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Chrysler Valiant Charger VH, VJ, VK & CL
VH Valiant Charger R/T E38
VH Valiant Charger
The 1971 VH Valiant Charger was based on the Valiant VH, but was a short-wheelbase 2-door version. It could be equipped with a slant six, small V-8, or the "ordinary" 265 Hemi, an engine originally created for trucks, but abandoned in the US and developed to its full potential in Australia. The "ordinary" version had 203 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm, making it competitive with V-8s. The high-performance version was reserved for the Pacer - for now.
The Charger R/T had lower ratio differential; six-inch rims; front anti-roll bar; a tachometer and an oil pressure gauge. Stock, it could run a 15.7 second quarter mile. Optional was the "six-pack" package, using three two-barrel Webers to put the 265 up to 248 hp. The final option was the E38 engine, with a higher compression ratio, different gear ratios, and 280 hp - about 80 hp more than the standard 265! This brought the quarter mile down to 14.8 seconds, with a single gear change. Zero to 60mph was 6.3 seconds. Handling was "exceptional," possibly due to the light engine.
VH Valiant Charger with 265 Hemi
The 1972 E49 Charger was a significant move forward, and not just because it was the first to get a four-speed manual gearbox. The E49 pushed the 265 engine to a full 302 hp, and had the quickest acceleration of any Australian production car - 14.4 seconds, respectable even when compared to American big-blocks.
The 340 V-8 was Chrysler's last high-performance V-8 intended for cars. In the American Dusters, it was a match for many big-blocks, but was often underestimated in the US. The VH Charger was given the 340 as an option but it was used mainly as a status feature. It was only available in the Charger 770 E55, a full-luxury version of the Charger. With an automatic, its performance was better than the manual XA GT Falcon. Zero to 60mph was 7.2 seconds, and the quarter mile was an impressive 15.5; top speed was over 125mph! The camshaft was nonperformance and the exhaust was restrictive, so it was capable of much more.
VJ Valiant Charger
The VJ (1973 - 1975) and VK (1975 - 1976) Valiant Chargers could be bought with the 318 or the 360. The 360 was only a little faster than the 318 (quarter mile in 16.2 rather than 16.7 seconds, 0-100 mph in 25 rather than 26 seconds) but was less fuel efficient.
The final model was the CL (1976 - 1978) Charger. The Valiant name was dropped.
Price guide
As with any collectable vehicle prices vary wildly depending on rarity, factory options, condition etc. The below guide reflects conditions 5/10 - 10/10 and are based on sales prices that would not include shipping and other associated costs in getting a vehicle to the USA.
VH Valiant Charger U$6,000 - U$20,000
VH Valiant Charger R/T U$18,000 - U$60,000
VJ Valiant Charger U$5,000 - U$15,000
VK Valiant Charger U$5,000 - U$18,000
CL Valiant Charger U$4,000 - U$12,000
Interested in obtaining a Valiant Charger?
The R/T Charger is a rare car these days. Clone R/Ts are also fetching good money these days. The later model Chargers are generally less desirable here as they are back in Australia so they have not appreciated as rapidly. There are some limited edition (White Knight/Drifter) are going to be good examples to hang on to. Not only do the Mopar fans love these cars here in the USA, the appeal is wide spread across all aspects of car enthusiast. Click here for more info.
VF, VG, VH/CH, VJ Hardtop
VG Hardtop
V Series
1969 saw the introduction of the VF, with a new grille, lights, dash and optional air-conditioning. The VF range included the first hardtop. This was the longest coupe ever made in Australia, at nearly 17 feet long! The VF range brought the arrival of the first performance-oriented Valiant, the Pacer with a 225 slant-six producing 175 hp.
The VG series brought new power (but not a new look) in 1970. Its new, Australian engine used hemispherical ("Hemi") heads in a 245 cubic inch in-line six, a two-barrel carburetor, and a higher lift cam. The Pacer had a more powerful version of the same engine. The VG could run the quarter mile in 16.4 seconds; the Pacer, with a four-barrel carburetor, could do it in under 16. Sales were slow, probably due to the conservative body; the performance was beyond much of the competition.
