Here is Part 1 in my Chrysler Valiant History Series. In this episode we cover the R Series Valiant. A sell out success that redefined the family car segment in Australia. Please check out the Falcon History Series, Commodore History Series and Fairlane History series on the channel. Just view Playlists and you can watch them all. Please 👍Like👍 and Subscribe. Thanks for watching. 👍
As a small child I was infatuated with this vehicle in Australia. I always looked at the spare tyre boot feature. There weren’t many around so when I saw one one the road or parked this car would always get my attention.
@@markbehr88 The other car that I was infatuated with was the rear tail light of a cortina (it was like the Mercedes symbol) because it reminded me of the Arnotts short bread biscuit with the white filling.
@@koulouri-o8161 I can see that. It’s funny how kids think. When I was a kid, the Mini was my favourite car. Reason - I had a cream Dinky racing one (still have it) and I was the same height as the car. My tastes have changed since then but ai still love the toy one. 😀👍
@@markbehr88 The other thing that I was infatuated with was the metallic coca-cola red centre with the triangular lion of my uncles fc Holden special steering wheel. I remember peering and hanging of off the bench seat just to watch him turn the steering wheel. Oh, and I remember the anxiety of the 4 start lights that my dad’s HR station wagon would give every time he turned on the car to drive. There was a light for oil, temp and some other things and the last light was the “your f’kd” light.
@@koulouri-o8161 Ah yes, and I remember those cool Holden hubcaps with the red centre around the Lion. When I was Product Planning Manager for Holden I wanted to re-introduce those for the VT 50th Anniversary models I was working on. 👍
An R Series was displayed in the Young's Department Store windows in Queanbeyan upon release. It caused great stir & commotion where many would gawk at it on the way to the ol Vic Hotel.... "Space Ship sighted in Town" said the local rag!.
I remember these Valiants ... there was an aqua one owned by the father of a close friend at the time ... we are talking early 60s. Always thought they were so coooool....complete with spare wheel on the boot lid...and they are so much bigger than they look...
Thanks! Had an R series myself so brings back a lot of great memories! I had a manual with the floor shifter of course. Clutch pedals didn’t last long (snapped at a weld) probably because of the need to convert to right hand drive. Chrysler dealer locally never charged me for them. Unfortunately back then it started to get some rust and at that time in life (my early twenties) I didn’t have the money to get it fixed. Really regret that now. Thanks again!
Thanks heaps for the info. I had often wondered over the years why the “R “ was so rare. 3 months of availalability will do that. I had no idea. Thanks again.
I learnt to reverse park in a Chrysler Regal - basically a living room on wheels. Huge car. If you can get that thing into a limited space you can do anything. After that the Datsun was easy.
This car made Holden and Ford go back to the drawing board, it was such a modern vehicle when released compared to the other two. Chrysler finally had a car that could go head to head with the competition, only problem was they couldn’t keep up with demand!
Fantastic and extremely informative. I was in high school when the first Valiants were put together in Adelaide. All of a sudden there was a car that turned the Holden vs Falcon battle on its head. I lived near the Dodge truck factory and quite often saw this shape and future designs on the semi trailers taking cars and trucks to other states. Look forward to more episodes, with a larger coverage of the Charger . Grant Taylor Malmsbury Victoria
@@granttaylor2635 Thanks Grant. Glad you liked it. More Valiant and Charger episodes coming plus check out the Japanese Chrysler ep too if you haven’t already. 👍
The Valiant was miles ahead of the Falcon or even the Chevy II Nova. No comparison. The grill on the '62 Ausie "R" car is from a '60 or '61 US model btw. Was brought home from the hospital when I was born in one. My 1st car ride! 👶 Great video! Here in the US of A, these cars were 1st built in 1960. But there was no "R" or "S" Series nomenclature.
Awesome to see , I've owned many Valiants from VG to VH, VJ, CL, rangers to 770's, Chargers, Pacers, & my favorite a VJ hardtop coupe, Go Mopar 💪 ... Popcorn ready for this series aye .. And the Hemi 265 is a Legend 👌👍👍
Yes, very enjoyable. As a little kid, I judged cars by how they looked to me & what the interior looked like. I used to walk out of my way to look at/into one of these. I'd say it goes to show how 60s retro-futuristic design could've been done [Cadillac etc]. Thanks Mark.
Thanks Mark, a great video. My father said that it completely blew Holden into the weeds when it came out. The problem was the wait for stock and the price gouging by dealers, making it relatively pricey. Exner’s styling cost Chrysler a lot of market share in the US in the early 60s with hasty redesigns not really working for them.
@@anthonywalsh2164 Thanks very much. Yes, by the early 1960’s Virgil Exner had run out of ideas and Elwood Engel (who had worked for George Walker in a Design Consultancy business and later with Ford) headed up Chrysler styling and their cars became more aligned (style wise) to the market. 👍
Short production run because they rapidly made and sold the thousand or so CKD R series kits that Canada had sent to us. By the time we wanted more they were no longer making the R series so we got the new model S series with a similar story until the Australian Production AP5 Valiant got into production here.
@@peterm1826 I have the sales brochure and no mention of VIP and having worked for Mitsubishi for 5 years, which used the old Chrysler codes as a basis for their Distribution it would not VIP but would have a code, so please tell me what that is. 👍
Also, if you look it up you won’t find VIP was a VC model. In fact, even the V8 special model was not called a Regal but Valiant V8. I will do a dedicated episode on it. I would suggest that someone put those VIP badges on the car’s C pillar as it should just have V8. 👍
Another good video Mark ! I never drove an R series , I always thought they where a cool car though, a friend of the family had one and took me for a ride in it , I totally agree they where a mile ahead of what Holden , and what Ford where offering in the falcons of the day. I think those r series where like such a big step forward , almost like an XD falcon was to the earlier x models. The thing about the old cars that really appealed to me , was they where all about function , space , comfort , perhaps the fins not so much 😂, but they where easy to maintain , and just did the job well , I think the old Valiants may have had better upholstery too iirc. Looking at the roof section on the R , I can see a bit of Studebaker in the design I think , I had a mate with 5 or 6 stude’s back in the day …. It occurs to me … jeez I am an old bugger😂😂. I know I’m a broken record, but I wish younger people could drive some of these oldies to see just how bloody good they were. Look forward to your next one Mark .
Thank you for this superb presentation. The wealth of information was greatly appreciated by this Chrysler fanatic. I will be eagerly anticipating the next instalment.
Very good summary, I remember my neighbour down the road bought a new S series Valiant when I was only a kid and my older brother loved it, and I can remember thinking how similar it was to the Studebaker Lark of the time especially around the grille area, just a small correction for accuracy the auto transmissions available at the time Ford was the only one that had a two speed Fordamatic automatic where the Holden at that time had the (Horrible) three speed Hydramatic in the EK up to when the HD had the Powerglide two speed from 1965 👍
This car provided the underpinnings for Chrysler's "bread and butter" offerings all the way from 1960 to 1976. Valiant, Dart, Duster, Demon, Barracuda all were based on this platform. In some years, they accounted for nearly 80% of Chrysler's sales.
I nearly bought one from a yard opposite the entrance the Richmond (near Melbourne) railway station when i was 17 in about 1977 and it had a 225ci replacement engine with the original smaller 170ci engine on a pellet next to it that was being sold with it. I should have bought it. Dad encouraged me to. Anyway I'm now confused because I believed all RV1s had a 170ci slant six. Thanks for another great episode Mark.
@@jeffreywhitehead9386 All the R Series had the 225 engine 8n Australia. The US and Canadian ones offered the smaller engine. It is not impossible that it may have been a private import or an engineering car? 👍
I remember when these Valiant's came to Australia around 1962. I think they had the Torque Flight auto transmission.. But these memories are 60+ years old.
Great video! I'm reliving my childhood all the neighbors that owned these! Me and my Dad, a mechanic, would fix them in the drive on Saturday! 10:35 it was a three speed as opposed to many automatic transmissions at the time including uh the Holden and the Ford which only offered a two-speed No Holden had the 3 speed hydramatic in the EK EJ EH (it was crap!) then in HD+ 2 speed power glide
Same story here.Owned VC,VG,VH,VKnand chargers.Nearly bought a S series as my first car but I couldn’t come up with $.Bought a 62 Pontiac 4dr h/t instead.Paid $275 in 1979 with 1 week reg.There is an immaculate blue R series sitting in a shed a few paddocks up the road from me.Definitely not for sale.
