Plymouth Valiant
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The Plymouth Valiant was an automobile manufactured by the Plymouth division of Chrysler Corporation in the United States from 1960 to 1976. It was created to give the company an entry in the compact car market which was emerging in the late 1950s. The vehicle was sold as the Chrysler Valiant in markets worldwide including Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, South America and the United Kingdom.
1960–62
In May, 1957, Chrysler president Lester Lum "Tex" Colbert set up a committee to develop a competitor for the increasingly popular small imports. Virgil Exner, Chrysler's chief stylist, designed a car that was smaller and lighter than a full-size car without sacrificing passenger and luggage space.[1] The result was the Valiant which first appeared in Fall 1959 as its own marque and was advertised as the Valiant by Chrysler Corp. The 1961 model was assigned to Plymouth, while the 1961-62 Dodge Lancer was basically a re-branded Valiant. The first generation Valiant and Lancer rode on a 106.5 in (2705 mm) wheelbase.
The Valiant was less radical in configuration than General Motors' compact Chevrolet Corvair, which had an air-cooled rear-mounted engine, and was considered more daring than the also-new Ford Falcon. The Falcon was totally conventional, while the Valiant boasted unconventional styling and a new engine, the famous Slant-6, which had its inline cylinders canted 30° to one side. This allowed a lower hoodline, a shorter overall engine—the water pump was shifted laterally—and efficient, long-branch individual-runner intake and exhaust manifolds that benefited from Chrysler's pioneering work in tuned intakes. The 170 in³ (2.8 L) engine gained a reputation for durability and dependability, partly due to the fact that the engine design was specifically engineered to support either an aluminum or a cast-iron block. Over 50,000 die-cast aluminum versions of the larger 225 in³ (3.7 L) version of the engine were produced between late 1961 and early 1963. With a Hyper-Pak dealer tuning kit, the Valiants were significantly faster and quicker than any of their competitors. Even European imports and V8 models were trounced by the Hyper-Pak Valiants at NASCAR's inaugural compact stock-car race at Daytona International Speedway. The eight Valiants entered in this race in 1960 placed 1st through 8th; after a repeat performance in 1961, NASCAR quietly cancelled the series.
The 1960 Valiant was also a Chrysler Engineering exhibition of their leadership in aluminum die-casting. While the aluminum slant-6 engine block wouldn't make it to production until 1961, the 1960 oil pump, water pump, new alternator, the Hyper-Pak and standard production intake manifolds, automatic transmission case and extension, and numerous small parts were all made of aluminum.
The Valiant platform utilized "unit-body" or "unibody" construction, not used by the Chrysler Corporation since the Airflow models of the 1930s, rather than "body-on-frame" construction. The front suspension consisted of unequal length control arms with torsion bars, while the rear suspension used a live axle supported by leaf springs. Chrysler kept this basic design for all subsequent Valiants, although revisions were made to the front suspension components themselves in 1962, 1967, 1968, and 1973.
With almost half a million first generation models produced[2], the Valiant permeated '60s American culture, showing up in countless films and television shows; a particular contrast is the white unmarked 1960 police car driven by David Janssen in Warning Shot, which appears to be the same model driven the KGB agents in The Beast of Yucca Flats.
1963–66
The Valiant was totally reskinned for 1963, with a ½ in (13 mm) shorter 106 in (2692 mm) wheelbase. The new-design Valiant was offered as a 2-door sedan, hardtop or convertible, and as a 4-door sedan or station wagon. In addition, the Plymouth Barracuda, considered by some to be the first pony car, was a fastback-bodied Valiant introduced in 1964. The Dodge Lancer, which had been almost identical to the Valiants of 1961–62, was replaced by the Dart, a new application of the name from the larger intermediate-sized 1960-62 Dodge. The Dart line included all the same body configurations as the Valiant line except the fastback used only by the Barracuda. All Darts except station wagons rode on a 111 in (2,819 mm) wheelbase, while the wagons used the Valiant's 106 inch (2,692 mm) wheelbase.
In 1964, Chrysler introduced a new lightweight 273 in³ (4.5 L) V8 engine as an option for the Valiant and Barracuda. This compact V8 engine, the first in a series that would last until 2002, was specifically designed to fit in the A-body engine compartment. With a two barrel carburettor, the 273 engine made 180 horsepower (134 kW) and 260 lbf·ft (353 N·m) of torque (SAE gross). A hotter version with 10.5:1 compression, 4-barrel carburettor, solid tappets and other modifications was also available, and produced 235 horsepower (175 kW).
Plymouth supported a team of Valiant two-door sedans in foreign rallies in 1964-1966, which often won their class.
Canadian Valiant variants
From 1960–66, Chrysler Canada marketed the Valiant at Dodge and Plymouth dealers under a standalone "Valiant" marque. The Canadian 1960–62 Valiant was visually similar to its American counterparts except the badge on the trunk lid read "by Chrysler" instead of "Plymouth". Besides minor differences in interior and exterior trim, the alternator was an extra-cost option in Canada through 1962 while it was standard equipment in America. A carburetor anti-frost system, engine block heater, battery warmer, electric car interior heater and other cold-climate items were available as factory and/or dealer-installed options. Air conditioning, which was first offered in the US 1961 models, was not made available North of the border until 1966. Some Canadian-made Auto-Lite (now Prestolite) electrical components were used in lieu of the American-production Chrysler-built components. The Windsor, Ontario plant was the source for left- and right-hand-drive export Valiants as complete knock down kits.
For 1963 and 1964, the Canadian Valiant used the US Dodge Dart body and 111 in. wheelbase with US Valiant front sheetmetal.
For 1965, Chrysler Canada sold both the 106 in (2692 mm) wheelbase Valiant and the 111 in (2819 mm) wheelbase Dart, all badged as Valiants, and all with the Dart dashboard.
For 1966, the shorter Valiant was dropped from the Canadian market, and all Valiants were rebadged US Darts.
The Canadian Barracuda, badged as the Valiant Barracuda, was built in Canada in 1964 and 1965 but was imported for 1966. Like the Valiant, the Barracuda had no Plymouth markings.
With the coming of the US-Canada Auto Pact of 1965, Chrysler could ship cars and parts both ways over the border and in 1967 the company began importing Plymouth Valiants and Dodge Darts from Detroit, as well as exporting Darts and Valiants from Windsor to the US.
1967–73
The Valiant reached its greatest heights after a total redesign in 1967, with the wheelbase now 108 in (2743 mm). Most notably the wagon versions were dropped, and the Barracuda continued the evolution begun in 1965 into its own line, which included hardtop, fastback, and convertible variants.
This generation maintained the excellent mechanical reputation earned by the earlier cars, and the range of 4-door sedans, 2-door fastbacks (the Plymouth Valiant Duster), and 2-door hardtops (the Plymouth Valiant Scamp) was very popular. Chrysler's pony cars, the Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Barracuda, was a differently-bodied Valiant from 1967–69; starting in 1970 a new Barracuda was produced on a larger E-body platform not related to the Valiant's A-body platform.
With the Valiant and closely related Dodge Dart lines, Chrysler took 40% of the total American compact car market in the early 1970s. These models also enjoyed considerable success in foreign markets, where they were often assembled by Chrysler affiliates or subsidiaries. 1970 was also the first year that the powerful 340 in³ (5.6 L) V8 engine would officially be offered in a Valiant-badged car, the Duster 340, though the 340 had been available for order in Valiants and Valiant-chassis Barracudas since 1968.
Australian Valiants; a different path emerges
It was also on this platform that the Australian Valiants began differing from their US counterparts, particularly with the VE series of 1967, the VF series of 1969 and the VG of 1970 (which featured the introduction of the HEMI 6), where the four-door sedan had a different, though related, bodyshell, more like the Dodge Dart of the time. Unlike the U.S., station-wagon and pick-up versions were also available, which were indigenous to Australia.
The Valiant VE was Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for 1967.
1971–73
The American Valiants were little changed for 1971 and 1972. There were minor engineering changes for convenience, driveability and compliance with emission regulations. Taillamps, exterior and interior trim were revised. An aggressive "shark tooth" grille was offered on the fastback Duster 340 and new-for-1971 Duster Twister models.
For 1973, all Valiant and Duster models were given a new grille and front bumpers able to withstand without damage a 5 mph (8 km/h) impact as mandated by a new US Federal law. The resultant bumpers were much more massive than the 1972 and earlier items; their added mass and the heavier impact-absorbing telescopic mounts increased the Valiant's weight.
1974–76
The Valiant sedan was transferred in 1974 to the Dart's longer 111 in (2819 mm) wheelbase; as a result, the only differences between the Valiant and Dart were minor cosmetics. For 1974, the 1973 grille was retained, but the front bumper's rubber bumperettes were replaced with chrome bumperettes. 1973's US Federal bumper standards requiring front bumpers to survive a 5mph impact were extended to rear bumpers for 1974. As a result, Valiant rear bumpers and their new impact-absorbing mount systems grew much more massive and heavier, utilizing a rubber-booted telescoping system where they attached to the car's structure.
1974 also saw the introduction of the Valiant Brougham and its twin, the Dodge Dart Special Edition. Available with two or four doors, they were a compact luxury version of the Valiant & Dart and were designed to provide an attractive oil-crisis alternative to larger luxury cars. These cars were differentiated from the regular Valiant by generous chrome trim, a vinyl top, deep cut-pile carpeting, velour cloth upholstery, interior door padding, and a scripted "Brougham" logo. Much of the optional equipment on the more basic cars became standard equipment on the Brougham models. Color-keyed or simulated wire wheel covers and a special selection of paint and trim combinations also characterized the upmarket models. Power Steering, Power Disc Brakes, and TorqueFlite automatic transmissions were standard; engine options were the 225 in³ (3.7 L) Slant-6 and the 318 in³ (5.2 L) 2-barrel carbureted small-block V8. Air Conditioning, Cruise Control, Electric Rear Window Defroster and AM/FM radio were some of the options that could be selected on the Brougham. The Brougham cars were available to the end of Valiant production.
1975 models were carry-overs from 1974 in virtually every respect, except that California and certain high-altitude models received catalytic converters and required unleaded gasoline. The grille of the Plymouth models was restyled somewhat. 1976 models were virtually identical to 1975s, aside from expanded use of catalytic converters, but can be identified by amber park/turn signal lights; previous models used clear park/turn lenses with amber bulbs.
In 1976, the somewhat larger F-body cars were introduced as Plymouth Volaré and Dodge Aspen. These replaced the Valiant (and Dart) which were discontinued in the middle of the 1976 model year. Unfortunately, the F-body cars did not maintain their predecessors' reputation for quality and durability; in fact, they reversed it. The change hurt Chrysler's reputation and profitability, contributing to its near-bankruptcy in 1979-80.
Australia (1971–81)
While generally following the progress of the American Valiant throughout the 1960s, Chrysler Australia became increasingly dissatisfied with the car's styling direction, which was becoming more box-like with each facelift. The result was that for the 1970s, Chrysler Australia developed the whole car locally, particularly from the 1971 VH model. Production continued through the CM model (released in 1979) which production ended in 1981.
References
Books
- Motor Vehicle Data Book, Sanford-Evans Communications, Ltd., Winnipeg, MB : Published annually, 1948 to date
- Valiant sales literature, Chrysler Canada Limited, 1960 to 1966.
Online
External links
- The Early Valiant & Barracuda Club (EVBC) — Club for early Valiants (1960–66) and Barracudas (1964–66)
- Valiant enthusiast page
- Valiant virtual museum
- Plymouth Scamp page
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