Aussie Made Valiants

castellan · 13-02-2012, 06:43 PM

I have a book about the history of Chrysler in aus.

One car i did not know about was the Hillman hunter hustler a sort of VG pacer look.
Has anyone ever seen one.

A KC centura with a sportspack.

They even made a RV1 SV1 type looking it's a big RD2 dodge phoenix in 1962 with a 318 V8 in it.

And some old AP2 wayfarer and desoto diplomat ute's.

A side valve V8 simca vedette up to 1964.

**Silver Ghia** · 13-02-2012, 08:00 PM

Hillman Hunter Hustler was a basically the later Hunter 4 door sedan, but with twin carbs and other bits and pieces, and with the fancy bonnet patches and broad side stripes like what was on the 'sportier' cars in the early '70's, and the Pacer paintwork as you mentioned. The Hustler took over from the Hillman Hunter GT when the later Hunter model was released around 1970 or 1971. I remember seeing only a few back then, the Hunter was on the way out when the new Hunter model was released, not many were seen.

The Hillman Hunter GT had the distinction of winning the London to Sydney rally marathon in 1968.

The RV1 and the SV1 were commonly called the R and S series Valiants, the first of the Valiants that came to Australia, and came with the 225 slant six motor. Gave the current Fords and Holdens a jolt, and effectively started the engine wars during the '60's when they became bigger and bigger trying to outdo eachother.

Chrysler had some big cars back in the early '60's, I remember the AP2 Chrysler Wayfarers as ambulances back in the early '60's. There was also the Chrysler Royal.

2011G6E · 13-02-2012, 08:20 PM

The R and S Series sure did give the stodgy Holden and weak Falcon a big shake up...way more powerful, much stronger built, and styled out of this world for the Australian motoring public unused to such styling.

There was a thread here with a subject something like "unusual collectables"...the Hillman Hunter GT would be one...how many people even know they exist and when was the last time you saw one? I last saw one maybe fifteen years ago at a car show.

Another rarity is the Valiant Wayfarer ute. I've seen one for sale (a purple one yet!!

) when I was searching for a ute, but couldn't stretch the budget to buy it unfortunately.

Pedro · 13-02-2012, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by castellan

I have a book about the history of Chrysler in aus.

A KC Centura with a sportspack.

A side valve V8 Simca Vedette up to 1964.

I had a Centura Sportpack. Having a light body and the Valiant slant six, it was a quick car in it's day. Understeered like a pig with that heavy motor up front, but quick nontheless.

Prior to the Vedette V8, four cylinder Simcas were plentiful on Australian roads in the late 50's early 60's. They were very reliable and easy to hot up and plenty of them competed in the Armstrong 500. A guy name Laurie Oxenford was the tuner of note in Sydney. He retired to the Gold Coast and lived on The Isle of Capri, until his passing some years ago.

noosacuda · 14-02-2012, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro

I had a Centura Sportpack. Having a light body and the Valiant slant six, it was a quick car in it's day. Understeered like a pig with that heavy motor up front, but quick nontheless.

Small correction, not being ****, Centuras' had the (215 or 245) Hemi Six, not a (225) Slant Six. Slants were used up to the CL '78? model but only in some export only versions.

Pedro · 14-02-2012, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noosacuda

Small correction, not being ****, Centuras' had the (215 or 245) Hemi Six, not a (225) Slant Six. Slants were used up to the CL '78? model but only in some export only versions.

You are correct of course, it had a straight 245 six .... have to stop posting after consuming numerous health elixers.

dogwatch2 · 15-02-2012, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro

I had a Centura Sportpack. Having a light body and the Valiant slant six, it was a quick car in it's day. Understeered like a pig with that heavy motor up front, but quick nontheless.

Prior to the Vedette V8, four cylinder Simcas were plentiful on Australian roads in the late 50's early 60's. They were very reliable and easy to hot up and plenty of them competed in the Armstrong 500. A guy name Laurie Oxenford was the tuner of note in Sydney. He retired to the Gold Coast and lived on The Isle of Capri, until his passing some years ago.

The Centura had the hemi six, not the slant six in 3.5 or 4 litre size (a two lirte four was also available). I had a sport pack one two, with a slight upgrade to a 4.3 litre six , triple webers, e49 cam, etc, 225 kW +, in a 1100kg body. I loved blowing off GT's, SLR 5000's etc. Those were the days!!

TS50 · 13-02-2012, 11:35 PM

I'd love to get a copy of that book
My father had a prob a total of 15 new valiants etc over the years
inc a 360ci Chrysler by Chrysler and a 245 Centura

Pedro, the Centura didnt have the slant six did it?
Didnt Chrysler replace the slant six in the the late 60's? with the Hemi Six?
I remember we had a Dodge ute (speced down Valiant Wayfarer ute) bought in 67, that had the slant six, but in 72 when that was replaced with the VH Dodge ute, it had the Hemi 245
I dont have a huge knowledge on Valiants, just going on my memory as a kid

wrongwaynorris · 14-02-2012, 05:57 AM

I remember the gay Hunters with the floral vinyl roofs . God the 60's has a lot to answer for .