@@markbehr88 thx.My third car was a 1959 Pontiac Laurentian ($250 from the Hobart Police yard as an abandoned vehicle last reg VIC 1972) which apparently is still around but in sad condition ‘somewhere?’ and rumoured to be the first one assembled in Oz.Also had a 59 Plymouth Belvedere 4dr h/t and spare car minus m/g local assembly,rusted away in early eighties.Keeping up the vintage flag present day with a Toyota Avensis🤣.I will win powerball and find a R or S Valiant.Look forward to future vids.
@@alanthorne3921 Thanks. The 59 Pontiac is a good looking car. I remember my little brother’s friend had one and it was very unusual in that it was a sedan with a power bench seat. 👍
@@Seiskid Yes, I remember them from the neighbour’s car. He was an American and I thought it was an American car (it was really style wise). I thought it looked “out there” even as a 5 year old. 👍
G'day to you! A Mate's older Brother had the Auto Version, they had a good Laugh at me when they asked me to point out the Gears, not knowing it was Push Button, still a amazing looking Vehicle! Perth West Aust!
I meant to say I was selling XK's when they were released, then went on to the XL and XM (certified golden quality) was the Ford slogan for this model, I would have driven the Valiant later on as I sold Fords for many years!
There was an earlier model Valiant introduced to the Australian public in late 1960: 22 automatics, and, 6 manuals. This was, I am told, the Q series. Overall, it looked like an R series, but, there were subtle differences. My father bought one of these (a manual) between Christmas and New Year’s Day in 1960. He took delivery of it on January 31, 1961. It had been the Chrysler show car for Queensland, and he had to wait for it to finish coming up the Queensland coast. It was in Rockhampton (I think) when he bought it, and it had to get to Cairns before we could take delivery of it from Williams and Williams in Innisfail. Locals referred to it as the green frog! The chromed gearstick came up from the passenger-side floor, crossed over the tunnel, went forward and upward, and then, curled over the seat, close to the driver. It had a white gear knob. There were separate green triangles on the dash for blinker indicator lights. The high-beam light was between them. I was ten, at the time, and was already a keen motoring enthusiast who, already, had five years of unsupervised driving under his belt.
@@calbrinsmead8894 A few people have mentioned this. I assume they are the earlier US cars that may have been prototypes here but I am not sure as I have never heard of it before? 🤔👍
When I was younger my old boss at Holden k burchfield of Deniliquin had one of those green sv1 s in his collection hidden down the Deni showgrounds I did a bit of worton it over the years was such a shame to see his collection of Holden's Ford's and valiants sold up around 2010 such a great collection of cars 😢 if you do a video on Pacers mark I still have one in my garage
@@mrozboss Small world. One of my good mates who I worked at Holden with for about 9 years is Richard Burchfield - his son. I will definitely do the Pacers once I get to those models in the series. 👍
My first car was a '67 VC slant 6, 3 on the tree, cornered like the QE2. The smoothest engine ever. NZ assembled? White with a black roof, aluminium visor, comfortably seated 8 people.
Thank you Mark. Good information on how they adpated the Chrysler product to Australia. I liked the fact you gave information about how it was sold, the dimensions and how it fared in the market. It was the Plymouth Valiant in the United States.You shared the many body styles, What was interesting is how the Australian market was behind,but caught up and things changed over time. Holden and Ford had to change their game after this car.
Oh God, I had one, just an old banger, Don't even know what model it was. It Had push button gears. I loved it, but when I was posted to The UK, I sold it
I remember in the late seventies having just got my license and started out on the used car lots. I saw one of these, it was white with a blue interior so I walked up to have a look. Now back then used car salesmen could smell their prey and were all over you as soon as you were spotted. He said something about it being one owner and it was traded at their new car division on a new Sigma. He let me look it over, buttons for gear selection and an leaning engine sent off alarm bells. I simply didn't understand it and bought a Holden. If I knew then what I know now I would have bought it.
@@area51isreal71 Yes, sounds like it would have been a good car. I had a mate years ago who had a turquoise R Series. This was in the early 1980’s and even then it was a novelty. Also, when I was very young in the late 1960’s, a neighbour had a white R series. I thought it was very “American” especially with that spare wheel on the boot lid and the tail lights in the fins. 👍😀
@@markbehr88a desired car as time moved on. I remember, in 1986, one being restored in the workshop of one of the largest Toyota dealers in Melbourne. The comment from the mechanics that it was the pet project of the big boss Ken.
@@markbehr88 I grew up with an AP5 sitting disused in our driveway since I was a bub before it finally got towed away to a wrecker about 1982. I never got to see it run even though there's a pic of me as a baby in it when it was still on the road. Years later I got a lift in one and was amazed how modern and quiet it sounded. I expected another old Holden Special or early Falcon crude sound but no, this was like a late 70s early 80s Falcon in THAT body!!
Was "Slant Six" ever the official name for the motor, especially in early Valiant production? I believe it was officially known from the outset as the 'G engine'
I think it was known as the Slant Six officially as even in the original brochure they say the engine puts a new “slant” on power and economy. It would have been used by Chrysler in sales materials for dealers etc plus picked up by the media at the launch. 👍
G'day Mark. Another awesome story. I've heard of the Chrysler Valiant. The debut version looked just like our Plymouth Valiant here in the USA, save for the driving position being on the starboard side of the car. 🙂
Thanks. Yes, it was basically a right hand drive version from parts out of Canada, so very similar to the US model. Just a mix and match of different models plus the bigger engine and right hand drive. 👍
@@markbehr88 I remember the first time I saw an early 1960 Plymouth Valiant. Overall, I found the car quite attractive. My least favourite was the front end. I don't know why, but I thought it looked awful!
@@markbehr88 I thought the front end of the 1960 Valiant resembled a 1962 Studebaker Lark. I used to know someone who had either a 1959 or a 1960 Lark VIII, which are my favourite years for the car.
Hi Mark, I did not know that Valiant R was in kit form shipped in from Canada and assembled in Australia. Is there many of these cars left on Australian roads and were they sold in New Zealand. I like the rear fin design and what is unusual is a flat styles fins above the head lights, a nice looking classic car. As always a great video catch you soon, take care
Thanks Shaun. I am not sure how many survive. Maybe 300 max I would think? Apparently they did not go to NZ as it was a test for Australia to see if they would be popular. They were, so they produced the S series soon after, which I’ll cover in the next Valiant episode. 👍
I would say 1008 in total also explains why even when I was a kid they were so scarce I have one of my primary school teachers had on I think this was 1969 or 1970 and it was purple and quite sad looking From what I remember 👍👍
One Q series in Australia for evaluation then sold as second hand. New owner wrapped it round a tree. Someone in the comments recalls a RHD Q station wagon which I had never heard of or any local early non four door cars.
I seem to remember the Valiant came in limited colours, mainly in that rather boring shade of green they all seemed to have....like the locally assembled Chevrolet Biscayne. However the car looked good in that creamy white. Always a Plymouth in the US.
Well, the 1960 QX1 was not a Plymouth but a standalone brand. For the 1961 model year, it was folded into the Plymouth family to boost their poor full-size sales numbers. That is why the released the 1961 Dodge Lancer (Valiant near clone). Dodge dealers could not sell the Plymouth brand. Valiant could be sold by all dealers in 1960
The story as I was told it was that Chrysler was assembling some truck products in Australia. A ship arrived and unloaded some containers marked SA. These were intended for South Africa. When the Aussies contacted the Americans they were advised to assemble them and sell them hey pronto. They were so popular that the next "S" series was sent to OZ. This explains the very low numbers of 'R' series offered in this country.
Only remember that on the Ford Falcon XL, XM and rarely XP station wagons in Australia. Descreasing take up of the faux wood option with each model. It would be interesting to know the take up stats.
