1965 CHRYSLER WAYFARER AP6
While Valiant had well established sedans in two and four doors here and in the USA, plus a series of wagons, it wasn’t until the launch of the AP6 series in March 1965 that we got to see a ute. And it was very much a local product.
Australian designers claimed responsibility for the design and styling, which closely replicated the family-oriented cousins – a four-door sedan or wagon, in several levels of trim.
Its greatest claim to fame was its generous load space, claiming to be the biggest in its class at over 2.1m in length and 1.1m across. Naturally it had beefed-up shock absorbers all round, while the front rode on Chrysler’s favoured torsion bar front suspension and a more conventional leaf spring rear.
Here was the catch: there was no V8. A ute was a workhorse, so the glam factor was kept to a minimum and the single engine choice was the 225 Slant Six, an inline 3.7lt six tilted at 30 degrees – hence the colourful name. Though highly regarded as a tough engine, it wasn’t the most inspiring choice.
You could option either a manual or auto ( TorqueFlite) transmission, both of which were three-speed units. That was actually a substantial financial decision, as the manual cost $2120 (actually 1060 pounds), compared to $2350 for the auto (1180 quid). It was a significant premium.
The frustrating thing for the power hound was there was a perfectly good (in fact, a very good) 273 cube (4.5lt) V8 available in the sedan and wagon range. So might think that putting one in a ute these days would be straight-forward. Not so.
Just ask Ron Anderson, who restored this example and gave it what might seem the obvious
“ITS CLAIM TO FAME WAS ITS GENEROUS LOADSPACE”
upgrade – the 273. Apparently the issue is the chassis rails are different on the VE that was the host car for this powerplant, and there was an issue finding room for the oil lines to clear the steering box. In the end, the drama was solved.
Ron’s unofficial ‘factory prototype’ project began some 20 years ago when he did a deal to get the then very battered relic from someone he’d done a little work for. It was the quintessential paddock-basher out in the Mallee and, judging by the state it was in, he’s pretty sure it was used for a bit of spotlighting. There wasn’t a straight panel left.
That was a pretty typical fate. “Wayfarers sold quite well but they were a workhorse,” he explains. “People abused them, they just wore them out. When they were worn out, they were just a Valiant and nobody wanted them, so they went to the tip.”
This one may have been sad, but it was successfully resuscitated at a panel shop in Swan Hill. Once it was shipped back, Ron got to work on the mechanicals. As we mentioned, getting the 273 in was a bit of a fiddle, but the job looks factory. It’s matched to a TorqueFlite 904. What the engine is most famous for is its low-end urge. Max torque of 352Nm arrives at just 1600rpm, while max power of 180 horses (134kW ) is reached at 4200rpm.
He’s also gone for factory disc front brakes, albeit from the later VC. They were an optional fitting on the V8 cars of that generation.
For Ron and partner Megan, the Wayfarer rounds out a very nice Chrysler fleet that includes a V8 VC, a four-door Pacer and a Charger.
And what is the ute like from behind the wheel? “It’s great to drive. Just a cruiser, plenty of torque.” Amen to that. If only the factory had got around to it…
“RON'S UNOFFICIAL FACTORY PROTOTYPE BEGAN 20 YEARS AGO”