OT - but whats off topic when it comes to the difference between yanks and aussies?, or whats the same.........? Options

[wonkipop]

aussie mopar.
these things are part of my childhood.
dodge dart = everyman car?
aus version.

with a twist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKl7rB7ZxUA

[chmillman]

Along with my dad's 1960 Mercury Montclair, I learned to drive on my mom's powder blue 1963 Dodge Dart sedan with slant six and pushbutton transmission.

A couple of years back a red '63 convertible came up for sale here but I was too late, I kick myself for having missed it, would have been a blast.

The 62-63 Dodge front and rear styling was totally bizarre, but has now become iconic.

[Shivers]

1962 plymouth valiant, three on the tree with a slant six. It just kept running. Not my image.

[930cabman]

I won a brand new Ford Ranger in 1987 for winning the "Ugliest Truck Contest" here in the Western New York area. The winning truck was my personal daily, a 1967 Dodge Power Wagon 318 top loader. It was ugly. The show was part of a Monster Truck event and Bigfoot was supposed to crush the ugliest truck to cap off the show. Yes Bigfoot drove over my baby but I could have easily drove her home that night, but wouldn't have won the prize.

Mopar Rocks

[Front yard mechanic]

1962 plymouth valiant, three on the tree with a slant six. It just kept running. Not my image.

My pop brought home a valiant in 1970 for 50.00 gave it to my sister as her first car she cried for weeks. “ this has to be the ugliest car ever made “

[wonkipop]

1962 plymouth valiant, three on the tree with a slant six. It just kept running. Not my image.

My pop brought home a valiant in 1970 for 50.00 gave it to my sister as her first car she cried for weeks. “ this has to be the ugliest car ever made “

yep - we got those here. but with the steeren' wheel on the right. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
not under the dodge nameplate. was just called a chrysler valiant.
push button transmission. been years since i saw one out in the wild.

the car in question in the video linked in first post is this.
also been years since i have seen one of these.



basis for the aussie later valiants was the dennis weaver "everyman" dodge dart as per the movie DUEL. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
we got the 4 doors and the 2 doors and they were pretty much USA 67 darts but with different front and rear styling (grilles and tailights).
but according to the guy in the video the station wagon was a pure aussie confection.
he is a real valiant nerd the guy in the vid and goes right into it in detail.
known as a valiant safari here.

i have a feeling that the ute known as the wayfarer was also a pure aussie confection as well.

all this stuff predates the japanese "invasion". as i understand these were known as compacts in the USA. but here this was a BIG car. most families had them - either a holden, ford or chrysler. the everyman aussie family vehicle. either a wagon or a sedan.

[Maltese Falcon]

1962 plymouth valiant, three on the tree with a slant six. It just kept running. Not my image.

My pop brought home a valiant in 1970 for 50.00 gave it to my sister as her first car she cried for weeks. “ this has to be the ugliest car ever made “

Even Chrysler/ Plymouth chief designer Virgil Exner nicknamed his design the "Plucked Chicken " look (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)