Very interesting Mark . They had a distinct Studebaker looking front didn't they? The photo of the all silver engine made me wonder if there was a possibility of some of them having the aluminium block ? I know that some of the Dodge Lancers in America at that time used that block . But probably not, just silver paint?. Seeing those photos of the 1960's race cars makes me think it would be good to know more about those cars and their drivers , such as that red '63 Galaxie , as well as many others . Is that something you would consider covering on your channel?
@@barrycuda3769 Yes, used to be edited by my mate Mark Oastler. He still writes for it every now and again and has done some stories on some cars I worked on too. 👍
Funny how this first Valiant model has a similar face to the last. I wonder if the CL/CM was a homage to the model that started it all or the front clip of the HQ Premier was it's inspiration? I hope you can enlighten us who came up with that departure from the VJ/VK front clip. How ironic such a radically futuristic R/S series became dated to quick. I think they now look more modern than the next body that followed.
@@jamesfrench7299 Interesting. I have never thought of it like that? I can cover off some of the styling as we get into the 1970’s models. The CM grille was pretty heavily influenced by the mid to late 1970’s US models. The VK influence was from early Plymouth models from the 1970’s. I’ll cover that in their episodes down the track. 👍
@@markbehr88 Oldsmobile's Delta 88 from 1973 made famous by Sam Raimi inserting one into films like Evil Dead, looked strikingly like the CM Valiant when I first saw it in Evil Dead 2.
@@markbehr88the cream 73 Olds was in Evil Dead from 1981 as well as Evil Dead 2 Dead By Dawn 1987 and in badly damaged form (from when it fell from a great height in ED 2) in Army Of Darkness from the 1990s.
@@jamesfrench7299 Yes, I remember when he had the Oldsmobile (towed by horses?) and he met the medieval people who were amazed at his technology. Great movie.
The Valiant was initially going to be called the Falcon but Ford had already registered the Falcon name so it became the Valiant. There were also Aluminium versions of the slant six made in the USA. Both blocks and heads were made of Aluminium and were sold in some US Valiants. A friend of mine also had a Q Series Valiant Suburban station wagon here in Perth back in the 80's. He was unsure of it's origins but said it seemed to have been made in RHD as he could find no evidence of being converted from LHD.
@@stephenvelden295 Yes, and the aluminum slant six was about 70 pounds lighter. But, as far as I know it was just the block that was aluminium and they had a specially cast , cast iron head.
The aluminium hyper pac version demolished the new NASCAR series for compact cars as the Valiants dominated the series. All limited to 170 cui for the series but the 170 hyper pac blew them away and the series was cancelled.
@@keno88 No, rotating them. Next episode will be ZB Fairlane, then VC Commodore, then S Series Valiant and so on through the respective model ranges. 👍
That way there is something for everyone, but I always try to include relevant competitive models so, for example when I do ZB Fairlane, there will be a reference to Valiant VIP and Brougham. 👍
My guess that Chrysler Australia bypassed the US 170 slant six to get a clear performance advantage over the local opposition as well as standardizing on one engine for simplicity. Seems in the US the 170 was the most common engine fitted. Unusual for Australia to go for the largest motor available then compared to the full size US models assembled here just getting the smallest V8s in the range available.
Yes, and they wanted to position their cars as a step up, which was also reflected in the fact they were priced above the equivalent Holden and Ford. 👍
I find it peculiar too. The 170 would outperform the 138 and 144 easily, and Ford had just started fitting their 170. I'd have thought going with the 170, at an even lower price, and having the 225 ready as an option, at the price the car was released at. That would have covered more bases, and still stamped their mark as the superior car.
About what year(s),time, make(s), model(s) during the 1960s,did Chrysler Australia,begin to incorporate their version of the " hummingbird" starter, that Chrysler North America had commenced with for their 1962 models. I believe this may have been in both,cars & trucks. Thank you
@@PaulBartlett-jz4bg I’ I’ll have to look into that. I know they were in the 1971 VH series, however, I don’t recall them being on the earlier models but that is just going off my personal recollections. I am sure there will be a Mopar Subscriber who will know. 👍
Is that the gear reduction starter ? Iv'e got a VH and it's got that type of starter , so, with the 1970 VG being the first Valiant with the Hemi , it probably had that type as well ? , I had a couple of VG's but cant remember. Maybe 1970 was the first year?
According to the federal HESCHLAVVO law, it is already forbidden in Switzerland to drive combustion engines on mountain passes from 2025. In France, the SCHLABOUBVE regulates that fossil vehicles that produce fine dust are prohibited in all cities from 2025. The BABVVO in Germany will bann exhaust gas pollution from 2027 and that is what will happen in entire EU also bann of all tires and brakes because of fine dust!!!!!!
@@Schlipperschlopper That means electric cars are forbidden too as they also produce fine dust from their brakes. Meanwhile, back to the topic. R Series Valiants. 😀👍
We had so much automotive industry in Australia.......all now gone. A travesty! And with millions with more people in our growing population when compared back then.
@@markbehr88 he had the only one in mt isa probably y it didn’t rust a way think he is down south now seen him on a RUclips clip but can’t remember. He changed absolutely nothing on the car stock as and original including the blinds on the back 😂
First car was an auto AP5 Regal. Good, honest car and would have another if I got the chance. Have had VG sedan, CJ and Cm wagons. All of them were great except for the auto box - piles of shit - I was told the base auto box started out behind a 1.5l Escort. If this is right, no wonder the auto shat themselves. Definitely better than the rubbish Chrysler sells these days.
@@markbehr88 Apparently they were changed with the AP6 onwards. I gather that the slant six motor didn't create any great problems but the torque of the 4l was another. My CJ was doing funny things and took it to auto trannie repairer. He told me the story after relieving of a lot of my hard earned cash. The CM did the same thing. Didn't have the VG long enough to have that problem. Auto trannie repaired also told me that the 4.3l had a better transmission behind it. Never had enough cash to do a change over. They were labelled Torqueflite that's all. Typical tight arsed car makers.
The torque flite had a Simpson gear train which is a stong Box the 225 engine is a good engine strong four some reson they' in used The Borg Warner 35 gear box
The CKD kits were NOT sourced from Windsor Canada. A huge misconception. Chrysler's CKD kits were sourced from the Wyoming Avenue plant in Detroit Michigan USA. This was the old DeSoto plant. Canada only exported complete cars (no CKD packs) to RHD markets, but Australia needed government mandated 85% local content to avoid tariffs and full imports would not deliver that.
@@markbehr88 Hi Mark, You were pretty spot on in everything you presented. No, they came direct from USA. I have two of them - and one S - (going back to 1983) and am President of the R & S Series Valiant Car Club. I know them intimately. They were released to the public on Jan 18, 1962, and the S Series was released to the public on Feb 28, 1962. Chrysler Australia already had the S in the pipeline well before the R hit the market.
@@Colinkenny-levick Fair enough. I’ll defer to you. The references I had said Canada and due to a lot of the Big 3 sourcing US cars and parts via their Canadian operations. 👍
Yep for sure. After learning do drive in a XT Falcon 500, 3 on the tree years ago, the ol drum brakes were a challenge in damp weather I can assure you. Over all though, would've love to have that car in my shed. So many memories.
Too bad Chrysler can't still make that slant 6. More reliable than anything they're offering now. Can't say I like anything about the styling . Unique though. I never really like anything exner produced.
@@joellamoureux7914 I reckon his 1960 Chrysler 300 was pretty amazing. If you look on my channel I also have a 1960 Chrysler Windsor and a 1960 Plymouth Fury sedan (and a 1960 Imperial). Over the top for sure but the 1960 model Chrysler 300 and Windsor models were great looking cars imo. 👍
225ci much more powerful than holden EK 138 ci & when coupled with auto trans gave pitiful performance this valiant remained the staple platform until the last CM with only cosmetic changes the hemi engine being the saving grace to keep it popular VF advertised as body having exceptional strength as all valiants
Fishshop Falcons are homely. It has taken me 60 years to appreciate?? them. Not a great car ever. Slim screen pillars. Modern cars have then now that you lose cars hiding behind them!! The FB EK Holden was brilliant to see out of,, just you bashed your knees getting in the bloody things!! Val fuel tank was slung under the back. A bit vulnerable in reality. Falcon was part of the boot fllor as was the Holden Holden Hydramatic was in effect 4 speed. Falcon was a very basic 2 speed. Torquflite eons ahead. That pic of Clems R with the tyres alight was in his office. His son still owns an R series that was theirs from new That pic of the couple behind the green car among the trees was edited for S Series as well. Possibly across South road from the Tonsley office building. As for CKD all Q R and S were as was early AP5s. My father built pig sheds, chooksheds, homeimprovements etc from those crates and ply. They were quite good Canadian timber. We also got empty 4 gallon paintbuckets that were used for decades as grape picking buckets
Just so you know because I am sick of damn people pronouncing it wrong. It is NOT CHRYS/LER It is pronounced as follows CHRY/SLER sounds like CRY SLUR. There are videos of the man himself Walter P. Chrysler discussing the new Chrysler Corporation. And that is how he pronounces his name. Please spread the word because it gets dammed old to us.
