Torque 1980 - Episode 03
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- trove.nla.gov.a...
The above links to an article from the Australian Women''s Weekly dated Oct 16 1974, about the then new Torque program and Peter Wherrett.
"Torque began in 1974 and continued to rate highly in its evening timeslot for the ABC until it came to an end in 1980. Peter Wherrett always said he made the series with the public broadcaster because he wanted to be able to pull no punches about those vehicles that had safety or engineering problems. It was this forthright honesty that attracted the audience to Torque over the years." (Janet Bell - 'Australian Screen' NFSA) 
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I'm 53 and still remember two great motoring tips he offered.
1. When you're stopped in traffic, especially waiting to turn, keep your wheels dead straight. Then if someone rear ends you, you want get pushed into oncoming traffic.
2. When on more open roads etc always have an exit strategy. Always be looking where to veer off to in a collision is immanent.
He had a very hard end to his years, but no need to go into that.
He is an Aussie legend.
He had a third. Don't stop right behind somebody. Have a plan to roll to a dead-slow about 5M behind, then creap-up. This way the car to the rear is a buffer against being rear-ended.
My Dad told me that first one when teaching me to drive and I nevere forgot it. He loved watching Torque.
@@tcpnetworks I'll never forget such advice, but not from this source. I was rear ended in my mother's car and because I had left a reasonable gap in front my car was not shunted into the car in front.
Wish we could have this Australia back again
Back when Australia was still Australia, Ken Oath.
@ both the NameName4Number bots: It's still Australia.
Here Here......
Not to mention that oran Park raceway
If there’s one I’ll say about the Valiants made by Chrysler Australia, and that is they made the best six cylinder engines, especially the 265 Hemi 4.3 litre what a kick arse engine.
If you could afford the petrol. The 265 on triple carbs sucked fuel worse than a V8. Went harder too, at the time. A couple of bags of cement in the boot did wonders for the handling .
An LPG system took care of both.
Damn straight - yet, hundreds of old limousines / classic cars / trucks still got the Holden 'red motor' swap back in the 1970s-90s...no accounting for taste! (Chrysler was 'too exotic', apparently.)
@@peternicholson233 in racing conditions, the six pack chargers got around 6mpg. The phase 3 Falcon did around 3. But how many of us had triple webers on our Valiant? The standard 265 was better on fuel in normal driving conditions than the smaller hemis- bigger valves and a slightly warmer cam did that.
@@saxongreen78 red motors were common as mud and dirt cheap is why. 2 common cars for red motor transplants were toyota crowns and 60's mercs. Their motors were too problematic or expensive to fix, and the red motor fit in easily being small. We shoehorned a 245 hemi in a 67 crown for swamp car racing. Had to cut out and extend the radiator support by 5" and couldn't fit the bonnet on. But it went like the clappers. Kept blowing diffs and snapping axles until we welded a valiant diff in too.
As a 48 year old old fart, I remember and loved this show.
Wherrett was and is a fucking Aussie Legend.
It was a little weird when we found out he liked to dress in ladies clothing. I guess he was ahead of his time. Today he would have pronouns
He's been dead since 2009...
@@68404 I know.
What's your point?
Lol.. he lived the last 2 years of his life as a cross dresser. 🤣🤣🤣🤣. Maybe he always was... strange dude
At ay ay- I'm 48 too - we have feelings. But your right - he cut through the crap .
Wow, this is from the year I was born, and what a bloomin good show. My, how things have changed, and not necessarily in a good way. Think I prefer this; Good old down to earth presenter giving clear and constuctive advice, plus fair reviews of the type of cars people actually buy. No cheap gags, no scripted fakery, and no silly money supercars that nobody's really all that bothered about. Absolutely marvellous.
Loved watching both Torque & Marque a few decades ago. Peter Wherrett was absolutely brilliant in his role.
Spot on with predictions of more speeds with autos and manuals, and even mentioned CVTs!
Finally, after 46 years of life, I have the answer to that little light on the fender. I always thought it was part of the indicator.
it is part of the indicator aswell
It was a bit of a gimmick because if you understand carburettor operation then the way they're designed is to deliver chemically correct mixture at all times. So wide open throttle at low rpm delivers the same fuel as light throttle at low rpm otherwise the motor would konk out. It is true that wide open throttle causes the car to continue accelerating but you don't need an idiot light to tell you that because the police will.
