Strange 1964 Valiant

[COPO_Anders]

Yesterday a friend of mine told me his father in law had an unusual 1964 Valiant. I believe he said they were not sold as Plymouth cars over here. Instead they called them Chrysler Valiant, with different emblems than the ones used in the U.S.
The seats were reupholstered fifteen years ago but otherwise the car looks pretty much the same as when his father in law bought it. There is one detail in the second pic that should get your attention. And remember, this is a slant six car.
So, what is that detail I´m thinking about ?

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2013/02/full-666-3057-valiant_64_0021.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2013/02/full-666-3058-valiant_64_0161.jpg

[markinnaples]

The shifter?

[COPO_Anders]

Good eye Mark !
He says it has a Hemi-fourspeed from the factory. Don´t know if it actually the same as one that you would get with a Hemi but it´s huge for that little car. The Chrysler guys in the know get crazy when they show up with their (Hurst-shifter from the factory) fourspeed Valiant, at the outdoor shows.

That sheetmetal plate close to the gaspedal was also factory installed. First he thought it was added later but one of the Chrysler guys showed him a pic in a book, and it looked identical to the one in their car.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2013/02/full-666-3059-valiant_64_0141.jpg

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2013/02/full-666-3060-valiant_64_0131.jpg

[Bill Pritchard]

WOW! A Valiant Signet with bucket seats, slant six, and factory 4 speed....that is uber-cool, Anders <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif Thanks for posting.

[Fast67VelleN2O]

A few years back I had a 1965 Dart GT with a slant 6 and a factory 4 speed with bucket seats.

[flyingn]

very cool !!

[njsteve]

It may be the A833 four speed transmission but I doubt it is the 18 spline &quot;hemi&quot; version. More likely it is the 26 spline that was used at the time. If I recall, the 18 spline came out with the introduction of the street hemis in 1966?

[442w30]

I don't think they came stock with a /6 4-speed. Something's not right here.

[Canuck]

according to this web site, this was the first year for the 833 4 speed.

http://www.valiant.org/valiant/1964.html

Remember the slant 6 was a very robust engine.

[442w30]

Perhaps robust, but a 4-speed wasn't available on the /6 in later years, like in E-bodies.

But according to this 1965 item, it may have been true for earlier compacts.
http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/DealershipDataBook/1965/65_Valiant0026.jpg

[COPO_Anders]

I never thought about it being questioned so i didn´t mention that they have found a buildsheet in the car. I´ll see if he can scan it for me.

[442w30]

I posted on the Mopar board and there's mixed opinions whether it was available. I think it's an interesting topic, and right now I'm guessing the car is correct.

[Fast67VelleN2O]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 442w30</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't think they came stock with a /6 4-speed. Something's not right here. </div></div>

What about the 1965 Dart GT slant six 4 speed car that I had? When I got it, it had been sitting since 1975 and it was 100% original. Even had the original cap and wires still on it?

[John Brown]

It shows N/A with 170 engine but didn't they also have a 225 six cylinder? As I recall, the 225 was offered early on with an aluminum block.... just a little offering for ZL1 fans. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif

[442w30]

So far, I've found another /6 4-speed.

I think after 1966, they may not have been available but haven't looked into it yet.

[COPO_Anders]

One of our local Chrysler guys, Kenneth P, just visited and I had to show him these pics to get his reaction. Kenneth is more into the big cars, and one of the cars he has is a 1960 New Yorker convertible. His first comment was: I had one myself twenty years ago, bought it ten miles from here ! And he also remembered that a guy here in Anderstorp, called Anestis, had a 1964 Signet with the /6 4-speed combination back in the seventies. Different factory 4-speed cars, all three.

[jannes_z-28]

Anders!

They were probably all sold new in Sweden. The Valiant was a popular car, even used by the Swedish police.


Jan