2011G6E · 14-02-2012, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrongwaynorris

I remember the gay Hunters with the floral vinyl roofs . God the 60's has a lot to answer for .

Imagine the attention one would get at a car show now if you could track down some little old granny with one sitting in her shed though...

Baby Oil · 15-02-2012, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrongwaynorris

I remember the gay Hunters with the floral vinyl roofs . God the 60's has a lot to answer for .

You seem to have an over abundant knowledge of this subject. Or was this knowledge gleaned during your cruising days you mattress muncher.
I did not know you were born in the 60's

wrongwaynorris · 17-02-2012, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Oil

You seem to have an over abundant knowledge of this subject. Or was this knowledge gleaned during your cruising days you mattress muncher.
I did not know you were born in the 60's

Yes but atleast I do not have a Mercury badge on my Ford , just who was it again that had Chev badges on his Commode at Bathurst a couple of years ago ? I think I may evan have a photograph or two of that .

TS50 · 14-02-2012, 01:30 PM

There was a Hemi 215??
I can only remember the 245 and 265, not disputing it, just was not aware
Where were CL's exported too?
The slants stopped here did they not with the introduction of the VG? which if i remember right was about 1970?

68xt · 29-02-2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TS50

There was a Hemi 215??
I can only remember the 245 and 265, not disputing it, just was not aware
Where were CL's exported too?
The slants stopped here did they not with the introduction of the VG? which if i remember right was about 1970?

yep they made the 215.

there is also a 245 industrial motor which has really thick bore walls and steel cranks. these are in high demand as they are great for boring out and stroking etc.

GT-E · 14-02-2012, 06:31 PM

I had several Centura's. All 6cyl 245ci Hemi, one was Auto in bright orange and the other was an olive sport spack with a beige vinyl roof. 4sp manual (super T10 I think), went very hard. Put a new 265 Hemi in it with tripple SU carbs and extractors. Was very quick in its day.

svo supporter · 14-02-2012, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT-E

I had several Centura's. All 6cyl 245ci Hemi, one was Auto in bright orange and the other was an olive sport spack with a beige vinyl roof. 4sp manual (super T10 I think), went very hard. Put a new 265 Hemi in it with tripple SU carbs and extractors. Was very quick in its day.

The 4 speed would have been a borg warner, if it was the factory one.

265 powered centuras are still quick to this day. I know of a couple of 318 powered ones around Adelaide, that aren't too shabby either. One I'm lead to believe has a stroker betwen the rails.

svo supporter · 14-02-2012, 06:45 PM

Centuras came equipped with a 2 litre 4 banger, a 215 Hemi and a 245 Hemi. They did trial a 265 powered Centura but the test driver said it'd be too dangerous to sell to the general public.

The sports pack was basically an upmarket version of the Centura. (Of course a little more involved). Got the brochure layig round here somewhere.

Slanties were used in export Vals with the VG through to the CL range. I don't think the CM was exported, however I'm happily corrected.

The first hemis was fitted to a VF. Not too many IMA and not real common knowledge.

gtxb67 · 14-02-2012, 06:57 PM

it is my understanding that there is no hemi 6. my mate who is a big dodge fan has claimed this and wikipedia seems to back it up

The Hemi-6 is a pushrod O.H.V. (overhead valve) engine, with combustion chambers comprising about 35% of the top of the globe. This creates what is known as a low hemispherical shaped chamber. Although the Hemi-6 does not contain truly hemispherical combustion chambers, the "Hemi" moniker was used primarily for its marketing cachet based on the reputation of Chrysler's 1950s-1970s (true) Hemi V8 engines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Hemi-6_Engine

wrongwaynorris · 14-02-2012, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtxb67

it is my understanding that there is no hemi 6. my mate who is a big dodge fan has claimed this and wikipedia seems to back it up

The Hemi-6 is a pushrod O.H.V. (overhead valve) engine, with combustion chambers comprising about 35% of the top of the globe. This creates what is known as a low hemispherical shaped chamber. Although the Hemi-6 does not contain truly hemispherical combustion chambers, the "Hemi" moniker was used primarily for its marketing cachet based on the reputation of Chrysler's 1950s-1970s (true) Hemi V8 engines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Hemi-6_Engine

Absolutely true , NONE of the 6's were Hemi's at all . It was just marketing hype running off the back of the 392 & 426 C.I. Hemi V8's with a true hemispherical combustion chamber .