Going on and off the accelerator like a P plater will use more fuel because of the accelerator pump, but using that indicator light as a economy enhancer is like the stench you get from a tesla driver - it's all about showing off to others that you care (when you don't).
Interestingly Chrysler in the US they had a big block 400 cubic inch V8 ELB.
OK, that light sounds like the vacuum gauges common in USA cars in 1950's - 1960's... It was labeled red power and green economy... maybe yellow caution in the middle...
If memory serves, they ran a 2 bbl carb, and the light went on when the second barrel started to open, so it let you know when the engine was about to start gulping.
But it's been a fair few years between, so you can't trust my memory. I sure don't. :-P
@@aussiebloke609 no the Carter carb pulled both barrels at the same time. There were no primary and secondary 2bbl carbs on Valiant V8s.
It's 10 years today since Peter Wherret passed away. I judge him on his work, l liked his motoring shows. Wish that ABC would bring back a similar show, there is a demand.
Haha fat chance, the ABC are run by the Greenies and left wingers who love their electric cars, hate any sort of fossil fuel but don't truly realise that the amount of resources and $$$ needed to create an electric could be used on improving the normal combustion engine, which they have to a point
I judged Peter Wherret as a person - He was a good person. He had a good life.
@@ALLRNDCRICKETER You've taken your meds today?
tcpnetworks He is absolutely correct!!
@@tcpnetworks He is right. Modern so called green cars are not green to produce. Recharged using coal power or nasty Nuclear.
That old yellow car is is almost 90% recyclable bar the plastic seats dash. Compared to a new heavily plastic modern with touch screens. Where acids chemicals are used to make circuits. Also when recycling said electriconics. Separate metals.
An old car from this era is more green. Looked after 40 /50 plus years. I cant see most electric new cars being around more than 10 15 years. Also not factoring planned obsolescence in components. Plus the fact people change car regularly to suit fashion trends. I served my time in the motor trade. Left because of the so called green cars being just terrible.
To replace all cars in uk to battery is crazy you will need at least the same amount of spare batteries not factoring in commercials light and heavy as well as farming.
The greens dont know.
I once had a 1979 CM Regal sedan 265, column auto with factory ac & power steering. Loved it. Powerful, economical and so comfortable. Wish I'd kept it.
You may have changed your mind when the vent chamber started rotting as well as the sills, the boot floor and under the rear window.
Would have rusted to nothing by now RIP
@@Eric-kn4yn Maybe bud, but I've had plenty of rusty Fords & Holden's too.
A great car, CM Regal.
@@dylanlewis3666vals were worst VK takes line honours.
Peter Wherrett was a straight talker, if a car was no good, he said so! Programs like this were very useful, with the amount of moronic drivers on our Australian roads now, a man like Peter Wherrett could give them some advice. The old BP driver tips commercials were really good too back in the 70's.
He towed the line of the abc's narrative, big aussie cars are outdated dinosaurs, praising small euro cars- that turned out to be hideously unreliable.
@@rossbrumby1957 true, reliability has always been the forte of Aussie cars, unfortunately fuel economy never has!
He had a knack for testing vehicles with drivetrain mixes that nobody bought:- Charger 360 V8, XC Fairmont 351 manual, XD Falcon GL 3-3 manual, and this one........a Valiant six with a three on the tree. I grew up in this era. NOBODY bought manual Valiants by that stage. One exception would have been the utes, particularly in rural areas.
@@rossbrumby1957 bingo.
straight talker liked to wear women's clothes
Love this guy! What a way with words, crystal clear.
Still got a VK Ranger sedan 245 , VK Ute badged as a Dodge with a 360 , and a CM Regal Sedan with a 265. All quietly living in the shed hiding from the rust monster.
You still got these cars?
@@Djr67 Sadly only got the Regal left.
This is amazing. I barely remember this show, and it's surprising to see what Australia was like in those days. Thank you for this upload!
It was they way it should be. It's all gone surreal now.
Sadly Channel Seven has joined the anti free speech bandwagon and done the same.
Good old days!
Those old valiants are probably the best cars made , done a million ks in my Regal se 318 . CHRYSLER really built some beautiful cars.
