Unusual Valiant wagon

In North America, there were no Valiant or Dart wagons after the 66 model year. In Australia, the Valiant wagon continued with front end sheet metal from the 67-68 Dart and an Australian built wagon body. But heres a South African 68 Valiant wagon. It used the 68 American Valiant front end, and the Australian Valiant wagon body and frame.
I expect this was done since the Mopars in South Africa were mostly shipped over from the US in knocked down form and assembled in Chrysler's facilities in South Africa. The Australian wagon body was likely shipped over to South Africa to give them a station wagon model to offer along side the right hand drive versions of the American 68 Barracuda fastback, 68 Valiant 4 door sedan, and 68 Dart 4 door sedan.
Other than a couple photos, I've never seen one of these. They wouldn't have been sold anywhere in the world besides South Africa and I'm guessing there can't be many left at all.



(I borrowed this photo from the For A Bodies Only Mopar Forum.)

 

Wowww,,, Thats actually kinda intereesting...

I could get into that.. yupppp

 

The greenhouse could be a twin to the '66-'67 Chevy Nova wagon.......probably pretty close in size, too.

 

i love it, this wagon would be just the right size for the uk, as much as i love a full size wagon our garages aint built big enought to park one in even parking spaces on the street would be a head ache, i drove a lincoln mk 5 for a while (not mine i glad to say ) and i had troble finding anywhere in town to park it,

 

Even in the US where really big land yachts started its getting harder to find parking. As they reline/redo parking lots they seem to be making the slots smaller and shorter.

I watch TopGear on BBCA a lot and see how you could have trouble parking that Lincoln MK 5...

Do you know if the Valiant wagon has the Slant 6 in it? I don't know much about Aussie motors. A lot of Valiant models here had that motor, my cousin had one, not much power but you couldn't kill it. (and she could break ANYTHING!)

 

Wow indeed! That is one cool wagon. My neighbors have a 77 Dodge Aspen with a slant 6 engine. Been in the family for 15 +/- years and is still going strong.

 

The South African 68 Barracuda, and Valiant (and probably Dart as well) were only available with the slant six. To my knowledge, no V-8 was available at that time.

But in Australia, where the Australian design Valiant sedans and wagons featured the North American Dart front sheet metal in 68, there was a choice of Slant six or 318 V-8 engines.



It wasn't till the 1970 Valiant VG that the powerful Australian made "Hemi Six" replaced the slant six. Starting in 69, the Australian Valiant no longer shared its front end sheet metal with the North American Darts or Valiants. Below is a 70 Valiant VG.


In 71 the Australian Valiants were completely redesigned and were a completely Australian designed and manufactured vehicle. At that point. At some point in 70 or 71,I believe that Chrysler of South Africa stopped importing cars in knocked down for from North America and instead offered their own versions of the Australian Valiants (probably shipped to South Africa from Australia in knocked down form).
Heres a 71 Australian Valiant VH, a model which I believe was also assembled and sold in South Africa.

 

In 1966, the Rootes Group (producer of Sunbeam, Hillman, and Humber), became part of Chrysler Corporation. That gave Chrysler access to the Rootes manufacturing facilities and dealer network. So, starting in 67 some American cars (like the 68 Barracuda) and some Australian cars (like the Australian Valiant) were shipped to the UK in knocked down form and assembled in the manufactuing plants of the Rootes Group.
I believe that about that time Chrysler made the decision to replace the Humber Super Snipe with the Australian Valiants as part of the Rootes Group product line. Even the larger Australian Valiants and Chargers were still part of the regular line up for Chrysler in the UK well into the mid 70's. So, though they were never sold in any volume, there should still be a few of those Australian Valiant wagons hiding somewhere in the UK.

 

I've seen many pics of the Ozzi ones, but never seen or heard of the S-African one you posted. I think the Plymouth Satilite tail lamp treatment looks killer

 

Yes, that whole tail-gate, tail light area really makes it a cool-looking wagon.

 

Tailights look to be barracuda units.

 

The tail lights were the same on the Australian Valiant VE wagon. Yes they do look very similar to the 67 Barracuda tail lights and the 68 Satellite tail lights.

Heres a quick shot of an Aussie Valiant VE wagon showing the same tail lights and the Dart front end. (look quickly).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzWC_u9VL94&feature=player_detailpage#t=120s

 

What a find. I really like that wagon; it's like a hybrid of all the Mopars at that time. Very cool, indeed.

 

I'm with everyone else, great looking little wagon, thanks for all the homework and insight. I'll take one with a 225, please...

 

Think of the fun you could have turning it into a GTS wagon! 340, 4-speed, and all! It would all just slip right in!