CHRYSLER VALIANT AP5-AP6

HAVING GAINED THE MARKET'S ATTENTION WITH GLAMOROUS IMPORTS CHRYSLER PROCEEDED TO PRODUCE A WORTHY FAMILY CAR LOCALLY

For the better part of 15 years, Holden held the Australian ‘family car’ market in a grip that remained undiminished even after the arrival of challengers from Ford and Chrysler.

Both Ford’s Falcon and the Chrysler Valiant were initially adapted to Australian market needs rather than designed specifically to meet them. That changed in May 1963 when the exotically shaped R and S Series Valiants were replaced by the more conservative AP5.

The letters stood for ‘Australian Production’ and, even though the cars resembled US versions, just six items of AP5 sheet-metal were US-sourced.

Almost 50,000 AP5s were sold before being replaced in March 1965 by the AP6 range. It remained available for only a year yet 43,434 of this popular local Chrysler were sold and they remain easy to find.

These models were the first Australian Valiants to offer a station wagon which, like Ford’s Falcon, featured a wind-down tailgate window. Physically bigger than either the Falcon or Holden’s EH model, Valiant wagons would accommodate loads up to seven feet (2.15 metres) in length.

Regal versions of the AP5 and AP6 were fitted with a ‘split bench’ front seat, standard heater/demister, a two-tone steering wheel, white-wall tyres and courtesy lights that operated when any of the doors were opened. There was a V8 version too, Australia’s first family car with an eight cylinder engine.

The V8 model came with vinyl roof covering, floor-mounted gear-lever and genuine bucket seats, carpet extending to the

boot and a top speed of 167km/h. Brakes were power-assisted drums and the tyres skimpy cross-plys.

Away from a standstill, the torque of the 3.6-litre ‘Slant Six’ would leave rivals including the 179-engined Holden, well behind in a haze of rubber smoke. Tests at the time extracted a 0-96km/h time from an AP5 manual of 13.1 seconds – 0.8 seconds better than a manual EH.

These Valiants are roomy cars with plenty of space for six. However it is unlikely there will be sufficient seat belts for that number, so care during family cruises is required.

Less than $10,000 will buy a base-model sedan or wagon in usable condition. Regals in fair condition begin at $15,000 and will run to double that amount if a car is a quality original or recent restoration.