated to paddock basher duties. Even as a 14-year-old I was quite saddened to see the VIP being treated in such a manner as while the mechanicals were starting to get a bit tired & in need of a freshen up the body was straight, all but rust free and the interior was neat as and complete (and yes it had the factory Airtemp air conditioner).
Nevertheless this was the early 90's & while the high performance Chargers were starting to get some collector creed, ordinary everyday Chrysler's were generally perceived as value-less (the company had just gone out of business a decade prior) & nobody considered a VIP as being collector material hence many were sent to the wreckers / demolition derbied or became paddock bashers without a second thought.
I really wanted to buy that VIP as even thou I was just a 14-year-old at the time I could see it's potential, however my humble earnings as a paper boy and the logistics of transporting it 800 km's back to my hometown put that idea to rest.
Like you I would love to have one now, or a Regal 770- those buffalo pattern seats are so cool.
Merry X'mas and a happy 2025 to you & all your viewers, Cheers.
Thanks very much. Merry Christmas to you too. Such a shame. We did wreck a lot of our classic Aussie cars. 😢
Another fantastic trip down memory lane Mark. The picture at 8:45 is of Prince Street Grafton where I now live!
@@mickbrenton Thanks. Wow. That is cool. I am sure the cars are very different now! 😀👍
@@markbehr88 I’m guessing it’s from the early ‘60s. Doesn’t appear to anything newer than a FB Holden and not a Falcon in sight!
@ I think you’re right. 👍
Little me wasn't a (VE, VF) Valiant fan, the shape just seemed 'wrong'. I knew what I liked, I was a car kid who looked at interesting cars walking home. .Ofc hindsight is 20\20. Thanks Mark, happy Christmas everyone from Canberra.
_This dropped just as I was off to bed I don't sleep early lol._
Merry Christmas and thanks for the comment. 😀
@@UncleJoeLITE Very conservative and staid but it worked, they sold very well.
it's classy lines had snob factor and was appealling to older more conservative buyers than its rivals.
Yes, they were nice cars. 👍
Handsome wagons. One of my favourites too.
And I love the name Safari. 👍
Mark, I had a 1969 VF 318, 210 V8, marketed as a deluxe model. It had front disc brakes. No air conditioning. At a relatively low mileage, I had a rear main bearing fail that required the crank to be ground down and built up with hard chrome and ground back to standard size. I was told the hardening wasn't deep and was a bit of a problem. The hydraulic lifters did not like multi grade oil, so stuck with SAE30 as per the manual.
Excellent series, thanks from NZ.
Thanks very much 👍👍
I bought a VF hardtop when I was 15 in high school. It was a 225 auto, brown with a cream roof.
I paid $15 for it, it ran ok and we cruised around our neighbourhood after dark. None of us had even a learner's permit 😅😅😅
Those were the days! 😀👍
@markbehr88 😄😄👍
The 2 door hardtop was a good looking car. Can’t say I ever remember seeing one. Mind you I was 3 years old when it was produced. Love the brochure photo, it came with a shotgun on the front seat
@@phil4977 Yes, great looking cars. I used to work with a lady who had a turquoise V8 one from new. She loved it. 👍
Mate had a hardtop in the late 70's a yellow one with a V8 ...was a bit rough when he bought it and just about dead when he got rid of it.
@ Throwaway then, big $ now. 🤔👍
@ The price of one of those now would be incredible. Not to mention a beautiful car in a collection
For sure. 👍
My old man bought a brand new VF Pacer in white with black interior & 3 on the floor, he put a set of U.S Racer mags on it & it really looked shmick until 3 weeks later one morning he came outside to find it sitting up on bricks with the U.S Racers gone, but he said the scumbags were good enough to stick 4 stock steelies with 2 nuts per wheel bolted back on it, there was still honour amongst thieves back then, l also remember in the early 70's coming home from the easter show & the gearstick coming off in his hand
@@mickblack3291 They obviously respected the car enough not to leave it on its hubs. 🤔
Mark, if not mistaken, there was an optional extended rear quarters on two door hardtop, possibly the 770 or VIP
@@josephlucca3826 Later, Mexicana models. 👍
Hey Mark, how goes it? Nik Frame here.
