The Chrysler AP5 Valiant is an automobile produced by Chrysler Australia from 1963 until 1965. It was the third Chrysler Valiant model to be produced in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

Overview

The AP5 Valiant was released in March 1964, replacing the

SV1 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 (R series) Changes The SV1 Valiant (or "S ...

. It was the first Valiant model to be manufactured in

rather than just assembled there.Chrysler Valiant AP5, www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au
Retrieved on 20 November 2013 The AP5 featured entirely new sheet-metal, with most body panels produced in Australia. It differed from the US Plymouth Valiant in having a six-bar grille, a larger boot with a different rear deck and a flat rear window. The 225 cid slant six engine was carried over from the SV1 model and remained fully imported. Suspension was substantially unchanged but employed softer rear springs. 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. In November 1963 Safari and Regal Safari station wagons were added to the range. The wagons shared mechanical components and front styling with the sedans and were fitted with heavier rear springs. 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. Both versions incorporated amber turn signals to comply with Australian regulations. The AP5 was marketed by Chrysler Australia as the "Valiant by Chrysler" rather than as the Chrysler Valiant.

Model range

The AP5 Valiant was offered with 4-door sedan and 5-door

station wagon A station wagon ( US, also wagon) or estate car ( UK, also estate), is an automotive body-style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door ( ...

body styles in six models. * Valiant manual sedan (AP5-2)Valiant AP5 Technical Specifications, www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au
Retrieved on 20 November 2013 * Valiant automatic sedan (AP5-4) * Valiant Regal sedan (AP5-4H) * Valiant Safari manual wagon (AP5-2W) * Valiant Safari automatic wagon (AP5-4W) * Valiant Regal Safari wagon (AP5-4WH) The sedans were introduced in May 1963 and the wagons in November 1963. File:1964 Chrysler Valiant AP5 Sedan.jpg, Chrysler Valiant AP5 sedan File:1964 Chrysler AP5 Valiant sedan (8184668246).jpg, Chrysler AP5 Valiant sedan File:1963 Chrysler AP5 Valiant Safari station wagon (6335323361).jpg, Chrysler AP5 Valiant Safari wagon (later model hubcaps) File:1963 Chrysler AP5 Valiant Safari station wagon - early build.jpg, Chrysler AP5 Valiant Safari wagon - early build version using US 1963 Plymouth Valiant horizontal style tail lights. Note amber turn signal lenses incorporated to comply with Australian regulations File:1963 Chrysler AP5 Valiant Safari station wagon (6335330003).jpg, Chrysler AP5 Valiant Safari wagon - later build version using US 1964 Plymouth Valiant vertical style tail lights with amber turn signals File:1963-65 Chrysler AP5 Valiant Regal sedan.jpg, Chrysler AP5 Valiant Regal sedan File:1963 Chrysler Valiant (AP5) (36171920861).jpg, Chrysler AP5 Valiant Regal sedan File:1963 Chrysler AP5 Valiant Regal Safari station wagon (5200695563).jpg, Chrysler AP5 Valiant Regal Safari wagon File:1963 Chrysler AP5 Valiant Regal Safari station wagon (5201307094).jpg, Chrysler AP5 Valiant Regal Safari wagon

Engines and transmissions

Straight-six engine The straight-six engine (also referred to as an inline-six engine; abbreviated I6 or L6) is a piston engine with six cylinders arranged in a straight line along the crankshaft. A straight-six engine has perfect primary and secondary engine bala ...

was fitted to all models. Three-speed manual and three-speed "TorqueFlite" push button operated automatic transmissions were offered, with the latter fitted as standard on Regal models.

Production and replacement

A total of 49,440 AP5 Valiants were built prior to its replacement by the

AP6 Valiant 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. Overview The Valiant AP6 was released in March 1965, replacing the Chrysler Va ...

in February 1965. Of this total, 37,292 were sedans and 12,148 were wagons.Gavin Farmer, Great Ideas in Motion – A History of Chrysler in Australia 1946-1981, page 418

Motorsport

An AP5 Valiant driven by Tony Reynolds and Tony Allen won Class D in the

1963 Armstrong 500 The 1963 Armstrong 500 was the fourth running of the Armstrong 500 touring car race. It was held on 6 October 1963. After the 1962 race, the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit was too damaged to continue to stage the race, forcing it to move t ...

endurance race at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.Armstrong 500 - Mount Panorama, Bathurst - 6 October 1963, www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au
Retrieved on 19 November 2013

References

External links

AP5 Valiant
- Ranleys {{Chrysler Valiant Cars of Australia Valiant vehicles

Valiant Valiant may refer to: People * James Valiant (1884–1917), English cricketer * The Valiant Brothers, a professional wrestling tag team of storyline brothers ** Jerry Valiant, a ring name of professional wrestler John Hill (1941-2010) ** Jimmy ...

Cars introduced in 1963 Cars discontinued in 1965