@Leonard Carr 360/alloy heads ,lunati cam, roller rockers and 727 with a nine inch LSD . l like them all but the Cl ,Cm is the most underated car ever . Building a factory v8 regal cm wagon now , mild 318 but the v8 variants were incredible cars. They handle great if you use big swaybars and find a good wheel alignment place . Not many around that know what to do. Can go on forever but the variants were incredible cars. Had the same car all my life but I'm building a ford Zd next . I like them all.
love the old Vals, I wanted a 318 as a kid
I had about 8 different models over the first 20 years of my youth, but my favourites were my 4 spd CM GLX 265 and Auto CL 318 Charger. I sold the CM GLX to Leo Geoghan no less. One of natures gentleman. I paid 5k for the CM GLX and 1K for the CL Charger, both immaculate at the time, in the early 80's nobody wanted them. Leo bought the CM off me for 5K six years later, did not even try to beat me down, test drove it and shoved the cheque in my hand. I had 2 VF Coupes, 3 chargers ( 1 ex-police, 265 with 727 Torqueflight trans - went like stink ) a 2 door 318 Regal with the Fireball engine and a VG 3 speed pacer. Then I owned an imported Neon for 15 yrs. I even did lap dashes around Oran Park in the CM GLX and shattered the ego's of a few Holden and Ford boffins who scoffed when I turned up in my Val, only to have me pass them coming out of Castrol Curve and onto the main straight. Having grown up in the 70's and 80's we just took it all for granted, but looking back, as car enthusiasts, and in many other respects in those times, we really were blessed.
@@coolhand1964 Youre a lucky man to have all those old beasts. Biggest problem with the old Chryslers is i cant selll them , rebuilt my Regal se 20 years ago and still looks great. 1million ks on it now but fresh 360 , been a good car and would still waste most modern cars. Ill probably die with this old girl.
I'm in Detroit and these cars fascinate me. Wonder how much to ship it here...
Loved watching this show. This bought back some great memories. Always wanted a Valiant but never got one. Had 26 Chrysler/Mitsubishi's instead.
I remember when I was going to O’halloran hill tafe this is going back to 1999 or 2000 I had a VJ charger It has a fresh 265 The lecturers there wanted to put it on a gas analyser to see how bad it was vs a TR Magna, the 265 was putting out less noxious gases than the 2.6! they suggested that even though it was running really well it needed bigger main jets, it was a great time and I learnt a lot. Like most of the car manufacturers in Australia that tafe is now gone. It’s truly a sad situation.
The TR Magna used the 2.6L 4G54, but the revised Astron II version, not Astron I used in the GH Sigma and older Astron II used in late Sigmas and widebody Magnas.
I am surprised the door handle didn't break on the XD when he pulled on it!
Haha, you speak from experience, I know!
That's because he could see the door WASN"T locked.
I think the old valiant ranger i had would take that prize ,i bought a spare car just so i could use it's door handles ,among other things ,lol .
It's because the XD wasn't a S pack. S for Shit.
@mad ass . No they didn't. They were the same part number. The cortina lock mech didn't have as much leverage in it. Although they did still break.
Bringing back child hood memory's. Thank you you tube and adoz56.
Back when motoring journalism was more about science and less about BS.
What a great show. A TV show that gives the viewer credit for having a brain? Nothing like this in the USA, ever
Australian TV was very good then, even the commercial stations that ran ads like America's network TV.
The GH Sigma was only sold with Chrysler badges for six months before changing over to Mitsubishi badges.
Which is why If love a Chrysler example in SE trim. A lady at my church had a mint green coloured one with green crushed velour interior. I remember wishing it had power windows, it would have been perfect.
Not available until thy next model update.
Today Peter Wherrett taught me how to correctly use an automatic transmission. Perhaps I should have watched this episode when it came out :-)
My first car was an S series Valiant. Loved that car. So much room in the back.
It was years after this that I discovered Leo Kottke's amazing guitar playing. I would have watched this in 1980 and probably enjoyed the music they picked to play behind the vision not knowing I would independently discover it later. Well done ABC!
Peter Wherrett was one of the best drivers in that time and he was 20 years ahead of Australian motoring regarding safety and fuel economy. He would be spinning in his grave seeing all the Chinese cars on the road nowadays.
Eloquently spoken, highly intelligent and most analytical. Very suave dresser too.