Here is Part 1 in my Chrysler Valiant History Series. In this episode we cover the R Series Valiant. A sell out success that redefined the family car segment in Australia. Please check out the Falcon History Series, Commodore History Series and Fairlane History series on the channel. Just view Playlists and you can watch them all. Please 👍Like👍 and Subscribe. Thanks for watching. 👍
Surviours would fetch a hansome price im sure so few produced
@@Eric-kn4yn Definitely. 👍
What a beautiful car, I think it was Sir Thomas Playford premier of South Australia that got Chrysler into Australia
👍
Still love these, amazing cars for their day and still look great. Way ahead of the Fords and Holdens with their piddly little 138 and 144.
@@smiddysmidton8313 Yes, they were the class leader I reckon. 👍
Don't they say milk and juice come in 2 litres? The grey is just out of the woods.
As a small child I was infatuated with this vehicle in Australia. I always looked at the spare tyre boot feature. There weren’t many around so when I saw one one the road or parked this car would always get my attention.
@@koulouri-o8161 Yes. Me too. Our neighbour had one. It looked very “American” because it was really. 👍
@@markbehr88 The other car that I was infatuated with was the rear tail light of a cortina (it was like the Mercedes symbol) because it reminded me of the Arnotts short bread biscuit with the white filling.
@@koulouri-o8161 I can see that. It’s funny how kids think. When I was a kid, the Mini was my favourite car. Reason - I had a cream Dinky racing one (still have it) and I was the same height as the car. My tastes have changed since then but ai still love the toy one. 😀👍
@@markbehr88 The other thing that I was infatuated with was the metallic coca-cola red centre with the triangular lion of my uncles fc Holden special steering wheel. I remember peering and hanging of off the bench seat just to watch him turn the steering wheel. Oh, and I remember the anxiety of the 4 start lights that my dad’s HR station wagon would give every time he turned on the car to drive. There was a light for oil, temp and some other things and the last light was the “your f’kd” light.
@@koulouri-o8161 Ah yes, and I remember those cool Holden hubcaps with the red centre around the Lion. When I was Product Planning Manager for Holden I wanted to re-introduce those for the VT 50th Anniversary models I was working on. 👍
An R Series was displayed in the Young's Department Store windows in Queanbeyan upon release. It caused great stir & commotion where many would gawk at it on the way to the ol Vic Hotel....
"Space Ship sighted in Town"
said the local rag!.
@@o8thman812 Ha. I can imagine that was the reaction. 👍
Remember youngs , before Grace Bros took over miss the customer service.
I remember these Valiants ... there was an aqua one owned by the father of a close friend at the time ... we are talking early 60s. Always thought they were so coooool....complete with spare wheel on the boot lid...and they are so much bigger than they look...
@@ceebee23 Me too. We had an Aqua R series next door. Even as a little kid I thought, this looks very American. 👍
Thanks! Had an R series myself so brings back a lot of great memories! I had a manual with the floor shifter of course. Clutch pedals didn’t last long (snapped at a weld) probably because of the need to convert to right hand drive. Chrysler dealer locally never charged me for them. Unfortunately back then it started to get some rust and at that time in life (my early twenties) I didn’t have the money to get it fixed. Really regret that now. Thanks again!
@@richardk5849 Thanks. Great memories hey. 👍
Enjoy discovering new details of valiants and Chrysler. Looking forward to your next. Thanks Mark.
Thanks. Glad you liked it. ZB Fairlane episode released today. 👍
Informative thanks Mark
@@GerardDaly-y1n Thanks Gerard 👍
Thanks heaps for the info. I had often wondered over the years why the “R “ was so rare. 3 months of availalability will do that. I had no idea. Thanks again.
@@darrenvictoriathornhill1170 Pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it. 👍
I learnt to reverse park in a Chrysler Regal - basically a living room on wheels. Huge car. If you can get that thing into a limited space you can do anything. After that the Datsun was easy.
@@lees_box For sure. 👍
This car made Holden and Ford go back to the drawing board, it was such a modern vehicle when released compared to the other two. Chrysler finally had a car that could go head to head with the competition, only problem was they couldn’t keep up with demand!
@@jason2533 Yes, it was a cat amongst the pigeons. 👍
Fantastic and extremely informative. I was in high school when the first Valiants were put together in Adelaide. All of a sudden there was a car that turned the Holden vs Falcon battle on its head. I lived near the Dodge truck factory and quite often saw this shape and future designs on the semi trailers taking cars and trucks to other states. Look forward to more episodes, with a larger coverage of the Charger . Grant Taylor Malmsbury Victoria
@@granttaylor2635 Thanks Grant. Glad you liked it. More Valiant and Charger episodes coming plus check out the Japanese Chrysler ep too if you haven’t already. 👍
The Valiant was miles ahead of the Falcon or even the Chevy II Nova. No comparison. The grill on the '62 Ausie "R" car is from a '60 or '61 US model btw.
Was brought home from the hospital when I was born in one. My 1st car ride! 👶
Great video! Here in the US of A, these cars were 1st built in 1960.
But there was no "R" or "S" Series nomenclature.
@@UberLummox Thanks very much. Glad you liked it. A special car for you based on your first ride home. 👍
many good memories of my neighbors Valiant and 225 six, excellent smooth running engine, very decent torque and a great sound for a six...
Good days hey? 👍
I just learnt something, I thought there was only the S Series that looked like this. 😊
@@MelodyMan69 There you go. 😀👍
Awesome to see , I've owned many Valiants from VG to VH, VJ, CL, rangers to 770's, Chargers, Pacers, & my favorite a VJ hardtop coupe, Go Mopar 💪 ... Popcorn ready for this series aye .. And the Hemi 265 is a Legend 👌👍👍
@@klaymann888 Thanks. Glad you liked it. More on the way 👍
Yes, very enjoyable. As a little kid, I judged cars by how they looked to me & what the interior looked like. I used to walk out of my way to look at/into one of these. I'd say it goes to show how 60s retro-futuristic design could've been done [Cadillac etc]. Thanks Mark.
@@UncleJoeLITE Thanks. Yes, they were really Out There for a little kid. 👍
Thanks Mark, a great video. My father said that it completely blew Holden into the weeds when it came out. The problem was the wait for stock and the price gouging by dealers, making it relatively pricey. Exner’s styling cost Chrysler a lot of market share in the US in the early 60s with hasty redesigns not really working for them.
@@anthonywalsh2164 Thanks very much. Yes, by the early 1960’s Virgil Exner had run out of ideas and Elwood Engel (who had worked for George Walker in a Design Consultancy business and later with Ford) headed up Chrysler styling and their cars became more aligned (style wise) to the market. 👍
A 2 month production run surely has to be one of the shortest in automotive history.
Love your videos Mark.
@@jesus_built_my_hotrod Yes, it must be? Thanks very much. 👍
Short production run because they rapidly made and sold the thousand or so CKD R series kits that Canada had sent to us. By the time we wanted more they were no longer making the R series so we got the new model S series with a similar story until the Australian Production AP5 Valiant got into production here.
@@johnd8892 That’s right. 👍
My father had one of these new. Traded it for VC VIP. He brought my mother a VE VIP. He Treaded VC on two door VG 770. Had that for years
@@peterm1826 Cool. VC would not have been a VIP, maybe a Regal as VIP came in at VE. 👍
@@markbehr88 yeah it was. Had VIP in rear of vinyl roof compliance plate said VIP google it. It has same Crome strips on the rear as VE VIP.