You may, or may not recall that I owned a red Valiant VF Pacer?
In 5 years of ownership, this car never gave me one mechanical problem and could easily keep up and even pass my mate Kev's, 253 V8 Holden Van.
The Pacer I had was ultra basic. No heater demister, no radio, or carpets.
Three on the floor, high back seats (they advertised them as 'airplane seats') and loads of personality!
I also owned at different times, a Valiant VF wagon and a VF VIP V8 (a 360 I think? might be wrong) that went like the clappers!
@@OzyNick G’day Nik. I hope you’re well. Merry Christmas. Yes, I remember that and also John had a hardtop too. Paul used to say that Pacer of yours was a terrific car. Nice to hear from you. 👍
Was always puzzled why Chrysler didnt fit the 340 into the VF. They're a very capable V8 and would have been interesting to see the HOEY and 340 go at it. Not putting down the 265 Hemi they were great as well. Anyway that's history. Thanks for sharing.
It would have been a great match up. 👍
Thanks Mark I also don't remember this car in any real detail. No doubt it was about. I always regarded Valiant's as not so common and a bit special. Most people I knew had Holden's or Ford's. My father had an FJ Holden that was not replaced until well into the 1960's with the most basic EH Holden sedan in light green. No radio or any extras at all like the later model that followed it in white. He always bought a manual because he could drive anything. My mother never seemed to worry about this, although she really liked my TC Cortina XLE I bought in 1973.
It’s funny how you remember the cars your parents had and the ones that your friends had! 👍
@@markbehr88 Yes and I recall the number plates no problem. Also those of cars I frequently drove in my work and occasionally was allowed to drive home.
@@arunta5 cool times. 👍
@@markbehr88 Mark the last Holden Sedan we had at work in 1980 was a HJ I think in Lime Green, a basic model 6cyl but a really nice car to drive. It had the RTS like the VC Commodore I bought that year. Should have got one of those on reflection now.
Ah. That would be a HZ if it had RTS. 👍
Got 2 photos of VF7-S-45 -17 from a car show in about 2012 it looks like Navajo Beige from the photos. I’ll email em through later. From memory at the same show there may have been a vfx wagon. But will need to trawl through old photos.
Thanks. That is very cool. I am sure I have never seen one? Must be one of our rarest ever cars made, along with the Force 7V. 🤔👍
Yep, #17 is Navajo Beige. The last one #20 was actually a VF-X, with a pre-release Hemi 6, and finished in Toledo red (Wild red VF Pacer, or Little Hood Riding Red in VG).
@@TAVOAu cool yeah, #17 looks light beige on photos but phone cameras werem’t as good then and the bonnet release cable kinda blocks the paint code but it starts with BALM10992. It also has brake option B41 and driveline option D91 stamped next to the right of body number.
@ Very cool. 👍
Thank you Mark. This model looks like the Dodge Dart the was being sold in the United States during that time. You confirmed it by what you stated. The interior looks similar. The exterior did have differences. They were indeed catering to the Australian market. They sold that styling in Brazil too. There was a different VIP in the United States that was a Plymouth. The Dodge Phoenix in Australia was a Plymouth Fury in the United States. This was quite good especially hearing what Ford and Holden were producing and how they competed. Chrysler was struggling in Australia and the United States it seems. Who knew? This was a good and informative video. It is just interesting what Ford, GM, and Chrysler did with what they were given in the United States.
@@OLDS98 Thanks very much Olds98. Apart from the specific model history, I like to give some competitive context too. Have a Merry Christmas in Texas! 🎄👍
@@markbehr88 You are most welcome. It is nice when you share the dimensions as well. I wish you and your family a very happy holiday and seasons greetings in Australia!