If it wasn't for Peter Wherrett, we wouldve still being having column shift , bench seats, drum brakes and leaf springs in local cars
Nothing necessarily wrong with all those. The main issue with all round drums was poor adjustment.
This TV show was cutting edge. Nowadays we get reality TV.
Was more real than the misnomer reality TV. It's edited to death and portrays a false narrative. This was truth tv. Not attainable now.
Thanks for this upload, Torque was a great show.
Ha those were the days when motoring in Australia was interesting and exciting. We built a lot nice cars. Thanks for posting this, really enjoyed it.
My parents bought the Chrysler Sigma SE 2.6 when it first came out, it was way above our home grown cars in features and refinement. That engine was a goer. Sigma’s went downhill after Mitsubishi took full control.
How far ahead of the times he was. I've enjoyed a few of these Torque episodes recently - thanks for putting them up. Doubtless Peter would have had a bit to say about our Holden HX hearse - but at least he would have been pleased I changed it over to rear disc brakes. Vale Peter / Pip.
I drove manuals all my life and loved double de- clutching . The trucks I drove certainly needed it so became intuitive
And now we have CVT's in most modern cars..... bloody horrible.
More efficient than a regular auto and keeps the engine in it's peak power band a lot more. It's just perception.
Had one in my last Xtrail for 5 years, in a daily driver that isn't a performance car they are fine. However I'm glad my XR6turbo dosent have one. Horses for courses.
I love slip. My Fairlane V8 went into limp mode (stays in 3rd) due to a weak battery and I didn't want it to go back to normal.
@das wright yes you're correct, it's a fuel saving measure. That's the point. And mine could tow perfectly fine for what it was. As I said, if I want performance or to tow something heavy I have an XR6t. But that costs more to run, and is no good in the snow here in New Zealand. No such thing as a car that does everything perfectly. I like performance cars, modifying them and have done a lot of track racing, but the modern CVTs especially the stepped ones like Nissan do are fine to live with day to day, and perfectly reliable despite what naysayers think.
@das wright I go skiing, I drive in snow every year. I also spend a lot of time down south where it's snows, every year. For those conditions one of my vehicles is better than the other. I'm not speaking for other drivers, I know how to drive- racing helped with that when i was younger. Yeah some roads get closed which is annoying but when you're actually going home they can't stop you.
Thanks so much for uploading these. Love the old cars, the music, and the Australiana.
How refreshing to see something from the Ministry of Propaganda not drenched in political ideology. I'd almost forgotten what Australia used to be like when it actually was Australian.
What a flog statement to make
man is that happening to you people down there too? the bbc are like something from george orwell 1984 in uk
@@raycroal Unfortunately yes. The ABC is nothing more than a tax-payer funded arm of the Australia Labor Party and serves as its media and public "outreach" department. It's astonishing that this episode of Torque hadn't been consigned to the "memory hole" since it doesn't have any racial diversity, homosexuality, Islamic or climate change themes.
@@MrGoblin60 i hear you mate,its the same here and so many bloody lies i watch russia today for a more realistic version of events,i am 99 percent sure the elections and votes are rigged in uk too,there has been a lot of fishy evidence found
I agree, I prefer right-wimg ideology too.
I bought a 1980 Chrysler Sigma SE (2 litre) in 1990. Loved the sports steering wheel and the velour seats. Though, the car rusted like crazy.
We went from this to Top Gear... a sad reflection of societies dumbing down.
Those were the cars anybody could work on easy
I remember sitting in the engine bay of my old Valiant VC and working on it. It had the slant six motor which went well on the open road. Mine was one owner deceased estate when I got it and was in very good nick. Column shift auto and the boot was so big you could nearly sleep in it. I always wanted to get the upgrade with the vinyl roof and the 318 V8 Fireball but never got the chance.
@@skillmeup53 I had Ute with red slant six 145 h.p. yours must be green slant six which had 160 h.p.they were good cars .
@@Batman-wv5ng No mine was a red slant six, but yes they went well. Mine had minimal rust and was very clean - should have kept it!
@@skillmeup53 Those engines go forever.You want find another one , but check out you will see they had green 160 hp.I also had 1968 they called them VIP.blue with vinyl roof v8. 273 c.inches 173 hp.
I've owned, and worked on many Vals, a CM 3 spd manual was a rarity, luckily.
