Chrysler Valiant R Series. Part 1 of a new Chrysler Valiant History Series.

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. 👍

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 👍

STOP INTERRUPTING MARK MID-WORD FOR THESE BULLSHIT ADS! NO ONE WANTS TO SEE HOW TO MAKE YOUR TOO RISE!!!!!

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.

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!

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.

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

many good memories of my neighbors Valiant and 225 six, excellent smooth running engine, very decent torque and a great sound for a six...

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

Did you blokes ever turn these into utes? I know you could get a falcon as a ute.

Over here mate we call it the toilet seat.

I just dont understand the people from Chrysler to alloy that monstrosity to be manufactured. awful looking car.

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!

Informative thanks Mark

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.

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!!!!!!

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.

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!

Hey, back off! No one wants to inspect your dental hygiene!

Enjoy discovering new details of valiants and Chrysler. Looking forward to your next. Thanks Mark.

These were on the road when I was a kid. I thought they were ugly as sin then and still do.

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.

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.

Another beauty, Mark!

👍👍👍there not dated in my book .

Was the station wagon version, the one with estate faux wooden panelling on the side?

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.

Cars were better back then. But we still do now have flat plane crank v8 Corvettes, though, which sound amazing in their own right. 😁

I just learnt something, I thought there was only the S Series that looked like this. 😊

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.

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

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

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 👌👍👍

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

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!

Very interesting. The Valiant motor was so much better.

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.

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.

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.

Your and Cold War motors channels have a lot n common

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.

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. 🙂

Yep I no him and his brother good people

My mate has one from brand new

🥝✔️

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.

Love your work my. Father used to sell variants I love them

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 👍👍

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