@ Thanks very much 👍👍
The VF Pacer is actually my favourite Valiant. I don't know why, but it simply is
There’s nothing wrong with that! 😀👍
I didn't know a Pacer wagon existed. Learn something new every day. Maybe it was a marketing exercise to to test the waters for a sporty wagon.
Pity about the lack of a 4 speed box until years later thanks to local content rules and exchange rates. The 225 slant had plenty of torque to handle a 3 speed with overdrive.
@@tedpalmer5552 Yes, very rare car. Agree a four speed would have been great. 👍
They were not officially marketed. They're an SOA model
@ Yes, aware they weren’t marketed. No doubt dealers received a bulletin on them. 👍
@@markbehr88 Mark. When you're done working through all the Valiant models perhaps you could top it of with mention of SOA as over the years there was some unique Valiants like 360 5.9L fitted to VK sedans and wagons to get rid of the last of them due to upcoming emission standards they couldn't meet. Pacers that were auto. E38,E48,E49 peromance packages fitted other than in Pacer/Charger etc etc. There's some unique oddballs out there.
@ I’ll try to include them where I can. A lot to cover. 👍🤔
For a model that was in production under a year, I’ve seen a lot in my life.
I have an enduring memory of seeing an Italian looking family, piled in a white one at nighttime with that blinker on the fender operating as both a blinker and park light with the light alternating bright and dim instead of flashing fully.
On the transmission, these were first to get the Borg Warner 35 auto with the sixes, only the V8s and perhaps the highs performance six would have got a Torqueflite.
I have heard the TF was an inefficient transmission and the BW 35 has a shorter ratio first gear.
The VF was to be the only model to combine the slant six with that gearbox.
@@jamesfrench7299 Nice memories. 👍
A small point on the VIP and Regal 770. The VIP was completely revised to compete on more levels with the Fairlane, having a more basic 6 cylinder, bench seat version, to compete with the Fairlane Custom, with buckets and centre seat/arm rest optional. The buckets and centre seat were standard with the V8, and console shift optional. That left a gap in the range from the VE VIP's departure, which was filled by the Regal 770, having everything the old VE VIP had as standard, except for power steering.
@@TAVOAu Yes that is correct. I mentioned the six but not the bench seats. The Fairlane Custom was never a big seller and I imagine six cylinder VIPs were only a fraction of the overall volume? 👍
Thats why my 770 has no power steering, i always wondered if it had been removed, or not fitted as new
I always thought these looked old fashioned compared to the Falcons of the time.
I think the Hardtop looked the most modern of them, along with the VIP. 👍
Nice looking model
@@markbehr88 The Hardtop I believe should have been marketed as a Dodge Dart with the standard version, Dodge Dart Swinger as the Pacer spec, and Dodge Dart 770 as the luxury version with a Dodge Dart VIP for the future Chrysler by Chrysler and Landau by Ford buyers. I think it would've worked.
To call it a Valiant would've been like Ford grabbing a Comet Cyclone, putting an XW dash and front on it and calling it a Falcon Hardtop...No just no.
I also think that could've made a Valiant Delivery Van out of the Safari. All the tooling was done. It would've been cheap to make. Low roof delivery van with standard trim.
