Here's an unusual one...
Author
Discussion

davidgt4

Original Poster:

240 posts

275 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
Just bought a rather tatty '72 Valiant Charger (VH, a 770). Blame my growing up in Australia, a mild Bathurst fixation and a desire for a V8 muscle car. Apparently a few were officially imported by Chrysler in '73 and others have been imported over time. Need to get a fresh engine sorted so looking for something like a small block 360 Mopar, which shouldn't be too difficult to sort. Some of the RHD Valiant specific bits will be more challenging and require sourcing from Oz...

Anyone got any Australian Mopar knowledge here? Will be heading along to Mopar Day at Brooklands next weekend to network..

Before:




Hopefully something like this after:

spoodler

2,304 posts

184 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
Great stuff - I love these...
There was one down at Wheels Day this year - looked superb.
There is also one that keeps cropping up regularly on eBay at around fifteen grand...
Best of luck with it.

"Peace and Quiet" mean anything to you?

JCW

905 posts

236 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
Wow! My Dad had one of these when I grew up in WA. The advert ran along the lines of plenty of admiring glances as the car passed them on the road, accompanied by the words 'hey, Charger!' which I remember well, being immensely proud that my Dadhaf one.

Funny enough, I went back to Oz last year for the first time in 30 years and stumbled across a rotting version out in the bush - want to import it as soon as I saw it!

JCW

905 posts

236 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
Wouldn't mind seeing it in the flesh if you're amenable?

davidgt4

Original Poster:

240 posts

275 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
It didn't, but I googled the youtube clips. Quality!
Cheers
David

davidgt4

Original Poster:

240 posts

275 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
JCW

You'll be very welcome to see it once it's up and running - give it a few months or so (hopefully...)

David

85Carrera

3,503 posts

266 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
I like that. I watchedLove the beast last night. A good watch if you've not seen it and like Aussie muscle cars

Richie Howard

253 posts

197 months

Monday 21st May 2012
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Hey Charger! Nice.

Where in WA, JCW? I grew up in Fremantle.

johnfm

13,751 posts

279 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
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So many Perth boys on here! (well, three of us!)

Not seen a Charger for a few years. Or a Torana for that matter.

vetrof

3,017 posts

202 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
quotequote all
Fantastic.

That's a 6 cylinder car isn't it?

If so, how about this?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ULTIMATE-PRO-STREET-HEM...

or a crate engine from these guys

http://www.hemiperformance.com.au/store2/c_196_Cra...

Edited by vetrof on Tuesday 22 May 07:40







Edited by vetrof on Tuesday 22 May 07:41

dave stew

1,502 posts

196 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
quotequote all
Wow, very impressed. My parents emigrated to Oz 25 years ago and I've been over regularly. I remember 'discovering' the Falcon GTHOs on my first trip in the late eighties.

I've got an Aussie muscle cars set from Trax, I'll up a few pics later.

benjj

6,787 posts

192 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
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There is an interesting article in the very latest Octane magazine on some of this Oz metal.

JCW

905 posts

236 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
quotequote all
Richie Howard said:
Hey Charger! Nice.

Where in WA, JCW? I grew up in Fremantle.
Applecross. Left in the late '70s (what were my parents thinking?) and went back last year although sadly too old to get back in these days!

davidgt4

Original Poster:

240 posts

275 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
quotequote all
Yes vetrof the Bathurst racers (and the magenta pic I posted) were all potent straight sixes (E49 R/T spec I believe was the term). As well as the sixes there were also V8 road cars - mine was originally a 318ci but as I said we will go up to 360ci for added excitement. We'll aim for the R/T look but with V8 power. Back to the planning nerve centre....

Cheers
David

vetrof

3,017 posts

202 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
quotequote all
Hi David,


Good luck with the restoration. If you drop in a 340 you could go for an E55 rep.

Couple of interesting links for you.

http://www.e55chargers.com/

http://www.chargerclubofwa.asn.au/production-detai...

http://www.chargerclubofwa.asn.au/production-detai...

http://www.chargerclubofwa.asn.au/links.asp





Edited by vetrof on Tuesday 22 May 21:26

Chipchap

2,639 posts

226 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
quotequote all
Valiants were very popular in South Africa. Lots of bits n bobs must be available over there.



A

davidgt4

Original Poster:

240 posts

275 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
quotequote all
Yes agree vetrof a 340 would be nice - looking around at the moment, but feedback so far has been that getting hold of a good 360 would be easier. No firm decisions yet...
Cheers
David

roscobbc

4,040 posts

271 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
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By an odd coincidence I saw a dark blue (and primer) one of these in Victoria Park Road London E2 in a front driveway today!

Chunkychucky

6,094 posts

198 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
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RHD V8 muscle? Superb car OP, good work

vetrof

3,017 posts

202 months

Wednesday 23rd May 2012
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This guy might have a 383 spare soon.

http://www.americansuperstock.co.uk/oxley-darran