BODACIOUS BEATERS (and Road-going Derelicts): REALLY VALIANT!

Phil Coconis
by Phil Coconis

Typically, when you’re talking in antique vehicle terms, one might consider spotting something like this early ‘60’s Plymouth Valiant; a rare sighting in ANY circumstance. To find one largely intact, still operational, and out on the street—well, that puts it on another level!

As with other U.S. vehicles from this period, these Valiant models certainly weren’t suffering from any shortage of “Styling Funkitude”. This, of course led to their early demise in the field of potential collectability; and subsequently, some premature one-way trips to wrecking yards across the Continent—especially for four-door models, like the case-in-point.

These days, on the other hand, such styling shenanigans are antitheses to the modern, mass-produced autoconveyance; allowing one the opportunity to afford welcome to such a neighborhood discovery.

I really appreciate the well-integrated state of maintained original decay this particular unit is experiencing. It definitely is quite the whole package, isn’t it?

Although this Val’ would have most certainly “made the scene” when it was in San Francisco (note bumper-mounted permit—on what is one of the few suitable mounting spaces available there), it looks pretty much “in context”—BODACIOUSLY so—on an overcast day near Pt. Fermin, CA.

Phil has written features and columns for a number of automotive periodicals and web-based information companies. He has run a successful Auto Repair Business in the past for many years (See “Memoirs of an Independent Repair Shop Owner” on this ttac site). He can be contacted through this very site, or http://www.linkedin.com/

Phil Coconis
Phil Coconis

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  • Skor Skor on May 21, 2013

    Chrysler wasn't the only car maker with push-button trans gear selector. The Ford Edsel had push-button trans as well...the buttons were located in the center of the steering wheel, I believe Ford called it "Teletouch".

    • Pebble Pebble on May 21, 2013

      Push button automatic trans was the shiznit, although when I first bought my Valiant my right arm kept searching for a column mounted shift lever that wasn't there...took a while to retrain myself to look for the buttons on the far left side of the dash.

  • -Nate -Nate on May 23, 2013

    Sweet old B Body ! . I wasn't a fan when they were in production but practical experience made me a fanboi forever more. Cheap , durable and oh so reliable , these fine , good driving and riding cars sold by the boat load to the more conservative minded buyers when new . Not even antsy teenagers could screw up those weird & wonderful push button tranny controls , Dodge trucks used them too . There's still quite a lot of oddball oldies in and around San Pedro , Ca. where this one lives . -Nate

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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