I like the sedan delivery idea especially. That would have looked great. I reckon they should have used Dart GTS for the sports model as per the US. 👍
I had a VF Pacer in dark blue in 81 brought in Newcastle with 14 x 7 spit fire alloys with T/A tyres Factory LSD 323 . I ran a modified exhaust and carb modes sat well and went great . You can adjust the valve lash a bit more and index your plugs. Still out ran many other V8 brand X . VF buckets were higher than the VG model Pacer . There seats were ahead of Ford and GMH for safety . It don’t take much to make a 318 a 351 killer very easy . My younger brother had a Regal 160 hp bored 60 thou shaved head extractors into twin 350 Holley with a try angle ram flow air cleaner tune to a inch of its life by my brother in law in Tamworth a ACE mechanic it at the time would eat my other brother 307 HK . I raced him in my VC V8 on a straight road out the back of Tamworth To 110 mph neck and neck and that 273 was not factory . We owned a gold VF Ute as well I also owned in the early 90 s a VF Regal in white with black trim with a lot of preformance mods 👌. Dad Boss brought a light yellow pacer in Newcastle Dad was the manager of Total fuel ⛽️ at the time . And the bloke over him had the pacer he only had it for a sort time and someone stole the caps of it . 🙃. Those 253 and 308 were no Mach to my younger brother Regal VF put many to shame been there and done that with slants . It was nothing in those days in our Valiants to sit on 80 mph or a quick run to 110 mph and they sit the fine . Always run the Same size tyres all round same shocks all round not jacked at the back sway bars front and back sass steering wheel get it to breath carb exhaust index you plugs decent size air cleaner as your engine is a air pump . Iv seen Tilleys at Gulgong doing 13 . 2 in slants down the quarter one cousin doing 14 . 1 with triple SUs slants have but many makes to shame and if you no what your doing they handle way better then all those HJ Hq HZ and those whale early Statmans be for I go my younger brother boss owned a 350 HQ Statman so after work out the back of Tamworth it was on with his VF Regal it ate the 350 at lest in distance 5 car lengths we go by the white post . So his son had a HQ 253 Ute extractors with a 350 they lined up after work yep the slant ate that Ute . Yes Scott got to still keep his job on the farm great people and great cars in those days 👌🇦🇺✌️Mopar to the Front .
@@brianandglendaharkin9457 Great memories and cars. 👍
I'd REALLY like to know if the VF Regal 770 (sedan & hardtop) had the standard tacho - like the VG had!!
@@TigerRogers0660 I am pretty sure my friend David’s VG has but not sure about this model. Probably not as it wasn’t integrated into the dash. 👍
@@markbehr88 The Pacer & Regal 770 (VG) had a standard tacho. This dash was SO much better looking than the standard dash.
@ Yes. I was very impressed with David’s car. I have a video on the channel. 👍
VF Regal 770 had the standard instruments, the VG got a tacho in the Pacers and 770
@@fireballfireball1067 Thanks for confirming!!
The first VF Pacer wagon I saw was a yellow one in the early 90's if memory serves. It belonged to a friend (now deceased) in country Vic. That car was featured in at least one magazine article after it was sold, shipped to the NT, and redescovered later. I don't know where that car is now or whether it still exists. It was an SOA car. The back seat in them had not received Pacer style trim to match front buckets as it was not really an official model.
Quite an unusual colour for one of those? 🤔👍
Well researched video. Hemi Pacer, Family Racer. Chrysler favoured the sedan for it's VF Pacer option for a couple of reasons: less weight and shorter wheelbase than the hardtop. It also displayed greater rigidity due to the B pillar. The VG Hardtop Pacer existed primarily in the 245 Hemi 185HP base option (there may have been a handful of E31's released?). Chrysler Australia may have been budget minded at the time but also wanted to source all of the major components from within Australia as you pointed out. The E38 Charger pushed the limits.
@@arnbo88 Thanks very much. Glad you liked it. Be sure to check out the other episodes and VG coming up next in the Valiant series. 👍
Wow! They started with 3 litre engine as lowest spec!! Also never heard of VF pacer wagon!! (Only very few would have been sold too!) Also really interesting to know about the bumper bars front and rear are same and other details like that!
I really like the Hardtop as for me it is the "ultimate" car shape and would love to own one, however they are far too expensive now... Maybe a really bad convertible option and will use it as challenge to find a better convertible options
Fortunately for me I have fond memories of my estranged uncle's NC LTD/Fairlane so will very happily settle for those!
