The Chrysler Company produced the Plymouth Valiant from 1960 buttoned up 1976. Intended as an entry into the compact vehivle bazaar, the Valiant got off to a slow inception due principally to the futuristic reason style designed by Chrysler Manager stylist Virgil Exner. By 1963, Exner had retired and the automaker toned down the style to brew the Valiant a good-selling vehicle. The Valiant shared the corresponding components and thing style as the Dodge Dart and Plymouth Scamp.
Power
Pre-1964 Plymouth Valiants were equipped with slant six-cylinder engines, with V8s available alpha in 1964. The 101-horsepower 170-cubic-inch single-barrel carburettor slant six (3.4-by-3.125-inch bore and stroke) if 155 ft.-lbs. of torque, and the 145-horsepower single-barrel carb 225-ci slant six (3.4-by-4.125-inch Muzzle and stroke) wielded 215 ft.-lbs. of torque. Torque gave the Valiant its get-up-and-go. Both engines had an 8.5:1 compression ratio. In 1964, the Valiant received a 273-ci V8. The single-barrel carb version of the 273 (3.63-by- 3.31-inch bore and stroke) generated 180 horsepower with an 8.8:1 compression ratio. The four-barrel carb 273 version provided 235 horsepower and a 10.5:1 compression ratio. By 1968, a 230-hp two-barrel carb 318-ci V8 (3.91-by- 3.31-inch bore and stroke), with a 10.5:1 compression ratio and developing 340 ft.-lbs. of torque, was available.
Sizes
The 1960 through 1962 Plymouth Valiant, and its clone the Lancer, sat on a 106.5-inch wheelbase, and then shrank by a half-inch from 1963 to 1966. In 1967, the wheelbase was lengthened to 108 inches, and then to 111 inches for the 1975 and 1976 models. The 1967 models were 188.4 inches long, 71.1 inches wide and 54 inches tall.For its final year, Plymouth offered the 1976 Valiant as a police pursuit car. These cars kept the 111-inch wheelbase, but the length grew to 199.6 inches. The 1976 model featured Unibody construction, an electronic ignition and a four-barrel 220-horsepower 360-cubic-inch V8.
Chassis
Throughout its production run, the Plymouth Valiant was equipped with front torsion bar suspension and leaf springs in the rear with a Hotchkiss drive, hypoid rear axle. Depending on the engine, the rear axle ratios were 2.76:1, 2.93:1, 3.23:1, 3.55:1 and 3.91:1. Early models featured Bendix 9-inch front drum brakes and 10-inch rear drums. Later models came with optional front disc brakes, although the rear brake remained 10-inch drums. Three- and four-speed manual transmissions were standard throughout the production run. An automatic was an option.
Police Pursuit Car
Front headroom for the 1967 Valiant was 38.4 inches, and the rear headroom was 37.3 inches. Front legroom was 40.8 inches, with the rear offering 35.4 inches of legroom. Early Valiants rode on 13-inch steel wheels, and later models on 14-inch wheels. The fuel tank carried 18 gallons. The 318 was still available, but only generated 145 horsepower. The suspension and radiator were beefed up and the diameter of the rear drum brakes was enlarged to 11 inches. Power front disc brakes came on all Valiant police cars. The police pursuit version also received a dual exhaust system and a recalibrated speedometer to read up to 120 mph.