VH Hardtop
The long wheelbase coupe in the VH and VJ series were loaded up with luxury items unseen in Australian made cars. The 2 door hardtop had an enormous trunk. They were introduced as a replacement for Chrysler Australia's previous "top-of-the-range" offering, the Dodge Phoenix, which was imported to Australia as a CKD (Complete Knock Down) kit, and assembled in Australia (using a variety of Australian Valiant parts). Only 910 VH Valiant Hardtops were produced. The VJ Valiant Hardtop only achieved total sales of some 1060 units.
Work on the powerful 245 was originally started in 1966 for American trucks, but it was never used (or finished) in the US! Chrysler never sought to use Australian ideas in the US, where the 265 Hemi Six-pack would have been the first of the really hot sixes.
VJ HardtopC Series
Chrysler Australia released the VH range in 1971. It was a major change from the preceding VG range - larger cars, which were styled to look even larger than they were. The VG was a based the US "A" body platform, but the VH was wider and longer. This model range also saw the introduction of the new limousine class vehicles, the "CH" range. The V in VH is for Valiant, and the C in CH is for Chrysler.
The CH Hardtop was a further 4 inches longer in the wheelbase than the VH Valiant Hardtop. It received a different front and rear end treatment, and had higher equipment levels.
The 2 door version of the CH had the same wheelbase as the Chrysler by Chrysler sedan, and shared the front and rear end treatment. Only 480 Chrysler Hardtops were built.
CH Hardtop
Interested in obtaining a Valiant Hardtop?
With such low production numbers these were a collectable the day they came down the production line. Unfortunately the later models were not all that popular and a lot have been destroyed over the years. Finding a good one isn't always easy. Start your search now. Click here for more info.
Contents Copyright © 2007 - Aussie Coupes .com All rights reserved
VH Valiant Charger R/T E38
VH Valiant Charger
The 1971 VH Valiant Charger was based on the Valiant VH, but was a short-wheelbase 2-door version. It could be equipped with a slant six, small V-8, or the "ordinary" 265 Hemi, an engine originally created for trucks, but abandoned in the US and developed to its full potential in Australia. The "ordinary" version had 203 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm, making it competitive with V-8s. The high-performance version was reserved for the Pacer - for now.
The Charger R/T had lower ratio differential; six-inch rims; front anti-roll bar; a tachometer and an oil pressure gauge. Stock, it could run a 15.7 second quarter mile. Optional was the "six-pack" package, using three two-barrel Webers to put the 265 up to 248 hp. The final option was the E38 engine, with a higher compression ratio, different gear ratios, and 280 hp - about 80 hp more than the standard 265! This brought the quarter mile down to 14.8 seconds, with a single gear change. Zero to 60mph was 6.3 seconds. Handling was "exceptional," possibly due to the light engine.
VH Valiant Charger with 265 Hemi
The 1972 E49 Charger was a significant move forward, and not just because it was the first to get a four-speed manual gearbox. The E49 pushed the 265 engine to a full 302 hp, and had the quickest acceleration of any Australian production car - 14.4 seconds, respectable even when compared to American big-blocks.
The 340 V-8 was Chrysler's last high-performance V-8 intended for cars. In the American Dusters, it was a match for many big-blocks, but was often underestimated in the US. The VH Charger was given the 340 as an option but it was used mainly as a status feature. It was only available in the Charger 770 E55, a full-luxury version of the Charger. With an automatic, its performance was better than the manual XA GT Falcon. Zero to 60mph was 7.2 seconds, and the quarter mile was an impressive 15.5; top speed was over 125mph! The camshaft was nonperformance and the exhaust was restrictive, so it was capable of much more.