Thanks Ivano. Yes, the hardtops are very sought after now. 👍
No engine as small as a three litre in Australian Valiants. Standard was the 225 of 3.7 litres and minimum of 145 HP.
Smallest was much bigger than any six from Holden or Ford until the later Ford 250 4.1 litre.
When the next model VG went with a hemi six there was a new base 215 of 3.5 litres but not too many sold.
Valiants were the high power cars for all of the sixties until the rarely sold 351 Fords came out in 1969.
@@johnd8892 Oh just doubled checked what my Kingswood with the 202 was actually 3 something littres! I always thought ti was 2.2 littres! It was 6 cylinder of course...
Yes, 3.3 for the Kingswood. 👍
I can still remember the old black and white TV ad spiel for this Valiant quoting the front end......
''and these must be the indicators''...stating the obvious!
Cant help but wonder if a photo of the VF floated across the desk of the Chinese Zeekr.
@@Luke-PlanesTrainsDogsnCars I don’t remember that ad. I am sure I can find it somewhere? If I do I will add it to my Old Car TV Ad playlist. 👍
I owned two 2-door vallies back in the 80s, the first one had round headlights, the VF grill, and a 225 slanty. The second had (factory) square headlights, the VF grill (curved outwards), and a 245 Hemi with 3-on-the-tree. Which model was the latter, a VG?
Yes VG was the later one. Next episode. 👍
My VF coupe had a green block 318, bucket seats, centre console, torque flight, sports steering wheel and no power steering.The rear window was like a magnifying glass and it used to over heat the interior.I liked driving it but would've been better with power steer - a Chrsler invention I think.My big gripe was even with a capacious loading space I couldn't quite fit in my ten speed bike.A solid well built car from the 70 's.
@@kevinmckearney2643 Sounds like a nice car. I had a 302 XC Fairmont with Armstrong steering. Very heavy. 👍
Mark, look forward to the VG, another cousin had a stock 245, and I remember 45mph in first gear
@@josephlucca3826 Thanks very much. Cool 👍
Mark, I was reading that production in USA of the 225 slant six, ended in 2000, with it ending use in cars in 1983, and 87 in trucks
Yes, that sounds right. It was still a available in the base M body Chryslers like the Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Fury. 👍
Ha, ha. Very interesting that the CL Valiant borrowed the VF's front bumper. Must have been some very tight budgets at Chrysler Australia.
@@ssadelaidian3811 It worked though didn’t it. Nobody would have noticed. 🤔👍
@markbehr88 So true, as I didn't notice.
The biggest memory of the coupe was for the worst reasons.
In the late seventies and eighties lots got butchered into slapped together convertibles.
Looked horrible with the top down and worse with backyard top up. If they had a top.
If only the owners had kept them standard and looked after they would have quite a nest egg.
@@johnd8892 Yes, that destroyed the cars. I saw a Ford Landau like that too. 🫣
The engine bay was lengthened over the VE model due to the requirement to fit the Hemi six. I remember seeing a VF with a factory Hemi six for sale on Gumtree in W.A. It was listed as a Chrysler test mule for the Hemi. It was lying in a paddock looking very sad. Can't remember the price but it was expensive!
Pity Chrysler never offered the 340 in this model. It would have been equal to the 350 or 351. There were even 383 and 440 Dodge Darts available as well as a limited 426 Hemi model available in the U.S.
@@stephenvelden295 If only a 340 was made available it would have been great. 👍
The VF was a great model 👍🏻shame 🇦🇺 didn’t bring us the GTS Dart with the 340 or the 383 . 👌🇦🇺✌️.
Yes, that would have been a great competitor to Ford and Holden performance cars. Complete with bumble bee stripe on the rear. 👍
Gimme the 273 V8 - I like small block 8s, or the performance slant 6 will just fine.