Wow oran park then and now full of houses.
Excellent I just remember watching this as a child. Good to see he was almost impressed by the Valiant CM upgrade after watching him can a VJ V8 Charger
Tens of thousands of satisfied valiant owners who drove there cars in a normal manner, never bothering to flat spot there tires, or squeal them around city streets, no mention that 3 on the tree, was put there so 3 people could sit on the front bench seat, by the way. 3 speed gearbox's where plenty when the engine was large, low reving and torquey, and was standard practice in every auto box of that era, judging a large road car, against the standards of a track car does no justice to the car, likewise the demeaning comments on the driving abilities of ordinary drivers, no car owner, who has saved for, purchased, and maintains his pride and joy, drives like this (legend),
I had a GH Sigma as my first car in 2000. My grandad bought it new in 1981. Not that reliable but such great memories in that beast.
I loved this show in the 1970s.
You can't beat the ' Marrickville Mercedes . You can drain the engine of oil and refill it with sand and water and the motor still runs beautifully . Definitely superior to a Holden .
Amazing to hear the discussion about CVT way back then.
Peter Wherrett knew what he was "torquing" about. Has there been a better produced Australian motoring show?
Je Suis Ce Que Je Suis Answer = No
Was there even another Australian motoring show?
The only show since to come close in as far as honest criticism is probably John Cadogan's RUclips channel, though his videos are rife with unnecessary innuendos and rambling.
@@captainzoll3303 he's also very rude to his viewer base in the comments.
@@jamesfrench7299 a really awful Aussie Top Gear, that hardly focused on car reviews.
Funny to see him in the first of the GH Sigmas and the comments which to the the upgraded GH Peter Wherrett limited Edition Sigma.
Infinitely variable transmission by Borg Warner - This is what we now call a CVT Transmission - 35 years later haha
Loved the theme. It was written by Rory O'Donoghue of Aunty Jack fame.
That theme tune is a banger!
Chrysler Sigma .... It's a SENSATION !!!
Bested only by the scorpion
I liked this show too. Peter Wherrett died in 2009 of prostate cancer, Check out his Wikipedia entry as he was a cross dresser and live the last 2 years of his life as a women. All those Holden's, Chrysler's and Fords are history now too.
I owned a range of Valiants through the 80s and later. VH Pacer 265 3 speed floor shift in metallic dark grey and black interior. VJ Charger 265 4 speed, Centura 245 4 speed, CM Regal wagon 5.2 auto (14.5 MPG) and a VH Charger 265 4 speed. The 265's were all more economical than the V8. The ELB never worked properly on my father's CM sedan 265 auto. The GJ GLX Sigma I had was a nice car. The VR4 was better and the Raliart Magna was beautiful to drive.
Easily the CM Regal would be the best car I've ever driven and owned.
I agree especially when you compared the engine dirty old holden 202 what a heap of shit
Do you still have it?
I guess you've never driven a modern car then......
For me, it would be the Audi 100 CD. Just a beautiful cruising saloon. I just couldn't afford to fix it when stuff finally broke. Best car I ever owned.
@@baysidelad1 Yes have done and own 2 now but do love the earlier cars.
I had a CL an CM , CM panel van 440 , 4 speed , even then it was 5 $ every few ks , I Love em (wgaf about Peter Wherrets taste ) its about the cars
Looks to be filmed at Oran park which no longer exists.
The Sigmas suspension looked very cushy on the dirt roads, floated like the CM. These days your fillings would drop out on any car you took on a dirt road as they're all developed at the Nurburgring.
The man, he talks a lot of sense, especially over gearbox use. And still valid 40 years on. Never got that sort of sense from clarkson, just powweer! 👍
Here is one interesting thing. The 3 on the tree manual Valiants need to be in reverse to get the key out and the gear shifter is locked. It was a safety feature to prevent kids from playing with the gear shift or something like that.
The Sigma was once one of the best cars in Australia!
Can't say that I agree with you on that mum had a 1980 GH which started to deteriorate at 150,000 km. By the time it reached 200,000 km it was ready for the wreckers. It had gearbox problems and the engine blew more smoke than a wood fired heater
No, the Leyland Marina -according to a guy I know who collects them.
Interesting talk about the cvt types of transmission towards the end. It's really only the last decade that they have become more common.