HEMI POWER · 14-02-2012, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrongwaynorris

Absolutely true , NONE of the 6's were Hemi's at all . It was just marketing hype running off the back of the 392 & 426 C.I. Hemi V8's with a true hemispherical combustion chamber .

It was clever marketing, you could say a cleveland engine has more of a hemispherical combustion chamber than the Hemi 6

The 265 was and still is a stout package.

TS50 · 14-02-2012, 08:08 PM

ahh who could forget the Hemi Pacers............

GT-E · 14-02-2012, 08:45 PM

If it said 245 or 265 HEMI on the badge, it was a Hemi to me as a 18yo.
I also owned an original RT E37 Bathurst Charger with the 6 pack and 35 gallon tank (paid $3000 in 1991). I also had a CL wagon with a worked 318 fireball (paid $500).
I was a bit of a Chrysler nut in the early days.

2011G6E · 14-02-2012, 09:39 PM

Who cares about the hemi or not question...as long as you're showing a clean set of taillights to any other six cylinder available to the public at the time...

aussie muscle · 27-02-2012, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT-E

I also owned an original RT E37 Bathurst Charger with the 6 pack and 35 gallon tank (paid $3000 in 1991).

i bet you wished you still had that.

Madaya · 29-02-2012, 01:41 AM

I own an FG, XR6, ute, aluminium tray, LSD. the 245, 18's, EBA, EBD, + whatever. I still think that my younger Bro's 265 Charger (3sp man, Holley 500, extractors, split to two exhausts), would beat me....period.

Pis-ton broke · 29-02-2012, 07:48 PM

those slant sixes were know as a very relieable and tough engine, I did hear of a damaged engine block on one and the people kept on driving it. The joke in the day was that they stopped making them cause they were to good.

from memory you could put a 245 head on a 265 block and use an use a 350 Holley etc. for extra go, sorry young fellas no chips back then. Did anyone try this or similar?

those 265 Centuras were fast.

svo supporter · 29-02-2012, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pis-ton broke

those slant sixes were know as a very relieable and tough engine, I did hear of a damaged engine block on one and the people kept on driving it. The joke in the day was that they stopped making them cause they were to good.

from memory you could put a 245 head on a 265 block and use an use a 350 Holley etc. for extra go, sorry young fellas no chips back then. Did anyone try this or similar?

those 265 Centuras were fast.

Slanties were only stopped being produced about 10 years ago (Don't quote that number, but wasn't that long ago in the scheme of things)

They reckon using a 265 head on a 265 block was better.

Any 6 cyl Cenny was fast. They did test a Centura back in the day, with a 265 fitted and the test driver said no way to making them available to the general public. The 245 being fitted was iffy but it went ahead anyways.

gtxb67 · 14-02-2012, 09:43 PM

i hope all of those who don't care if it has a hemi badge or not, don't get upset with bowties on commode dores (even with a 6 cyl)

svo supporter · 14-02-2012, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtxb67

i hope all of those who don't care if it has a hemi badge or not, don't get upset with bowties on commode dores (even with a 6 cyl)

This coming from someone that claims what they post from wikipedia is 100% correct.

Just don't tell diehard Valiant fans wikipedia is 100% correct. You might have get a big shock how much bullldust is actually written about the Valiant on that site.

BTW, Fireballs were a marketing ploy with the 318's fitted to VG and VH Valiants. After those 2 models, the branding "fireball" ceased to exist.

gtxb67 · 15-02-2012, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svo supporter

This coming from someone that claims what they post from wikipedia is 100% correct.

Just don't tell diehard Valiant fans wikipedia is 100% correct. You might have get a big shock how much bullldust is actually written about the Valiant on that site.

BTW, Fireballs were a marketing ploy with the 318's fitted to VG and VH Valiants. After those 2 models, the branding "fireball" ceased to exist.

i realise that wikipedia is not always correct
however a very learned person told me that 6 cyl valiant motors are not hemis. other (it seems) citation needed learned people have backed that up

are the six cylinder valiant engines - ie. the 215, 245 and 265 hemis. except for stickers and badges, many people believe they are not

my last post was tongue in cheek, because put simply, i do not care what badge you put on your car. however if some here (and i am not accusing anyone) do not like bowties on holdens, then they cannot like hemi stickers or badges on a non hemi car . . . . . if indeed that the 215, 245 and 265 are not in fact true hemi engines

i never claimed that 6 cyl valiants were not hemi's, just suggesting what i was led to believe. i also posted a link which backed up my theory. having said that, a couple of people here have agreed, so maybe it is right

Quote:

Originally Posted by svo supporter

Just don't tell diehard Valiant fans wikipedia is 100% correct

i would never suggest that wikipedia is 100% correct at all. there are too many people out there in internet forum land that are either just trying to cause trouble or fishing for bites