@@istp1967 Sure. Great engine. 👍
I had a regal coupe with the 230hp 318 white with a black roof and interior.
@@stephenchigwidden7504 Very nice. 👍
@markbehr88 I was only 17yo when I bought that car I think I paid $2700
@ Those were the days! 🤔👍
Which Valiant model is your fave, mine is AP5 and AP6 and love the2 door hardtop, it’s a cool looking car.
Just wanting an educated answer as I’m still learning, reading watching about Valiants. Thanks
I’ll say Chrysler by Chrysler hardtop but if you mean true Valiant, I would say AP6 or VE. 👍
Or was the extended hardtop rear roof pillars on the next model?
@@josephlucca3826 The Mexicana. Yes later models. 👍
Cant say I really remember the 'Mexicana'...but it seems it was really only an option?
@ Yes. I have seen a few. Will dig into it more in the next Valiant episode. 👍
I had a VF Regal 318 . I think I may have mentioned that before.
Great car. 👍
@markbehr88 I ashamed of myself, watching this video has made me realize that the VF VIP has the small rear window and padded vinyl roof like the VG VIP has . Forever, Iv'e thought the VF VIP was like the VE VIP ,with the big rear window and non padded roof .
@@barrycuda3769 Well it’s good to learn new things. 😀👍
@@markbehr88what stood out for me with my VF 318 Regal 770 , was that the light rear end could actually be dangerous, sometimes , even with light application of the throttle it would suddenly lose traction and in an instant you'd be spun around and pointing in the opposite direction . It was worst for that on a wet road ,or gravel, but I also remember it happening on dry hot tarseal, going around a corner, and not at all with a heavy foot. It probably wasnt helped by me usually having a maximum of a quarter to half full fuel tank , but I also had a VG 245 Hemi sedan , and it never swung out at all ( unless I wanted it to) , I suppose the extra torque of the V8 was what did it.
@ Sounds lethal? 🤔
My father had the VG 770 two doors 318 fireball V8. He brought it 2nd hand from a deceased estate only had 25,000 miles on it.
The sill panels are Galvanised. And no way of straightening them as we found out when it got T boned.
@@peterm1826 Cool. I will cover the VG in the next Valiant episode. 👍
Mark, the 225 slant sixes had a problem with Crankshafts or camshafts breaking. I suspect it was the crankshafts, the 225 having only 4 main bearings.
My grandfather's one and only car, a vc, was immaculate, and my older cousin used to borrow it when in town. After dropping by to visit, when leaving he commented how the Valiant was like a Swiss watch, it stopped on the freeway going to the airport
My dad's boss had a VE that had a similar engine failure
@@josephlucca3826 Really, that’s kind of funny. 😀👍
The Valiant here in the US didn't have a wagon/estate model. I do know of a ute but it was do to a Sawzall and a fair amount of beer.
@@markcollins457 Ha. Yes. 😀👍
.Photo of Hi performance225 Utube has extractors they were after market ? the cast iron extractor manifold was well designed and good flow unlike same holden up to HZ standard was a shocker chocked engine EFI had extractor
The cast iron extractor manifold was indeed a good design. 👍
Don’t forget to mention those top of the guard front blinkers that couldn’t be be seen well in the daylight sun
Yes, probably true 🤔👍
I have had a lot of Valiants but the one I wanted the most was a VF Pacer sedan I had a VG Pacer coupe which was very nice but I just preferred the four doors. Had a chance to buy a VF pacer a few years ago in my favourite colour Isis yellow but alas when I went to view it, it had more rust than the Titanic and had been chopped and abused... Anyway my mates XA Fairmont keeps me occupied at the moment nice bloke just not much basic mechanical aptitude, but he tries.
@@Ballterra Shame that Pacer didn’t live up to expectations condition wise. 🤔👍
Always wanted Dodge ute at the time I reckon it had better styling over Ford n Holden utes.