VJ Valiant Charger
The VJ (1973 - 1975) and VK (1975 - 1976) Valiant Chargers could be bought with the 318 or the 360. The 360 was only a little faster than the 318 (quarter mile in 16.2 rather than 16.7 seconds, 0-100 mph in 25 rather than 26 seconds) but was less fuel efficient.
The final model was the CL (1976 - 1978) Charger. The Valiant name was dropped.
Price guide
As with any collectable vehicle prices vary wildly depending on rarity, factory options, condition etc. The below guide reflects conditions 5/10 - 10/10 and are based on sales prices that would not include shipping and other associated costs in getting a vehicle to the USA.
VH Valiant Charger U$6,000 - U$20,000
VH Valiant Charger R/T U$18,000 - U$60,000
VJ Valiant Charger U$5,000 - U$15,000
VK Valiant Charger U$5,000 - U$18,000
CL Valiant Charger U$4,000 - U$12,000
Interested in obtaining a Valiant Charger?
The R/T Charger is a rare car these days. Clone R/Ts are also fetching good money these days. The later model Chargers are generally less desirable here as they are back in Australia so they have not appreciated as rapidly. There are some limited edition (White Knight/Drifter) are going to be good examples to hang on to. Not only do the Mopar fans love these cars here in the USA, the appeal is wide spread across all aspects of car enthusiast. Click here for more info.
VF, VG, VH/CH, VJ Hardtop
VG Hardtop
V Series
1969 saw the introduction of the VF, with a new grille, lights, dash and optional air-conditioning. The VF range included the first hardtop. This was the longest coupe ever made in Australia, at nearly 17 feet long! The VF range brought the arrival of the first performance-oriented Valiant, the Pacer with a 225 slant-six producing 175 hp.
The VG series brought new power (but not a new look) in 1970. Its new, Australian engine used hemispherical ("Hemi") heads in a 245 cubic inch in-line six, a two-barrel carburetor, and a higher lift cam. The Pacer had a more powerful version of the same engine. The VG could run the quarter mile in 16.4 seconds; the Pacer, with a four-barrel carburetor, could do it in under 16. Sales were slow, probably due to the conservative body; the performance was beyond much of the competition.
VH Hardtop
The long wheelbase coupe in the VH and VJ series were loaded up with luxury items unseen in Australian made cars. The 2 door hardtop had an enormous trunk. They were introduced as a replacement for Chrysler Australia's previous "top-of-the-range" offering, the Dodge Phoenix, which was imported to Australia as a CKD (Complete Knock Down) kit, and assembled in Australia (using a variety of Australian Valiant parts). Only 910 VH Valiant Hardtops were produced. The VJ Valiant Hardtop only achieved total sales of some 1060 units.
Work on the powerful 245 was originally started in 1966 for American trucks, but it was never used (or finished) in the US! Chrysler never sought to use Australian ideas in the US, where the 265 Hemi Six-pack would have been the first of the really hot sixes.
VJ HardtopC Series
Chrysler Australia released the VH range in 1971. It was a major change from the preceding VG range - larger cars, which were styled to look even larger than they were. The VG was a based the US "A" body platform, but the VH was wider and longer. This model range also saw the introduction of the new limousine class vehicles, the "CH" range. The V in VH is for Valiant, and the C in CH is for Chrysler.
The CH Hardtop was a further 4 inches longer in the wheelbase than the VH Valiant Hardtop. It received a different front and rear end treatment, and had higher equipment levels.
The 2 door version of the CH had the same wheelbase as the Chrysler by Chrysler sedan, and shared the front and rear end treatment. Only 480 Chrysler Hardtops were built.
CH Hardtop
Interested in obtaining a Valiant Hardtop?
With such low production numbers these were a collectable the day they came down the production line. Unfortunately the later models were not all that popular and a lot have been destroyed over the years. Finding a good one isn't always easy. Start your search now. Click here for more info.
Contents Copyright © 2007 - Aussie Coupes .com All rights reserved
Last edited:
