Chrysler Valiant |
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Chrysler would become the third major player
in the Australian automotive marketplace, and
the timing couldn’t have been better. Chrysler
distributors had been finding it increasingly
difficult to offload the large and more expensive
US sedans in the face of competition from the
all-conquering Holden, even sales of the Simca
were in decline.
Following the lead of Ford to
assemble an American compact sedan for the Australian
market, Chrysler imported just over 1000 R series
Valiant sedans to be assembled at their Mile
End facility in Adelaide.
The R Series was far
sleeker and more modern looking than Holden’s
EK, and the recently introduced Falcon XK was
beginning to suffer reliability problems on the
tough Aussie roads – it is no wonder then
that the original shipment of R Series Valiant’s
sold out in days.
Buoyed by the success,
Chrysler would undertake the serious importing
of S series components for assembly, some 10,000
units rolling of the production line and into
the hands of eagerly awaiting purchasers during
1962. Unable to meet demand for the Valiant,
Chrysler undertook the $36 million construction
of their Tonsley Park facility, and by 1963 the
new AP5’s would be rolling off the line,
boasting high local content and local design
initiatives to ensure the cars suitability to
Australian roads.
Despite doubling the expansion
to some $72 million, Chrysler’s biggest
problem was in meeting demand. In 1965 Chrysler
acquired Rootes Australia and assumed control
of their Melbourne manufacturing and assembling
facilities, helping bolster production output
and putting Chrysler firmly in 3rd spot on the
new car sales chart, having a 13.5% share.
The
best days for the marque are unquestionably the
1960’s, the brand simply unable to keep
up with Holden and Ford during the 1970’s
and slowly loosing ground, despite such wonderful
iterations as the Pacer and Charger. Also see
Chrysler History
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1962 - 1962
Understanding the R series Valiant requires taking a
look back in time so that the car can be put into perspective. More>> |
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1962 - 1963
The Valiant "S" series, or SV-1, was an evolution
of the R Series, it continuing the theme of a US design
being locally assembled. More>> |
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1963 - 1965
It was in 1963, with the introduction of the
AP5, that Chrysler Australia began manufacturing Valiant’s
rather than just assembling them. More>>
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1965 - 1966
The Valiant AP6 was an evolution of the AP5, having
a facelifted split grille and introducing to the range
the V8 engined Valiant "Regal", along with
the “Wayfarer” utility. More>> |
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1965 - 1966
The release of the VC Valiant heralded
the true beginning of the “Battle of the Big Three”.
The Chrysler stylists had been busy creating a car that
looked longer, lower and sleeker than any previous model,
even though it was basically only a facelift of the previous
AP5/AP6 design. More>> |
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1967 - 1969
The Valiant VE was an all new design, the bodywork sharing
some sheet-metal with the US Plymouth Valiant and Dodge
Dart; despite the US content the VE was unquestionably
the most Australian Valiant to date. More>> |
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1969 - 1970
For our money,
the face-lifted VF ushered in a new elegance and style
lacking in so much of the competition, and with the introduction
of the “Pacer” Chrysler clearly indicated
the new found good looks would be matched by equally
impressive performance. More>> |
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1970 - 1973
Differentiating the VF over its predecessor is a little
like playing a “spot the difference” test
in a weekly magazine. Externally there were very few
differences, apart from the now rectangular front lights,
while the interior remained almost identical in every
way. More>> |
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1971 - 1973
There was a collective sigh from Valiant aficionados
in 1971 with the release of the all-new VH, particularly
with those salivating for new Chrysler sheet metal. More>> |
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1971 - 1973
The Chrysler by Chrysler CH model was released
in November 1971 in both two and four door models.
Released as a replacement to the ever popular VIP model,
the Chrysler CH moved even further up the luxury ladder,
and was often described as a “limousine”.
More>> |
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1973 - 1975
By the time of the release of the VJ Valiant,
Chrysler’s market share was in its fourth consecutive
year of decline. More>> |
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1975 - 1976
The VK Valiant was yet another mild makeover of
the previous VH and VJ models. The obligatory new grille
design combined with a revised tail light assembly made
up the more obvious of only a handful of changes, leaving
many to ask why Chrysler had indeed bothered.
More>> |
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1976 - 1978
The CL Valiant was supposed to be something
special. Chrysler had been touting the fact that the
all new Valiant VL would be an Australianised edition
of the Plymouth Volare / Dodge Aspen intermediate sized
car proving to be very popular in the US. More>> |
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1976 - 1978
The model range of the CL was certainly nowhere
near the heady days of the VH series, when 56 different
model variants were available. The development then of an entirely new model seemed
at odds with the conservative approach being taken by Chrysler.
More>> |
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1978 - 1981
The last re-styling and packaging of the 1971
VH design was to be seen in the CM Series Valiant – unfortunately
this would also be the last of the prestigious lineage
of Valiant’s that had graced our shores since
1962’s introduction of the “R” series.
More>> |
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