@@JimmyShields-z2h They do look good. I like the Ford too though. 👍
Love the vf. Both versions holden and Chrysler. But not the hyandai vf i40.
That's unusual for Chrysler to have financial issues. Didn't happen again I'm sure
@@Low760 Yes. Financial challenges were a common reoccurrence. 🤔👍
Funny because the VE or the VG style do nothing for me yet the VF does give me a chubby. My favourites are still the AP5-6. But the VH charger is the most sexy looking car ever built!
VH episode coming soon! 👍
@@markbehr88 let me guess, straight after the VG? 😁😁😆😆
@ You goy it👍
The lack of a 4 speed manual ruled out a sporty v8 model.
@@rjbiker66 It would have been great. 🤔👍
A 4 barrel manifold and carby on a 318 and the result is amazing , I don't know why that wasn't standard, feeding a 5.2 V8 with a BBD 2 barrel is underwhelming .
Yes, that would have been a good performance upgrade ex Factory. 🤔👍
I never realised after all these years , they shelved the brochure idea to put the tacho on the bonnet
Yes, pretty interesting. 👍
Slant 6....
Where did the slap stick go...
I give up. Where? We never got it unfortunately. 🤔👍
@@markbehr88 🫡🫡🫡😇😇
Bought one in a two door in 1987 for $500 cut the rear guards fitted sand tyres welded up the diff and took it to Moreton island if we only knew then what they are worth now
Yes, what were we thinking! 🫣
A lot of the Chrysler management were revheads, the problem was US management and the bean counters stymies a lot what they wanted to do. I remember an old MD telling the worker's when the R series came out, back then the body was built at the tonsley plant and shipped to the old Finsbury plant to be assembled. The MD rolled up the the Finsbury plant with a new R series, through the keys to the workers and said let it rip. The workers declined for fear of loosing loosing there job if they broke it, so the MD jumped back in the car and lit the tyres up for full length of the assembly building. That's the kind of management Chrysler had in Australia, they'd make performance cars out of whatever they had available to them.
@@alwynemcintyre2184 Very interesting story. 👍
I tend to think the VF would have looked better with square head lights, a more attractive grill, an updated six, and a slightly more modern dashboard as well as tail lights that weren't vertical. Then it may have been more successful! 😉
Yes. I am sure there were many design ideas that were floated around. 🤔
I was describing the VG! 🤪👉
@@noelgibson5956 👍
Fella in my street had a coupe. Rare rig? Didn’t see many even as a kid?
@@StevenMilne-sm4fk They were always impressive 👍
These were the days when Australia built cars, real cars. What the hell went wrong. Britain has lost all their motor Industry too. The US are losing theirs as well. The bottom has dropped out of the industry of the West.
Australia has bottomed out to China, and God help us if we have to suffer with their motor industry as well.
Yes, there aren’t any collector interest cars from there, that is for sure. 🫣
@@markbehr88 Yet!
The best thing legacy car makers have over the Chinese are iconic shapes...like the new Renault 5.
@ Agreed. I haven’t seen that Renault yet. I liked the original. 👍
@@Luke-PlanesTrainsDogsnCars If you're going to start talking beautiful shapes, nothing beats the E type. That was world class beauty.
@@toni4729 That's true of course....but there isn't likely to be a 21st century E-type, the days of accessible luxury in a Jag have gone forever.
Thanks again Mark for the great insight into Valiant. Always loved the pacer mainly because of this song by mental as anything, Looking for a bird, sums up the Pacer beautifully. The poor man’s GT. music.ruclips.net/video/KF3MP50NNIg/видео.html&si=CFlRxYmzLzoJOVT6
@@paulchasteauneuf2098 Thanks very much. I’ll have a listen. 👍
My other cousin took possession of grand-dads VC, and destroyed it. My grandfather would be turning in his grave
@@josephlucca3826 What a shame. 😢
👀👏👏👏👏🙏👍🦘
👍😎