@@peterm1826 I have the sales brochure and no mention of VIP and having worked for Mitsubishi for 5 years, which used the old Chrysler codes as a basis for their Distribution it would not VIP but would have a code, so please tell me what that is. 👍
Also, if you look it up you won’t find VIP was a VC model. In fact, even the V8 special model was not called a Regal but Valiant V8. I will do a dedicated episode on it. I would suggest that someone put those VIP badges on the car’s C pillar as it should just have V8. 👍
Another beauty, Mark!
@@coalfacechris1336 Thanks very much 👍👍
Thanks for the awesome Channel mate 👍
@@jimjames4884 Thanks. Much appreciated. 👍
I'll never forget the first Mustang I saw. I practically dribbled over it, I was only 13 years old. The owner told me it was the second one in OZ.
Very cool. 👍
Another good video Mark !
I never drove an R series , I always thought they where a cool car though, a friend of the family had one and took me for a ride in it , I totally agree they where a mile ahead of what Holden , and what Ford where offering in the falcons of the day.
I think those r series where like such a big step forward , almost like an XD falcon was to the earlier x models.
The thing about the old cars that really appealed to me , was they where all about function , space , comfort , perhaps the fins not so much 😂, but they where easy to maintain , and just did the job well , I think the old Valiants may have had better upholstery too iirc.
Looking at the roof section on the R , I can see a bit of Studebaker in the design I think , I had a mate with 5 or 6 stude’s back in the day …. It occurs to me … jeez I am an old bugger😂😂.
I know I’m a broken record, but I wish younger people could drive some of these oldies to see just how bloody good they were.
Look forward to your next one Mark .
@@mikldude9376 Thanks. Glad you liked it. I do see a bit of Studebaker in this design too. 👍
Whilst not claiming to be superior, the Holden of the time was not a two speed, that was introduced with the HD series in 65.
Thank you for this superb presentation. The wealth of information was greatly appreciated by this Chrysler fanatic. I will be eagerly anticipating the next instalment.
Thanks very much. Glad you enjoyed it. 👍
Very good summary, I remember my neighbour down the road bought a new S series Valiant when I was only a kid and my older brother loved it, and I can remember thinking how similar it was to the Studebaker Lark of the time especially around the grille area, just a small correction for accuracy the auto transmissions available at the time Ford was the only one that had a two speed Fordamatic automatic where the Holden at that time had the (Horrible) three speed Hydramatic in the EK up to when the HD had the Powerglide two speed from 1965 👍
Thanks very much. Glad you enjoyed it. I agree it looks like a Lark. I own a 63 Lark. 👍
Thanks Mark.
it is a truly impressive body of work you have put/are putting together.
I love all the Valiants like I do the Fords.
Kool kars.
Thanks very much. It’s interesting to do, plus a good record of our cars and memories. 👍
This car provided the underpinnings for Chrysler's "bread and butter" offerings all the way from 1960 to 1976. Valiant, Dart, Duster, Demon, Barracuda all were based on this platform. In some years, they accounted for nearly 80% of Chrysler's sales.
@@mrdanforth3744 Yes, it served them well. 👍
Thanks Mark for this interesting presentation . A slant six with a torqueflite -what a fantastic combination !
Glad you enjoyed it 👍
I nearly bought one from a yard opposite the entrance the Richmond (near Melbourne) railway station when i was 17 in about 1977 and it had a 225ci replacement engine with the original smaller 170ci engine on a pellet next to it that was being sold with it. I should have bought it. Dad encouraged me to. Anyway I'm now confused because I believed all RV1s had a 170ci slant six. Thanks for another great episode Mark.
As far as I know they all had the 225 engine, maybe some came into the country with the 170 ?.
@@jeffreywhitehead9386 All the R Series had the 225 engine 8n Australia. The US and Canadian ones offered the smaller engine. It is not impossible that it may have been a private import or an engineering car? 👍
I remember when these Valiant's came to Australia around 1962. I think they had the Torque Flight auto transmission.. But these memories are 60+ years old.
@@michaelhayden5264 Yes. Great cars. 👍
Great video! I'm reliving my childhood all the neighbors that owned these!
Me and my Dad, a mechanic, would fix them in the drive on Saturday!
10:35 it was a three speed as opposed to many automatic transmissions
at the time including uh the Holden and the Ford which only offered a two-speed
No Holden had the 3 speed hydramatic in the EK EJ EH (it was crap!) then in HD+ 2 speed power glide
@@rods6405 Thanks. Yes, my bad. Holden used the 3 speed in the EK. Ford had the 2 speed Fordomatic. 👍
One of my favourite Valiant was the push button Auto Matic transmission
@@PaulHayman-tq5kb Yes very space age for the time. 👍
Loved the R and S series Valiants. I'll get one, one day.
I had a VC sedan and a VH Charger. They were a great company in their day.
@@bossdog1480 Yes, definitely a cool car to own now. 👍
Same story here.Owned VC,VG,VH,VKnand chargers.Nearly bought a S series as my first car but I couldn’t come up with $.Bought a 62 Pontiac 4dr h/t instead.Paid $275 in 1979 with 1 week reg.There is an immaculate blue R series sitting in a shed a few paddocks up the road from me.Definitely not for sale.
@@alanthorne3921 Nice list of cars. That Pontiac was a deal. 👍
@@markbehr88 thx.My third car was a 1959 Pontiac Laurentian ($250 from the Hobart Police yard as an abandoned vehicle last reg VIC 1972) which apparently is still around but in sad condition ‘somewhere?’ and rumoured to be the first one assembled in Oz.Also had a 59 Plymouth Belvedere 4dr h/t and spare car minus m/g local assembly,rusted away in early eighties.Keeping up the vintage flag present day with a Toyota Avensis🤣.I will win powerball and find a R or S Valiant.Look forward to future vids.
@@alanthorne3921 Thanks. The 59 Pontiac is a good looking car. I remember my little brother’s friend had one and it was very unusual in that it was a sedan with a power bench seat. 👍
I can faintly remember this body style as a kid. They look really cool today.
@@Seiskid Yes, I remember them from the neighbour’s car. He was an American and I thought it was an American car (it was really style wise). I thought it looked “out there” even as a 5 year old. 👍
It will be great to see the Pacer E35, one of my mates had one, awesome car.
@@aussietaipan8700 I will be covering those as part of upcoming Valiant series. 👍
Love all the content, Mark. A generator charges in DC, an alternator AC, which is then converted to DC.
@@mistero4 Thanks very much. 👍
G'day to you! A Mate's older Brother had the Auto Version, they had a good Laugh at me when they asked me to point out the Gears, not knowing it was Push Button, still a amazing looking Vehicle! Perth West Aust!
@@paultanker5606 G’day. 👍
I remember these, in fact I have driven one, although I was selling XK Falcons at the time, they were quite a nice punchy car to drive!
@@lffit Interesting to hear from you with that perspective versus XK. 👍
I meant to say I was selling XK's when they were released, then went on to the XL and XM (certified golden quality) was the Ford slogan for this model, I would have driven the Valiant later on as I sold Fords for many years!
@@lffit Cool. I have done a series of videos on all the Falcons from XK onwards too. 👍
There was an earlier model Valiant introduced to the Australian public in late 1960: 22 automatics, and, 6 manuals. This was, I am told, the Q series. Overall, it looked like an R series, but, there were subtle differences. My father bought one of these (a manual) between Christmas and New Year’s Day in 1960. He took delivery of it on January 31, 1961. It had been the Chrysler show car for Queensland, and he had to wait for it to finish coming up the Queensland coast. It was in Rockhampton (I think) when he bought it, and it had to get to Cairns before we could take delivery of it from Williams and Williams in Innisfail. Locals referred to it as the green frog! The chromed gearstick came up from the passenger-side floor, crossed over the tunnel, went forward and upward, and then, curled over the seat, close to the driver. It had a white gear knob. There were separate green triangles on the dash for blinker indicator lights. The high-beam light was between them. I was ten, at the time, and was already a keen motoring enthusiast who, already, had five years of unsupervised driving under his belt.
