Coastal California has the perfect convertible climate: lots of sun, but it’s not too hot or humid. Folks just leave their tops down; or at least they used too, before convertibles became so tony and precious and air conditioned. None of that applies to this ’65 Valiant ragtop, it doesn’t even have a top anymore. It’s the kind of car one used to see a lot in certain locales, especially in beach towns, as they rather reflected a laid back life style, and not caring what other folks thought about the condition of your car, especially its interior.
William Garret found and shot this one in San Jose, and it so typifies the California lifestyle. The series of hundreds of stills on Sunset Boulevard shot in 1966 that we posted here showed how popular these compact Valiants and Darts were of the 1963 – 1966 vintage; they were clearly the forerunners of the Mustang, as buyers gravitated to something compact and sporty without giving up certain American car qualities. And convertibles were an unusually high percentage of all the cars seen in that series.
William noted that he’d driven by this car for months before he stopped, and it always had the top down. And when he shot it, it appeared that there apparently was no top anyway. It rather explains the sunburned interior.
Lacking a V8 emblem, we can be pretty sure that a 225 slant six has been leaning against the torque converter of the Torqueflite transmission for some 57 years now.
The California climate is a lot easier on paint and steel than it is on upholstery.
A most pleasing and enjoyable entry.
Once again Paul and I agree.
If offered at a reasonable price, that is a car I would pounce on. Everything mechanical would be easy to work on, and shops that could do a good job on upholstery are common in California. The body is straight enough and all there. It even has 14″ wheels, not the standard 13 inchers.
I have a 1965 Plymouth for sale not a convertible.
This is great! I would have love to drive this, though I would probably have to invest in reupholstering the seat in some hardy vinyl, thus ruining the devil-may-care attitude it has been able to maintain for decades longer than a car so neglected should expect to survive.
I’d be a bit worried about cats relieving themselves on the soft foam of the front seats. I wonder if holes were drilled in the floorboards to allow for water drainage in the occasional heavy SoCal rains. Or maybe rust created holes naturally. Are the windows up for “security”, to minimize drafts or are they just stuck in the up position? It looks like I’m incapable of being laid back enough to use this car as is, but I admire the owner who is.
I suspect the windows were up to help “tent” the tarp that would sometimes be pulled out to keep the interior dry. As best as I can figure, the owner would pull out the tarp if they knew rain was coming or if was going to rain for several days in a row. Otherwise, it would just sit there completely open to the elements. But the car was often in different spots, so it definitely drove.
You’d have to be laid back to rock this car. I imagine a guy that kinda looks like Jack Black, wearing an Hawaiian shirt and shades would own this.
This was the ‘Top of the line’ Valiant in ‘65 other than the Barracuda. The 14” wheels and tires were an option as was the front and rear ‘Bumper Guards’ which even my mother’s new Barracuda did not get. Mother didn’t even want the AM radio, too much of a distraction while driving.
I used to live in the same neighborhood as this Valiant. I moved a couple of years ago, so no idea is it’s still there, blissfully giving the middle finger to weather and the local raccoons.
Wonder when the inspection sticker expired, to give us an idea of how ling it’s been out in the sun?.
I think that my “car improver” tendencies would not allow me to drive this one as-is. Actually, that nasty bare foam seat would be another reason. This car screams for use as the destination for all the nice trim parts from a nicely preserved but rusty example from my own area.
I had a friend in college who had one just like this, except black. His interior looked exactly like that.
Thing is, his was a hard top.
I will say though that those aftermarket seat cushions worked rather well for swatting out the unhood fires that his was periodically subject to.
My favorite high school English teacher drove a red Valiant convertible like this, though I seem to recall that his had white upholstery. And it was only six-seven years old, and in great condition at the time. I can only visualize it with the top down, too … despite being a Valiant, we all thought it was a very cool ride for a teacher, though perhaps not quite as cool as our woodshop teacher’s ‘65 Chevy wagon with 327 and 4 speed. This was in San Francisco.
I hope that the owner has the money to restore this sweetheart. That is a fun ride. If you are over 70 (I sure am!) you can pick up over chicks (hens, really) who are over 70 with this in restored condition. Take the gals to the pharmacy, then for ice cream and then … NAAAH – just take them home!
Somebody needs to save this car! Worthwhile project.
Another nice old MoPar still doing yeoman duty……
-Nate
Just enough grunge to extinguish a joyriders enthusiasm but not the owners. Wipe off that scowl and sit on a towel. Add a quick release steering wheel and park anywhere you want.
I bet this thing still has the single circuit brake system, add a MICO brake lock in an inconspicuous place and don’t worry .
-Nate
Correct molded carpet available for less than $200 for this car. Top kit, less than $250. Just buff the paint. Depends on the rust situation.
I had same car in the 80s…dog in da back seat & off to Santa Cruz !
Valiant abuse: The Flim Flam Man.
I have 60s Ford Galaxie as my daily driver
Love attention and rumble of the big engine
Had a valiant convertible but it not a chick
Magnetic like the 64Galaxie