Chrysler AP5 Valiant | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Chrysler Australia |
Production | May 1963 – February 1965 [1] 49,440 produced [1] |
Assembly | Mile End Australia [2] Tonsley Park, Australia [1] New Zealand [3] |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 4-door sedan [1] 5-door station wagon [1] |
Layout | FR layout [1] |
Related | Plymouth Valiant |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 225 cu in (3.7 L) I6 [1] |
Transmission | 3-speed manual [1] 3-speed automatic [1] |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 106.0 inches (2692 mm) [1] |
Length | 185.4 inches (4709 mm) [1] |
Width | 69.0 inches (1753 mm) [1] |
Height | 55.0 inches (1387 mm) [1] |
Curb weight | 2679 lb (1213 kg) [1] |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Chrysler SV1 Valiant [1] |
Successor | Chrysler AP6 Valiant [1] |
The Chrysler AP5 Valiant is an automobile produced by Chrysler Australia from 1963 until 1965. [1] It was the third Chrysler Valiant model to be produced in Australia.
The AP5 Valiant was released in May 1963, replacing the SV1 Valiant. [1] It was the first Valiant model to be manufactured in Australia rather than just assembled there. [4] The AP5 featured entirely new sheet-metal, with most body panels produced in Australia. [4] It differed from the US Plymouth Valiant in having a six-bar grille, [5] a larger boot with a different rear deck and a flat rear window. [4] The 225 cid slant six engine was carried over from the SV1 model and remained fully imported. [4] Suspension was substantially unchanged but employed softer rear springs. [4]
The AP5 range was increased to include the upmarket Valiant Regal which featured different badgework, better seats and interior trim, auto transmission as standard, a heater with integrated demister, carpets and white-wall tyres. [4] In November 1963, Safari and Regal Safari station wagons were added to the range. [4] The wagons shared mechanical components and front styling with the sedans and were fitted with heavier rear springs. [4] US Plymouth Valiant wagon rear sheetmetal was used, resulting in different rear end styling depending on production dates. Early build AP5 wagons used 1963 Plymouth Valiant wagon horizontal style tail lights while later build wagons used 1964 Plymouth Valiant wagon vertical style tail lights. [6] Both versions incorporated amber turn signals to comply with Australian regulations.
The AP5 was marketed by Chrysler Australia as the "Valiant by Chrysler" [7] [8] rather than as the Chrysler Valiant.
The AP5 Valiant was offered with 4-door sedan and 5-door station wagon body styles [1] in six models. [9]
The sedans were introduced in May 1963 [1] and the wagons in November 1963. [4]
A 225 cu in (3.7 L) Straight-six engine was fitted to all models. [1] Three-speed manual and three-speed "TorqueFlite" push button operated automatic transmissions were offered, with the latter fitted as standard on Regal models. [9]
A total of 49,440 AP5 Valiants were built prior to its replacement by the AP6 Valiant in February 1965. [1] Of this total, 37,292 were sedans and 12,148 were wagons. [10]
An AP5 Valiant driven by Tony Reynolds and Tony Allen won Class D in the 1963 Armstrong 500 endurance race at Mount Panorama, Bathurst. [11]
The Plymouth Valiant is an automobile which was marketed by the Plymouth division of the Chrysler Corporation in the United States from the model years of 1960 through 1976. It was created to give the company an entry in the compact car market emerging in the late 1950s. The Valiant was also built and marketed, without the Plymouth brand, worldwide in countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as other countries in South America and Western Europe. It became well known for its excellent durability and reliability, and was one of Chrysler's best-selling automobiles during the 1960s and 1970s, helping to keep the company solvent during an economic downturn.
The Dodge Dart is a line of large passenger cars produced by Dodge from the 1959 to 1976 model years in North America, with production extended to later years in various other markets.
The Chrysler Valiant was a full-size car which was sold by Chrysler Australia between 1962 and 1981. Initially a rebadged locally assembled Plymouth Valiant from the United States, from the second generation launched in 1963, the Valiant was fully manufactured in Australia. It was sold locally but also in New Zealand and South Africa, with smaller numbers also exported to South-East Asia and the United Kingdom.
