'1961 Plymouth Valiant'

I had a dodge lancer 1962 and it was the same as a valiant, which i drove all over central america and back to michigan in the 70's, thats me in 1974 in the panama canal zone
I was in the US Army
panama-car-1974.jpg


panama-car-back-1974.jpg
 
When I was seventeen (1966, I bought a 1962 Valiant for $1500. I drove the thing like a tank; through the woods, etc.

About a year after I bought it, a distracted driver (who bent over to pick up her baby's toy) ploughed into the rear at a stoplight. My insurance company wrote it off as a total, paid me $1200 for it, but let me keep it! Although the rear was stove in a bit, it was still drivable.

Six months later the engine threw a rod. My dad had it towed back home and I managed to part it out for nearly $600, eventually having the stripped hulk towed away for final burial.

I had transportation for nearly eighteen months, and actually made ~$300 in the process! :)

Man that slant-six was a solid piece of engineering!
 
All those old cast iron sixes (Chevy, Ford, Mopar) were tough old engines. I'd have one today if I could find an old pickup in halfway decent shape that had one. Seems like at least with the Chevys, everyone tosses out the old six and puts a small block V8 in it's place.

My first car was a '62 Dodge Dart but it had the 318 V8 and the push button shift automatic. Drove it one time and then my step dad went to do a tune up on it. It never ran again. Wasn't the car, it was his mechanicing. The car ran fine until he got under the hood. Eventually sold it for junk.
 
Back
Top