@@calbrinsmead8894 A few people have mentioned this. I assume they are the earlier US cars that may have been prototypes here but I am not sure as I have never heard of it before? 🤔👍
@@markbehr88 They were here. Yes basically evaluation models. I have seen one and was told the difference by a then Chrysler dealer
@@ldnwholesale8552 Thanks. So not a production model per se. 👍
When I was younger my old boss at Holden k burchfield of Deniliquin had one of those green sv1 s in his collection hidden down the Deni showgrounds I did a bit of worton it over the years was such a shame to see his collection of Holden's Ford's and valiants sold up around 2010 such a great collection of cars 😢 if you do a video on Pacers mark I still have one in my garage
@@mrozboss Small world. One of my good mates who I worked at Holden with for about 9 years is Richard Burchfield - his son. I will definitely do the Pacers once I get to those models in the series. 👍
👍 I also have one in my garage. A Thar She Blue VG hardtop.
@@mikevale3620 Nice 👍
Nice looking car. Must be really sought-after today. 👍
@@lees_box Definitely as such low numbers. 👍
My first car was a '67 VC slant 6, 3 on the tree, cornered like the QE2.
The smoothest engine ever. NZ assembled?
White with a black roof, aluminium visor, comfortably seated 8 people.
@@madaro504 I like the VC. Very good looking car. Todd Motors assembled Valiants. I would need to check what year that commenced. 👍
Thank you for the reply
Subscribed
@@madaro504 Thanks. I really appreciate the Subscription. Seems the channel is taking off which is great. 👍👍👍
Just for their unique looks the R series and Ford Anglia are the two cars that always stood out to me as a kid in the early - mid 70's.
Agree. 👍
They must be a sort after Valiant today. Very stylish. 👌
Definitely 👍
Great video, I didn’t know the valiant was so far ahead of the other 2 back then
It was for sure. 👍
Thank you Mark. Good information on how they adpated the Chrysler product to Australia. I liked the fact you gave information about how it was sold, the dimensions and how it fared in the market. It was the Plymouth Valiant in the United States.You shared the many body styles, What was interesting is how the Australian market was behind,but caught up and things changed over time. Holden and Ford had to change their game after this car.
@@OLDS98 Thanks Olds98. Yes, it was definitely a game changer that led both Ford and Holden to really lifting their game. 👍
@@markbehr88 You are welcome. Indeed. We got some great Holdens and Fords after that.
@@OLDS98 Yes, I think you’ll enjoy the ZB Fairlane, which is my next episode. 👍
@@markbehr88 I will look forward to the video. You keep them coming. The series are informative, educational and interesting. It is appreciated.
@@OLDS98 Thank you. 👍
Love your work my. Father used to sell variants I love them
Thanks very much. 👍
Variants of Valiants... 😅
@@mikevale3620 Nice way of putting it. 👍
The yanks referred to the slant six as The leaning tower of power.
@@lukesm5747 Ah, yes I remember that one 😀👍
Great stuff again Mark luv your work
@@BluesShed Thanks👍
Beautiful and powerful
Definitely. 👍
Oh God, I had one, just an old banger, Don't even know what model it was. It Had push button gears. I loved it, but when I was posted to The UK, I sold it
@@Frederick-in2rz Very cool. 👍
I remember in the late seventies having just got my license and started out on the used car lots. I saw one of these, it was white with a blue interior so I walked up to have a look. Now back then used car salesmen could smell their prey and were all over you as soon as you were spotted. He said something about it being one owner and it was traded at their new car division on a new Sigma. He let me look it over, buttons for gear selection and an leaning engine sent off alarm bells. I simply didn't understand it and bought a Holden. If I knew then what I know now I would have bought it.
@@area51isreal71 Yes, sounds like it would have been a good car. I had a mate years ago who had a turquoise R Series. This was in the early 1980’s and even then it was a novelty. Also, when I was very young in the late 1960’s, a neighbour had a white R series. I thought it was very “American” especially with that spare wheel on the boot lid and the tail lights in the fins. 👍😀
@@markbehr88a desired car as time moved on. I remember, in 1986, one being restored in the workshop of one of the largest Toyota dealers in Melbourne. The comment from the mechanics that it was the pet project of the big boss Ken.
@@johnd8892 He must have had fond memories of them but maybe couldn’t afford one back then? 🤔👍
Remember they were considered a step us from a Falcon or a Holden for many years. The 138 and 144/170 were gutless in comparison
Yes, Chrysler had a very good reputation, especially pre 1971. 👍
They also sounded old in comparison to the thoroughly modern sound of the 225.
@@jamesfrench7299 Yes. For sure. 👍
@@markbehr88 I grew up with an AP5 sitting disused in our driveway since I was a bub before it finally got towed away to a wrecker about 1982.
I never got to see it run even though there's a pic of me as a baby in it when it was still on the road.
Years later I got a lift in one and was amazed how modern and quiet it sounded. I expected another old Holden Special or early Falcon crude sound but no, this was like a late 70s early 80s Falcon in THAT body!!
@@jamesfrench7299 I do like the AP5. Great car. 👍
👍👍👍there not dated in my book .
@@brianandglendaharkin9457 Beauty is on the eye of the beholder 👍
Was "Slant Six" ever the official name for the motor, especially in early Valiant production? I believe it was officially known from the outset as the 'G engine'
I think it was known as the Slant Six officially as even in the original brochure they say the engine puts a new “slant” on power and economy. It would have been used by Chrysler in sales materials for dealers etc plus picked up by the media at the launch. 👍
Very interesting. The Valiant motor was so much better.
@@petermurgatroyd2002 Yes, it was a game changer. 👍
It went like a modern car. The other two sounded old.
@@jamesfrench7299 It was definitely a benchmark. 👍
G'day Mark. Another awesome story. I've heard of the Chrysler Valiant. The debut version looked just like our Plymouth Valiant here in the USA, save for the driving position being on the starboard side of the car. 🙂
Thanks. Yes, it was basically a right hand drive version from parts out of Canada, so very similar to the US model. Just a mix and match of different models plus the bigger engine and right hand drive. 👍
@@markbehr88 I remember the first time I saw an early 1960 Plymouth Valiant. Overall, I found the car quite attractive. My least favourite was the front end. I don't know why, but I thought it looked awful!
@@jasoncarpp7742 It looks a bit like a Studebaker Lark (which I have). I liked it but could see that it would date fast style wise 👍
@@markbehr88 I thought the front end of the 1960 Valiant resembled a 1962 Studebaker Lark. I used to know someone who had either a 1959 or a 1960 Lark VIII, which are my favourite years for the car.
@@jasoncarpp7742 Yes, mine is a 1963 model and I used to have a 1962 model years ago. The 63 is on my channel. 👍
thanks for the video man
Glad you liked it. 👍
Nice!👍
@@kallekas8551 Thanks 👍
Hi Mark, I did not know that Valiant R was in kit form shipped in from Canada and assembled in Australia. Is there many of these cars left on Australian roads and were they sold in New Zealand. I like the rear fin design and what is unusual is a flat styles fins above the head lights, a nice looking classic car. As always a great video catch you soon, take care
Thanks Shaun. I am not sure how many survive. Maybe 300 max I would think? Apparently they did not go to NZ as it was a test for Australia to see if they would be popular. They were, so they produced the S series soon after, which I’ll cover in the next Valiant episode. 👍
@@markbehr88 thanks for reply Mark
Pleasure. 👍
I would say 1008 in total also explains why even when I was a kid they were so scarce
I have one of my primary school teachers had on I think this was 1969 or 1970 and it was purple and quite sad looking
From what I remember 👍👍
Yep, Holden would have built 1008 cars in a day and a half back then.
Yes they were an unusual sight even when new. 👍
Very true. 👍
If you ever go through Forbes, NSW - McFeeters Auto Museum has one in their collection
@@AussieAliner Thanks for the heads up. 👍
I rather preferred the tail lights in the "R" series but I suspect they were more easily damaged. Hence the change to the round ones.
Me too. 👍
Clems val was very modified until the rules changed fwiw. 3.9l and triple carbs. Just having read Australian muscle car magazine on them.
@@Low760 Yes, for sure. It wasn’t stock. 👍
The Q Series Valiant (the model before the R Series) was the first vehicle in the world to have an alternator.