The Dodge Polara is an automobile introduced in the United States for the 1960 model year as Dodge's top-of-the-line full-size car. After the introduction of the Dodge Custom 880 in 1962, the Polara nameplate designated a step below the full-sized best-trimmed Dodge model; the Polara that year had been downsized to what was in effect intermediate, or mid-size status. In its various forms, the Polara name was used by Dodge until 1973, when its position in Dodge's line-up was replaced by the Dodge Monaco.
Fiat Chrysler Australia, officially FCA Australia, is the official Stellantis subsidiary in that country, operating as distributor of Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Abarth, Alfa Romeo and Fiat vehicles. However, there had previously been a "Chrysler Australia Ltd" which had operated as a vehicle manufacturer in Australia from 1951 until 1980, and was subsequently taken over by Mitsubishi Motors Australia.
The Chrysler Royal is an automobile which was produced by Chrysler Australia from 1957 to 1963. After investing in tooling to stamp body panels for the 1954 P25 series Plymouth locally, and with Chrysler headquarters in Detroit unwilling to assist in the costs of retooling for the new US models, Chrysler Australia made the decision to develop their own range, using as much of the existing tooling as possible, whilst also realising that the new car had to appear as different as possible. The doors and basic structure of the P25 sedan was retained, and with input from Australian and American Chrysler designers, the 1955 US Plymouth front sheetmetal was adapted to the P25 body and the rear quarter panels redesigned. They also added a wraparound rear windscreen, which caused development problems with Pilkington Glass, the Australian suppliers, who struggled to get the correct curved shape.
The Dodge Phoenix is an automobile which was produced by Chrysler Australia from 1960 to 1972.
The Chrysler VIP is an automobile which was produced by Chrysler Australia from 1969 to 1971. It is an extended wheelbase, luxury variant of the Australian developed Chrysler Valiant.
The Chrysler Valiant (SV1) is an automobile which was produced in Australia from March 1962 to April 1963 by Chrysler Australia. It was the second Australian Chrysler Valiant model, replacing the RV1
The Chrysler VH Valiant is an automobile which was produced by Chrysler Australia from June 1971 to March 1973. It replaced the VG series Valiant and was the first Valiant model to be a uniquely Australian design.
The Chrysler VJ Valiant is an automobile which was produced by Chrysler Australia from 1973 to 1975. It replaced the Chrysler VH Valiant and was a facelifted and revised version of that model. The VJ series Valiant was the tenth Chrysler Valiant model from Chrysler Australia.
The Chrysler VC Valiant is an automobile that was produced in Australia by Chrysler Australia from 1966 to 1967. It was released in March 1966, replacing the Chrysler AP6 Valiant. The VC was the fifth Chrysler Valiant model to be produced in Australia.
The Chrysler VE Valiant is an automobile that was produced in Australia by Chrysler Australia from 1967 to 1969. It was released in October 1967, replacing the Chrysler VC Valiant. The premium model in the range was renamed Valiant VIP due to the V8 engine becoming an option across the entire range.
The Chrysler VF Valiant is an automobile that was produced in Australia by Chrysler Australia from 1969 to 1970. It was released in March 1969, replacing the Chrysler VE Valiant.
The Chrysler CM Valiant is an automobile that was produced in Australia by Chrysler Australia from 1978 to 1980 and subsequently by Mitsubishi Australia from 1980 to 1981. It was a facelifted and revised version of the Chrysler CL Valiant, which it replaced. It was the last Australian Chrysler Valiant.
The Chrysler Valiant (RV1) is an automobile which was produced in Australia from January 1962 to March 1962 by Chrysler Australia. It was the first Australian Chrysler Valiant model.
The Chrysler Valiant (CL) is an automobile which was produced in Australia by Chrysler Australia from 1976 to 1978. The CL, which was the twelfth Australian Chrysler Valiant model, replaced the Chrysler Valiant (VK). It was also built in South Africa by Sigma, who marketed it there as the Chrysler SE.
The Chrysler Valiant (VK) is an automobile which was produced by Chrysler Australia from October 1975 to October 1976. It was the eleventh Australian produced Chrysler Valiant series.
The Chrysler Valiant AP6 is an automobile which was produced by Chrysler Australia from 1965 to 1966. It was the fourth Chrysler Valiant model produced in Australia.
The Chrysler Valiant (VG) is an automobile which was produced by Chrysler Australia from 1970 to 1971. It was the eighth Chrysler Valiant model to be produced in Australia.
AP5 Valiant - Ranleys