The all-new Austrian Valiant (VH) and Chrysler (CH) models arrived in 1971, replacing their boxy US-Valiant-based predecessors. These were the first really all-new Chrysler AUS models, although they certainly have more than a touch of family resemblance. This Chrysler Regal sat on a 115″ wheelbase; the lesser Valiant sedans on a 111″ version. Power was by the unique hemi-six, in the largest 265 cubic inch size, or the Australian-built 318 and 360 inch V8s.
Bryce has a raft of pictures he’s been posting at the Cohort; make sure you check them out.
I readed once one article of Collectible Automobile about the Duster. Then the A-body Dart/Valiant/Duster was scheduled to be redesigned for ’72 (but tight budgets forced to cancel the project) with more rounded lines? I wondered if these Aussie Chrysler could had been a proposed redesigned A-body for the US as well?
To think then that Regal got a 115″ wheelbase (and the Argentinian Dodge GTX had a 114″ wheelbase, the link go to the Spanish Wikipedia), we could wonder if Chrysler had underestimate the potential of the A-body? Just imagine stretching the A-body Dart to be almost long as the B-body Coronet. We could had a EEA (Every Extended A-body) instead of EEK (Every Extended K-car).
Also, the Aussie A-body spanned the Aussie Charger and its “Hemi 6-Pack”, it was awarded Car of the Year by the Australian magazine Wheels in 1971.
The Valiant Charger was THE car on this side of the Tasman the B&H race was won by Chargers for many years and consequently Valiants were a popular car. The 265 engine was grunty for its day and with a trio of webbers hanging off it was unbeaten for 6cylinder performance for 20 years or more even stock a 265 powered Val could go hard. I used to tow a caravan with a 265 Regal and hills didnt exist performance was down a bit with the van on and fuel consumption was about 15 mpg down from 22 but the car cruised well at 110 kmh My car had 145psi air shocks at the back and with torsion bars up front the suspension could be easily tuned I also had the optional 7inch wide Charger rims which helped and without the caravan on it could happily cruise at 160 kmh and corner flat, a very nice car to drive.
My father was born in Austria. It says Australia on his US passport.
Hah!
For the first few decades in the US, most Americans would say “Oh, Australia!” when I told them where I was from.
That is if they weren’t thinking Australia was in Europe…
Not quite as handsome as its South American cousins, but cool nonetheless! It sort of makes me wonder what a 4-door Duster would have looked like. That was a much more viable nameplate than Satellite by the mid-’70s – maybe they should have let it grow into a midsize, letting the Valiants hold down the entry level slot?
Here are some great photos of a coupe. What the ’73 US Dart should have been…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterellenbogen/tags/regal/
Those shots are of a VH hard top in Regal trim with 245 engine.Same colour and trim options as the VJ 4door I owned Sienna /bone vynyl roof
These hardtops are pretty rare as there was little demand for 2-doors (then and now), and they were only available for two models as the higher Regal trim so they weren’t cheap. 17,646 built (all trim levels) in 4 years.
There were some built as Chryler by Chrysler in top o the range trim A friend of mine in Mudgee has one, If you ordered it Chrysler would build it there is at least one factory E49 ute with full R/T track package so personally specced cars could be got in OZ.
Yes those too, it would be interesting to see production numbers but I wouldn’t be surprised if a good proportion were the top-spec Chrysler by Chrysler when you are talking about an already indulgent car. Probably larger numbers than the Ford Landau but you see more of those around now.
Interesting. For some reason it gives off a AMC sort of vibe to me. Maybe that is just the brown color and almost AMC-ish door handles talking.
I got the same impression. In the pool, I noticed a lot of similar between this and the Ford from the same era, including the same AMC look.
Those door handles are awfull and break if you look at them hard I doubt they are available now and were hard to get 20 years ago
It does look like an Ambassador, doesn’t it?
I have no complaints. I’ve been driving 70s Valiants for more than 20 years and never had a door handle go. Probably because they’re not made of plastic.
Chrysler Matador. What else can I say?
Unless the NZ model range was different, this appears to be a Chrysler by Chrysler (CH model desigantion), as these were the only model to get the ‘full loop’ bumper and long wheelbase.
The Valiant trim levels were plain Valiant, Ranger, Ranger XL, Pacer, Regal and Regal 770
The model range was the same but trim levels were different loose pillow brouham kit upholstery was at a lower level and no vynyl interior Regals. Same deal on Holdens and Falcons even now NZ had standardized models thruout the range but they differ from OZ models like the Holden Royals and GTS models in VL/VN those couldnt be bought in OZ
Certainly has the Chrysler-by-Chrysler front end on it. I always liked that full-loop bumper. The local community paper here is edited by a petrolhead, and they regularly do a feature of special local classics. They recently did one on a ’73 Chrysler-by-Chrysler 360 V8 that’s still with its original owner.
It’s funny how our perceptions of cars change with time – as a child in 1982, my standard 2 (year 3 in America) teacher had a ’76 Valiant Regal. Big green monster with stunningly convex hubcaps. Man I hated that thing. To 8-year-old me it was a disproportionate and scary-looking car that I couldn’t see out of. Yet now, years later when I’ve learned about the ’70s American Chryslers, and especially the fuselage look, I can actually appreciate how the Australian Valiant fitted style-wise in the wider world of Chrysler. I no longer dislike them – I wouldn’t buy one, but I now appreciate and respect the cars and those who buy them. And that 265 was a fantastic engine!
I love these things, and as a die-hard Mopar geek, they are a level of exotica that we just didn’t get when I was a kid in Kansas. I do wonder why dirt-poor Chrysler didn’t just build LHD variants of these instead of the money they wasted on the Aspen/Volare development. The late 70s variants were particularly broughamy, and if not a quantum leap forward in quality over the Volare, were at least proven. They were different enough from the Valiant/Dart to seem upmarket, and in Australia aimed at a different buyer than the Valiant did in the states.
I had a ’70 Sport Fury which is a dead ringer for this car, down to the metallic Bronze paintwork. This Regal is crying out for hidden headlamps.
The estate is a wonderful beast too- think 4/5 scale Satellite wagon, and there was also a 2 door van version that was converted into conversion van- a Pinto Cruizin Wagon that you can actually sleep in (or whatever.) I’m sure there are many 35 year old Australians whose journey to life began here.