@@stephenvelden295 The R series is the first as far as I am aware or is that a code for the US model?
@@markbehr88 Yes. There was a Q Series in the US before the R.
@@stephenvelden295 Ahah. I have learned something new. 👍
One Q series in Australia for evaluation then sold as second hand. New owner wrapped it round a tree.
Someone in the comments recalls a RHD Q station wagon which I had never heard of or any local early non four door cars.
@@johnd8892 Interesting 👍
I seem to remember the Valiant came in limited colours, mainly in that rather boring shade of green they all seemed to have....like the locally assembled Chevrolet Biscayne.
However the car looked good in that creamy white.
Always a Plymouth in the US.
@@Luke-PlanesTrainsDogsnCars And there was a grey and also a biscuit colour too. I think I may have also seen a red one? 🤔👍
Well, the 1960 QX1 was not a Plymouth but a standalone brand. For the 1961 model year, it was folded into the Plymouth family to boost their poor full-size sales numbers. That is why the released the 1961 Dodge Lancer (Valiant near clone). Dodge dealers could not sell the Plymouth brand. Valiant could be sold by all dealers in 1960
The story as I was told it was that Chrysler was assembling some truck products in Australia. A ship arrived and unloaded some containers marked SA. These were intended for South Africa. When the Aussies contacted the Americans they were advised to assemble them and sell them hey pronto.
They were so popular that the next "S" series was sent to OZ. This explains the very low numbers of 'R' series offered in this country.
Interesting. I have never heard that but I love the story! 😀👍
Was the station wagon version, the one with estate faux wooden panelling on the side?
As far as I can recall, they did not offer the faux wood on the side for this model. 👍
Only remember that on the Ford Falcon XL, XM and rarely XP station wagons in Australia. Descreasing take up of the faux wood option with each model. It would be interesting to know the take up stats.
@@johnd8892 If you check out my Falcon series on the channel or the Falcon playlist, I cover those Squires. 👍
Cars were better back then. But we still do now have flat plane crank v8 Corvettes, though, which sound amazing in their own right. 😁
@@SkodaYetiFan96 Yes. Very true. Good to have both. Stylistically most of the new cars are very average imo. 👍
Very interesting Mark . They had a distinct Studebaker looking front didn't they? The photo of the all silver engine made me wonder if there was a possibility of some of them having the aluminium block ? I know that some of the Dodge Lancers in America at that time used that block . But probably not, just silver paint?. Seeing those photos of the 1960's race cars makes me think it would be good to know more about those cars and their drivers , such as that red '63 Galaxie , as well as many others . Is that something you would consider covering on your channel?
@@barrycuda3769 I am going to stick more to road cars but that Galaxie was driven by Len Lukey of Lukey Exhaust fame. 👍
@@markbehr88 Fair enough. 🙂
@@barrycuda3769 Yes, the road cars will keep me busy forever. 😀👍
@@markbehr88 Australian muscle car magazine does a very good job on the race car history.
@@barrycuda3769 Yes, used to be edited by my mate Mark Oastler. He still writes for it every now and again and has done some stories on some cars I worked on too. 👍
The EK Holden was always a sorry sight.
@@toni4729 Yes. Very outdated. 👍
Funny how this first Valiant model has a similar face to the last. I wonder if the CL/CM was a homage to the model that started it all or the front clip of the HQ Premier was it's inspiration? I hope you can enlighten us who came up with that departure from the VJ/VK front clip.
How ironic such a radically futuristic R/S series became dated to quick.
I think they now look more modern than the next body that followed.
@@jamesfrench7299 Interesting. I have never thought of it like that? I can cover off some of the styling as we get into the 1970’s models. The CM grille was pretty heavily influenced by the mid to late 1970’s US models. The VK influence was from early Plymouth models from the 1970’s. I’ll cover that in their episodes down the track. 👍
@@markbehr88 Oldsmobile's Delta 88 from 1973 made famous by Sam Raimi inserting one into films like Evil Dead, looked strikingly like the CM Valiant when I first saw it in Evil Dead 2.
Great movie (the original). Wasn’t it Army of Darkness? 🤔👍
@@markbehr88the cream 73 Olds was in Evil Dead from 1981 as well as Evil Dead 2 Dead By Dawn 1987 and in badly damaged form (from when it fell from a great height in ED 2) in Army Of Darkness from the 1990s.
@@jamesfrench7299 Yes, I remember when he had the Oldsmobile (towed by horses?) and he met the medieval people who were amazed at his technology. Great movie.
The Valiant was initially going to be called the Falcon but Ford had already registered the Falcon name so it became the Valiant. There were also Aluminium versions of the slant six made in the USA. Both blocks and heads were made of Aluminium and were sold in some US Valiants. A friend of mine also had a Q Series Valiant Suburban station wagon here in Perth back in the 80's. He was unsure of it's origins but said it seemed to have been made in RHD as he could find no evidence of being converted from LHD.
@@stephenvelden295 Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. 👍
@@stephenvelden295 Yes, and the aluminum slant six was about 70 pounds lighter. But, as far as I know it was just the block that was aluminium and they had a specially cast , cast iron head.
@barrycuda3769 Yep. Some of them had iron heads on them but there were also Aluminium heads too.
@@stephenvelden295 Ok , they would have been very light then , I suppose they had an aluminium intake manifold as well.👍
The aluminium hyper pac version demolished the new NASCAR series for compact cars as the Valiants dominated the series. All limited to 170 cui for the series but the 170 hyper pac blew them away and the series was cancelled.
So taking a break from the Holden series?
@@keno88 No, rotating them. Next episode will be ZB Fairlane, then VC Commodore, then S Series Valiant and so on through the respective model ranges. 👍
Sounds like a good plan.
That way there is something for everyone, but I always try to include relevant competitive models so, for example when I do ZB Fairlane, there will be a reference to Valiant VIP and Brougham. 👍
My guess that Chrysler Australia bypassed the US 170 slant six to get a clear performance advantage over the local opposition as well as standardizing on one engine for simplicity.
Seems in the US the 170 was the most common engine fitted. Unusual for Australia to go for the largest motor available then compared to the full size US models assembled here just getting the smallest V8s in the range available.
Yes, and they wanted to position their cars as a step up, which was also reflected in the fact they were priced above the equivalent Holden and Ford. 👍
I find it peculiar too. The 170 would outperform the 138 and 144 easily, and Ford had just started fitting their 170. I'd have thought going with the 170, at an even lower price, and having the 225 ready as an option, at the price the car was released at. That would have covered more bases, and still stamped their mark as the superior car.
@@johnd8892 I think you are right. The cars were also priced above the Holden and Ford. 👍
@@TAVOAu I think based on the small number, one spec was easier to manage. 👍
Kind of cheating in a way.
About what year(s),time, make(s), model(s) during the 1960s,did Chrysler Australia,begin to incorporate their version of the " hummingbird" starter, that Chrysler North America had commenced with for their 1962 models. I believe this may have been in both,cars & trucks. Thank you
@@PaulBartlett-jz4bg I’
I’ll have to look into that. I know they were in the 1971 VH series, however, I don’t recall them being on the earlier models but that is just going off my personal recollections. I am sure there will be a Mopar Subscriber who will know. 👍
@@markbehr88 torsion bar sus is seen as substandard ? its very rare in passanger cars
Is that the gear reduction starter ? Iv'e got a VH and it's got that type of starter , so, with the 1970 VG being the first Valiant with the Hemi , it probably had that type as well ? , I had a couple of VG's but cant remember. Maybe 1970 was the first year?
@@barrycuda3769 You could be right there re the VG with the Hemi. Makes sense. 👍
@@Eric-kn4yn No, contemporary road tests often pitched the Valiants as the better handlers. They did not ride as well but handled better. 👍
Did you blokes ever turn these into utes? I know you could get a falcon as a ute.
@@AaronGranda-g5r Not these ones. 👍
According to the federal HESCHLAVVO law, it is already forbidden in Switzerland to drive combustion engines on mountain passes from 2025. In France, the SCHLABOUBVE regulates that fossil vehicles that produce fine dust are prohibited in all cities from 2025. The BABVVO in Germany will bann exhaust gas pollution from 2027 and that is what will happen in entire EU also bann of all tires and brakes because of fine dust!!!!!!
