The Chrysler CM Valiant is an
automobile
A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with Wheel, wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, pe ...
that was produced in Australia by
Chrysler Australia
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 Au ...
from 1978 to 1980 and subsequently by
Mitsubishi Australia
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) is a fully owned subsidiary of parent company Mitsubishi Motors Corporation of Japan. The company was established in 1980 and began vehicle manufacturing in that year, having taken over the facilities ...
from 1980 to 1981. It was a facelifted and revised version of the
Chrysler CL Valiant
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 Af ...
, which it replaced. It was the last Australian
Chrysler Valiant.
Model range
The CM Valiant was offered in 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 the following models:
* Chrysler Valiant sedan
[Regal and Valiant (Chrysler CM Regal and Valiant sales brochure 5/2006261), Chrysler Australia Ltd., July 1980]
* Chrysler Valiant wagon
[
* Chrysler Regal sedan][
* Chrysler Regal wagon][
* Chrysler Regal SE sedan
Regal models were marketed as Chrysler Regals, without the Valiant name.][
A GLX pack, option code A16, was offered on the CM Valiant sedan. It featured the 265 cubic inch (4.3 litre) engine, the four speed manual transmission, or 3 speed auto or the 318 v8 engine with an auto, “Hot Wire” cast alloy wheels, a tachometer, front grille paint treatment, tinted side glass, roof console with map light, rear seat armrest, floor console, body stripes and other embellishments.][
File:Chrysler Valiant CM (17123806199).jpg, Chrysler CM Valiant sedan
File:1978-1981 Chrysler CM Valiant sedan 01.jpg, Chrysler CM Valiant Sedan
File:Chrysler Valiant GLX (CM).JPG, Chrysler CM Valiant Sedan with GLX pack
File:1980 Valiant CM Regal Chianti Red+.JPG, Chrysler CM Regal Sedan
File:1980 Chrysler Valiant (CM) Regal sedan (21274549880).jpg, Chrysler Valiant CM Regal sedan
File:1981 Chrysler CM Valiant station wagon (5152063376).jpg, Chrysler CM Valiant wagon
File:1981 Chrysler CM Valiant station wagon (5151442477).jpg, Chrysler CM Valiant wagon
File:Chrysler CM Regal Wagon (2).JPG, Chrysler CM Regal Wagon
File:1981 Chrysler CM Valiant - Last Australian Valiant built (5059600774).jpg, Last Australian Valiant built, August 28, 1981 was this Chrysler CM Valiant, a white 4.0 litre automatic sedan seen here on display prior to auction in 2003
File:1981 Chrysler CM Valiant - Last Australian Valiant built (5058975027).jpg, "Last Barstard" (sic) written in the body sealer under the boot floor carpet on the last Australian Valiant built by an assembly line worker
]
Changes
The CM models featured a new grille, revised tail lights plus new mouldings and badges.[ All body panels were carried over from the previous model. The six cylinder engines were now fitted with Chrysler’s “Electronic Lean Burn System” which resulted in easier starting, better responsiveness, smoother running and improved fuel economy.][
Utility, Panel Van and ]Charger
Charger or Chargers may refer to:
* Charger (table setting), decorative plates used to fancify a place setting
* Battery charger, a device used to put energy into a cell or battery
* Capacitor charger, typically a high voltage DC power supply ...
coupe models were not carried over from the CL Valiant range.[
]
Engines and transmissions
Three engines were offered:
* I6[
* I6][
* V8][
The V8 engine option was discontinued around August–September 1980.][Gavin Farmer, Great Ideas in Motion, A History of Chrysler in Australia, 2010, page 204]
Five transmissions were offered:
*3 speed manual[
*4 speed manual][
*3 speed Torquflite automatic][
*3 speed TorqueFlite A904 automatic][
*3 speed Borg-Warner automatic
]
Production and replacement
The CM Valiant was produced by Chrysler Australia
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 Au ...
from 1978 until the takeover of that company by Mitsubishi
The is a group of autonomous Japanese multinational companies in a variety of industries.
Founded by Yatarō Iwasaki in 1870, the Mitsubishi Group historically descended from the Mitsubishi zaibatsu, a unified company which existed from 1870 ...
in 1980.[ ]Mitsubishi Australia
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) is a fully owned subsidiary of parent company Mitsubishi Motors Corporation of Japan. The company was established in 1980 and began vehicle manufacturing in that year, having taken over the facilities ...
continued production through to 28 August 1981.[
A total of 16,500 examples of the Chrysler CM were built with no replacement model introduced.][
]
See also
* Chrysler Valiant
References
{{Chrysler Valiant
Cars of Australia
Valiant vehicles
Valiant (CM)
Cars introduced in 1978
1970s cars
1980s cars