And proven to be notoriously unreliable.
And Mitsubishi uses them.
Interesting the sigma he test drove was a Peter Wherret special version model only available in GH
I would bet the car companies lobbied to get this show cancelled and of course, they caved.
I saw the South African version of the Chrysler Valiant recently. It was built in 1975 and it was badged as the Dodge SE. I took a short video of it which is on my RUclips channel. I also have videos of a 1970 Chrysler Valiant VIP & of another 70's Valiant all in the UK!
I once had a Valiant VIP , in Australia, it ran the new , 273 ci V8 and it moved for a small V8 .
A CM with manual 3 speed manual Bolt action. I worked on a lot of them back then but I only ever saw one with the three speed .It belonged to a retired Gent who ordered the lowest cheapest spec car he could get get for his 3 grand. it had a heater but no radio,manual steer ansd so on . He freaked out when I changed the oil filter... he told me he always washed it out and refitted it to save five bucks. The ELB is a curse and most were removed years ago. And as he says,"as long as the computer works.." The only thing that never seemed to stop working was the nanny light on the front guard to telling you to get your foot out of the loud pedal.
I used to call it the naughty light and I found it handy.
So funny looking at the old Chrysler's, that one had the mid range 245 ci Hemi Six , it's also funny when he is driving the 1980s Ford Falcon it has a Borg Warner D20 Single Rail 4 Speed , designed by Borg Warner Australia originally for the Chrysler , that's why all D20 single rails have Chrysler " box to Bell housing pattern" and then he looks at the Chrysler Sigma , it has a D25 single rail , essentially a D20 4 speed with overdrive ! The original D20 Single Rail 4 Speed evolved into an alloy case and overdrive 5 th , renamed T5 and sold all over the world , it's no coincidence 80 percent of internals of the D20 4 speed fit a Borg Warner T5 . This episode must have been sponsored by Borg Warner Australia, !!! But I wish he had tested a optioned Chrysler with the 360 V8 and D20 Single Rail 4 Speed ! That would have been nice ! I remember as a kid in Australia in Nundah , Brisbane , Queensland every morning going to the train station walking past a lime green Chrysler Charger ( Aussie one so same car as in the video but 2 doors ) and the panel badge said 340 ci V8 , I now know how rare that car was ! Not many 340 s were optioned in Aussie Chrysler's.
Apparently the steed was taken to America track and was one of the best handling cars
It was the previous CL they took there to help find a way to improve handling but was left untouched because it was the best handling big Chrysler they'd ever driven.
Looks like they local boys underestimated their talent.
That Sigma was a good looking car and went ok with the 2600 Astron motor
Fuel economy wasn't good though.
Great to hear some of Tommy Emmanuel’s early TV work!
The reason why the doorhandles break on the xd is because the doorhinge bushes used to wear out quickly and you had to start lifting the weight of the door to get it open by the doorhandle. Whe you open the doors on xds when car is new they usally pop open at you but not for long as i mentioned above but you can get bronze hinge bushes to overcome the inherant door issue with xds to replace the poor quality origionals.
I really admire old cars,
The base model CM Valiant by this stage had the old Regal woodgrain round instruments which was a much classier and better ergonomic design than the taxi like Ranger style instruments of the VH to CL base range .
This also has the option W32 which was a sporty looking wheel previously a Pacer, Charger R/T or 770 and Drifter item.
Bucket seats standard, so it's fair to say that the valiant eventually became almost Regal like by the CM era
I was shown a metallic green CM Valiant vinyl seats and all with factory power windows fitted. The option code was on the compliance plate and no A/C!
It's a strange trim level that CM he is driving. 3 speed column shift, but has an external appearance package (sill mouldings, bumper overriders, chrome around C pillar and under rear window) and a remote driver's mirror. I'd say it was a specially put together Chrysler press car, to push how affordable and economical a Valiant could be, but throw on some trinkets so it didn't look too much like a Yellow cab.
But, those were the days you could actually sit down at a dealership and select the options you wanted.
I once owned a CM GLX (265/ 4 speed) that was strangely optioned, came from the factory with A/C, but manual steering. Typically, if you got AC, you got PS as well.
@@TyphoonVstrom Those external features you mentioned were standard fitment on all CMs from new (except the lower C pillar chrome strip with the GLX. Can't recall the trim piece on the sill you mentioned).