@@Schlipperschlopper That means electric cars are forbidden too as they also produce fine dust from their brakes. Meanwhile, back to the topic. R Series Valiants. 😀👍
@@markbehr88 No the new electric cars have electric brakes or brakes with dustless encapuslated brake magnetic rotors
@@Schlipperschlopper I’d be surprised that there is not fine dust as there is still friction? 🤔👍
A few 273 V8's snuck in there. Probably as bid to get some government contacts.
@@royferntorp I have never heard of that before? 🤔
In the R series? Even Chrysler US didn't do that.
@@markbehr88🙀🤔🤔
@@smiddysmidton8313 They were all 225 slant sixes here. If it had a V8 that was retro fitted. 👍
The 273 wasn't available until 1964. I believe 1965 in Australia.
We had so much automotive industry in Australia.......all now gone. A travesty! And with millions with more people in our growing population when compared back then.
Yes, I agree. That’s why I try to preserve our history here on the channel. 👍
Also, the Fordomatic could actually do 4 speeds. I you knew what you were doing. XP Falcon stuff
I know of the 3 speed in XP, but that was still 3 years later. 🤔👍
Angel gear and reverse don't count.
@@jamesfrench7299 Ha. Is that the other two? 😀👍
@@markbehr88 or a splitter.
👍
wow, first time hearing this model Valiant be talk about so enthusiactically, me personally always disliked how they looked.
@@ceedoubleyou I like to cover all the models from the Big Three. I like it bit as I said, the out there styling also dated quickly. 👍
My mate has one from brand new
Really? How cool. 👍
@@markbehr88 he had the only one in mt isa probably y it didn’t rust a way think he is down south now seen him on a RUclips clip but can’t remember. He changed absolutely nothing on the car stock as and original including the blinds on the back 😂
Very cool. 👍
First car was an auto AP5 Regal. Good, honest car and would have another if I got the chance.
Have had VG sedan, CJ and Cm wagons.
All of them were great except for the auto box - piles of shit - I was told the base auto box started out behind a 1.5l Escort.
If this is right, no wonder the auto shat themselves.
Definitely better than the rubbish Chrysler sells these days.
@@JamieSaunders-yn9nu Hmm. I thought they would be Torque-flites, which normally have a great reputation? 🤔👍
@@markbehr88 Apparently they were changed with the AP6 onwards. I gather that the slant six motor didn't create any great problems
but the torque of the 4l was another. My CJ was doing funny things and took it to auto trannie repairer.
He told me the story after relieving of a lot of my
hard earned cash.
The CM did the same thing. Didn't have the VG long enough to have that problem. Auto trannie repaired also told me that the
4.3l had a better transmission behind it. Never had enough cash to do a change over.
They were labelled Torqueflite that's all.
Typical tight arsed car makers.
@@JamieSaunders-yn9nu Right. Interesting. 🤔👍
The torque flite had a Simpson gear train which is a stong Box the 225 engine is a good engine strong four some reson they' in used The Borg Warner 35 gear box
The CKD kits were NOT sourced from Windsor Canada. A huge misconception. Chrysler's CKD kits were sourced from the Wyoming Avenue plant in Detroit Michigan USA. This was the old DeSoto plant. Canada only exported complete cars (no CKD packs) to RHD markets, but Australia needed government mandated 85% local content to avoid tariffs and full imports would not deliver that.
@@Colinkenny-levick My understanding is they went via Canada due to Commonwealth country tax exemptions. They may have been stamped in the USA.
@@markbehr88 Hi Mark,
You were pretty spot on in everything you presented. No, they came direct from USA. I have two of them - and one S - (going back to 1983) and am President of the R & S Series Valiant Car Club. I know them intimately. They were released to the public on Jan 18, 1962, and the S Series was released to the public on Feb 28, 1962. Chrysler Australia already had the S in the pipeline well before the R hit the market.
@@Colinkenny-levick Fair enough. I’ll defer to you. The references I had said Canada and due to a lot of the Big 3 sourcing US cars and parts via their Canadian operations. 👍
They would have been the proverbial rocket ship back in the day (no substitute for cubes...). Drum brakes though, shudder....
For sure. Yes, drums like pretty well everything back then unless you had a Renault, Jag etc with Disc brakes. 👍
Drums are fine. The problem was adjusting them well.
Yep for sure. After learning do drive in a XT Falcon 500, 3 on the tree years ago, the ol drum brakes were a challenge in damp weather I can assure you. Over all though, would've love to have that car in my shed. So many memories.
@@stevemcintyre4398 My brother had an XT manual on the column too. You got used to the drum brakes. 👍
@@jamesfrench7299 Yes. I have driven a few four wheel drum brake cars across the USA. No problems. 👍
Over here mate we call it the toilet seat.
@@AaronGranda-g5r Yes, I heard that. Not the best description? 💩
Yep I no him and his brother good people
Definitely👍👍
Too bad Chrysler can't still make that slant 6. More reliable than anything they're offering now. Can't say I like anything about the styling . Unique though. I never really like anything exner produced.
@@joellamoureux7914 I reckon his 1960 Chrysler 300 was pretty amazing. If you look on my channel I also have a 1960 Chrysler Windsor and a 1960 Plymouth Fury sedan (and a 1960 Imperial). Over the top for sure but the 1960 model Chrysler 300 and Windsor models were great looking cars imo. 👍
Back then you could tell a car make and model from a mile away (1.6 Km)! These days you have to read the (plastic) badge to tell what it is.
@@stephenvelden295 Definitely. 👍
America was using slant 6s into the 1980s with their ELB system.
@@jamesfrench7299 True. 👍
I can't understand why people went and got Holden shit when you could have one of these they are so superior it's not funny
@@bradleamon4466 Supply was a big reason why. 👍
Your and Cold War motors channels have a lot n common
@@madaro504 Thanks, I hope that means they are both good? 😀👍
Scott is splicing a 60 Impala 2 door on to 4 door Biscayne if it seems odd check out his 60 Fury.
Best car on you tube.
@@madaro504 Yes, I am a Subscriber and have watched all of his episodes. 👍 I have a four door 1960 Fury project car (episode on the channel).
🥝✔️
👍
225ci much more powerful than holden EK 138 ci & when coupled with auto trans gave pitiful performance this valiant remained the staple platform until the last CM with only cosmetic changes the hemi engine being the saving grace to keep it popular VF advertised as body having exceptional strength as all valiants
@@Eric-kn4yn 👍
Fishshop Falcons are homely. It has taken me 60 years to appreciate?? them. Not a great car ever.
Slim screen pillars. Modern cars have then now that you lose cars hiding behind them!! The FB EK Holden was brilliant to see out of,, just you bashed your knees getting in the bloody things!!
Val fuel tank was slung under the back. A bit vulnerable in reality. Falcon was part of the boot fllor as was the Holden
Holden Hydramatic was in effect 4 speed. Falcon was a very basic 2 speed. Torquflite eons ahead.
That pic of Clems R with the tyres alight was in his office. His son still owns an R series that was theirs from new
That pic of the couple behind the green car among the trees was edited for S Series as well. Possibly across South road from the Tonsley office building.
As for CKD all Q R and S were as was early AP5s. My father built pig sheds, chooksheds, homeimprovements etc from those crates and ply. They were quite good Canadian timber. We also got empty 4 gallon paintbuckets that were used for decades as grape picking buckets
@@ldnwholesale8552 Thanks for the info. Great recollections. 👍
I just dont understand the people from Chrysler to alloy that monstrosity to be manufactured. awful looking car.
@@martinw9425 I like it. 😀👍
Just so you know because I am sick of damn people pronouncing it wrong. It is NOT CHRYS/LER It is pronounced as follows CHRY/SLER sounds like CRY SLUR. There are videos of the man himself Walter P. Chrysler discussing the new Chrysler Corporation. And that is how he pronounces his name. Please spread the word because it gets dammed old to us.
@@scrambler69-xk3kv Thanks. Now pay attention everyone 👍
These were on the road when I was a kid. I thought they were ugly as sin then and still do.
@@buddywayne1 Fair enough 👍