Various owners removed some or all of them down the line.
The instrument clusters formerly on higher trim levels got passed down to lower levels with the introduction of the CM.
The strip speedometer formerly on the base Valiant and Ranger models was dropped and replaced with the circular instruments off the Regal and the Regal received the cluster formerly used in the top shelf Regal SE and Chrysler by Chrysler models.
@@jamesfrench7299 As someone who has owned many Valiants from VH through to CM over the years, and been involved with many more others have owned, I can safely say the exterior trim package was NOT standard on CM's.
The sill trim was a one piece, stainless moulding with three or four horizontal flutes running full length.
Remote mirrors were never standard on anything except 770's, LeBarons or by Chryslers. They were always an option that required ordering. Same with overriders, seen and owned plenty without them from new.
@@TyphoonVstrom Not correct. CMs came with bumper overriders on the front standard.
Bucket seats standard.
Trim piece running around the back originally intended as a border for vinyl roof versions standard except GLX edition.
Taillight horizontal chrome strips removed and fluted lenses left exposed.
Rear garnish area around taillights enlarged as per CL Regals.
Darker gunmetal grey used for rear garnish panels instead of silver.
(Got darker as the year models progressed).
Fatter rub strips used over the pencil thin ones in older models.
I may not have owned many (2) bit I observed (admired) many many more than you owned and they would have been fiddled with if they didn't meet the list above in any way.
My first car was a CM Valiant 245 3 on the tree ex police car ( finned drums) ELB worked got 32 mpg.my second car was a GH sigma 2.6 5 speed. I learnt a lot by fixing up the Sigma.Changed the diff from 3.42 to 3.23 to boost economy. It made it around OZ in 2008. No a/C 55deg in the car better I overheat than the car.
The finned drums were 10" - tow pack option which my CL had.
@@rossbrumby1957 Police pack on mine.
You can tell Peter loved sending it on a bit of dirt ;)
The more I watch him the more convinced how ahead of his time he was....Way ahead of others in the day😂.....I'm 55 and have been a mechanic from 16....did dozens of head gaskets on these but not a bad thing.....early Alloy heads....2.6 was a Torquey quickish car...Heads were 1 or the best to pull off...Really great cars...very solid reliable things
I'm more of a Ford man really, but I have to admit that that Commodore is a handsome looking thing, especially in that colour. From the days when a car really was a proper car and not just an anonymous looking blob full of silly touchscreens and other electronic nonsense that nobody needs.
Another reminder of when the ABC produced quality shows without the current woke agenda.
Dad had a CM Valiant when new and Mum had a GH Sigma. The sigma was the biggest heap of shit ever built. No rear seat head room used to smoke more than a chimney and the early 5 speed gearboxes left a lot to be desired. Dad also had an XD for about 3 weeks in early 1984
A Sigma 2.6L is likely the worst handling car I've ever driven...ignoring my awful 3.3 VB.
_19:25__ Peter takes his hat off to go into Borg Warner, very period correct. =)_
those early sigmas had a reputation for doing head gaskets. i'm surprised it has not been mentioned here. i'm a nissan man. have been for 40 years. a holden man before that. i was given a 'shit' mitsubishi 1986 l200 express 1 tonner. it is childish giving cars names. i've given it the name 'respect'. because this mitsubishi has earnt the name respect. i don't slag mitsi's any more. it has the gutless 2l motor. i've been told the doors and front fenders fit a ge sigma. so i think of it as a 1 tonne sigma. possibly the most underpowered car i've owned. it has my respect.
The 2.6 was a flyer . In a manual the 2 stage carby at 2800 kicked in just nice
@@Rusty_Gold85 ,is that the one with the twin throat downdraft weber? i think that is the carby that, with a bit of bullshitting around went on a datsun l18 in a 1600 station wagon after the standard hitachi played up so i removed it. boy, oh boy, didn't i have a faster car now. no rejetting required. i got the idea off a mate who put one on a gemini. after typing this i see your one was a 2 stage carby. the hitachi i removed was a 2 stage heap of shit. i'm sure the weber i had was not 2 stage.
Rusty Gold I think 2.6 they put in first Magna they made .
@@Batman-wv5ng Yep the 2.6L 'Astron' was in the Magna - in NZ we only ever got the 'Magna' in the wagon. What you guys called the Magna in a sedan was a Sigma (FWD) here and came in a 1.6L IL4, 2.0L IL4, 2.0L IL4 turbo (GSR-X) & a 3.0L V6. We didn't ever get a RWD 2.6L Sigma as shown here - only a 1.6L, 1.8L & 2.0L IIRC
Shaking my head at how far we've come in power and fuel efficiency since then...
Due to being overweight with luxury and novelties, the last big sixes were really no more economical than the hemis. And the hemis never had overdrive for economy, just light weight and an efficient motor.
im amazed he hasn't complained there to powerful usually anything that has a bit of power he bags the shit out of !
Only when when they steered, stopped, and handled like shit. And cars back then and years after did.
Great presentation
Not one car was rolled or caravan destroyed in making this programme.
Nor were any pianos dropped on a Morris Marina!
That introduction. Here is a collection of museum pieces. And here is the current Valiant. Whack!
A Leo Kotkke soundtrack. Marvellous.
Would've been interesting to do a Chrysler Valiant GLX Peter Wherrett Special .
MOMO steering wheel, Recaro Seats, Montego Alloys and Bilsteins etc
Very cool vintage.
Had the CL station wagon in 82. Rusty back then. Bought 450$
Is this the episode where Mitsubishi took on board what PW had to say about the Sigma, and built it with most of his suggested improvements as the Peter Wherrett Sigma?
Peter was a 'put up or shut up' kind of a journalist. Very good at what he did.
The sigma situation was a 'double dare you' kind of thing as memory serves. He took a Sigma they provided, worked on the car's suspension and rack, and came out with a substantially better car. Mitsubishi agreed and put it into limited production.
@@tcpnetworksspot on. Peter also slotted a 2.6 into a Commodore. At the time the 2.6 had 76kw the 3.3 Commodore 83kw. From memory he fitted extractors and due to the less weight was quicker than a 3.3 carburettor and miles ahead of the 1.9 ‘star fire’ 3 cylinder which was the 2.850 with 2 less cylinders
@@converdis449 I learned to drive in a 1.9 Commo - it was a helscape trying to keep it moving.
@@tcpnetworks😂😂😂 I remember the press had nicknamed that engine the ‘misfire’ very slow very heavy in fuel
200th Like! The type of guy that Doug Demuro idolizes
The sigma was thirsty as .. and the 2.6 drank like a v8..
Mine was good on fuel got 13km/l at 80kph. Had to be careful to get that.
The pearl neck lace makes sense now, still loved the show
You mean the gold chain?
@Suq Madiq Your comment made me chuckle all day buddy. Absolutely nailed it.
Mr MEMé ...yep, that’s Peter’s finger picking at 09:40
Yeah, the brain rot was setting in. Poor bastard needed help. At least no one thought it was normal back then. The brown eye men are loving the spotlight these days.
@@thomaselliott573 Peter Wherrett (RIP) was a legendary Australian motoring journo and a good friend of mine. Peter achieved more in life than you ever will...Peter and his brother Richard were brought up by a violent and abusive alcoholic father, yet they BOTH had very successful careers and were a credit to themselves and Australian society...unlike you, Thomas
Jeez.. that economy on the 1980s valiant is better than my 97 Fairmont
I had one of these sigmas 2.6 glx red with Scorpion Alloys gh great car as for the fuel light I just took the bulb out !!!😂lol
My first car was a 1980 XD 4 speed station wagon. I always thought it needed an extra gear.
And there were 3 speed XD's out there as well, base models.
Chrysler CM Regal SE was a nicer package ......I've always preferred Valiants to be the luxo versions
22:56 He was naturally drawn to the superior vehicle... 😛😁🤣
That digital watch! (3:00) 70's clothes with a nod to the 80's modernism.
And his bra was barely noticeable
Digital watches became common by 1977.
@@thomaselliott573 Your second comment regarding Peter's crossdressing...I would hazard a guess that you're WAY too interested, and would suggest you're a repressed transvestite. There's nothing wrong with that, Thomas...just accept yourself and you'll find peace in your life...Kind regards, Cj Murray. B. Soc. Sc. (Counselling & Psychotherapy), Dip. Teach. (Primary)
@@klyvemurray You forgot to put flaming NPC on the end of your list.