The Chrysler VH Valiant is an automobile which 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 June 1971 to March 1973.Elisabeth Tuckey and Ewan Kennedy, Chrysler Valiant, 1996, pages 86 to 103 It replaced the VG series Valiant and was the first Valiant model to be a uniquely Australian design.Pedr Davis, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 119

Model range

The VH series Valiant was offered in the following models. * Valiant sedanGlass’s Dealers Guide, South Australian and Northern Territory Edition, June1973, pages 108-115 * Valiant Ranger sedan * Valiant Ranger station wagon * Valiant Ranger XL sedan * Valiant Ranger XL station wagon * Valiant Ranger XL hardtop * Valiant Hemi Pacer sedan * Valiant Regal sedan * Valiant Regal station wagon * Valiant Regal hardtop * Valiant Regal 770 sedan * Valiant Regal 770 hardtop * Valiant Charger coupe * Valiant Charger XL coupe * Valiant Charger R/T coupe * Valiant Charger 770 coupe * Valiant Charger 770 SE coupe * Dodge utilityGavin Farmer, Great Ideas In Motion, 2010, page 196 * Valiant utility * Valiant Ranger utility Sedan and

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 ( ...

models were introduced in June 1971, followed by the Charger

coupe A coupe or coupé (, ) is a passenger car with a sloping or truncated rear roofline and two doors. The term ''coupé'' was first applied to horse-drawn carriages for two passengers without rear-facing seats. It comes from the French past parti ...

s in August, the

coupe utility A coupe or coupé (, ) is a passenger car with a sloping or truncated rear roofline and two doors. The term ''coupé'' was first applied to horse-drawn carriages for two passengers without rear-facing seats. It comes from the French past parti ...

models in September, and the 2-door

hardtop A hardtop is a rigid form of automobile roof, which for modern cars is typically constructed from metal. A hardtop roof can be either fixed (i.e. not removable), Convertible#Detachable hardtop, detachable for separate storing or retractable ha ...

s in November. File:VH Valiant.jpg, Chrysler VH Valiant Ranger station wagon File:Chrysler Valiant VH Ranger Wagon (17134416787).jpg, Chrysler VH Valiant Ranger wagon File:Chrysler Valiant Ranger XL Sedan (VH).JPG, Chrysler VH Valiant Ranger XL sedan File:Chrysler Valiant VH Series (16416689364).jpg, Chrysler VH Valiant Ranger XL wagon File:1972 Chrysler VH Valiant Ranger XL hardtop (39661080070).jpg, Chrysler VH Valiant Ranger XL hardtop File:Valiant VH Hemi Pacer.JPG, Chrysler VH Valiant Hemi Pacer sedan File:1971 Chrysler VH Valiant Regal sedan (10435087843).jpg, Chrysler VH Valiant Regal sedan File:Chrysler Valiant Regal Wagon (VH) (white).JPG, Chrysler VH Valiant Regal station wagon File:Chrysler Valiant VH Hardtop.jpg, Chrysler Valiant VH Regal Hardtop File:Chrysler VH Valiant Regal 770 Sedan.JPG, Chrysler VH Valiant Regal 770 sedan File:Chrysler Valiant VH Regal 770 Hardtop (16899312266).jpg, Chrysler Valiant VH Regal 770 Hardtop (16899312266) File:1972 Chrysler VH Valiant Charger XL coupe (38489766831).jpg, Chrysler VH Valiant Charger XL coupe File:1972 Chrysler VH Valiant Charger XL coupe (38489764871).jpg, Chrysler VH Valiant Charger XL coupe (non standard backup lights below bumper) File:1973 Chrysler VH Valiant Charger XL (5279678082).jpg, Chrysler VH Valiant Charger XL coupe. Note amber turn signals with park lights below bumper as required by Australian regulations for 1973 File:1972 Valiant VH Charger Hemi Orange E38

.JPG, Chrysler Valiant VH Charger R/T E38 File:1972 Valiant VH Charger E49 Merc Silv

.JPG, Chrysler Valiant VH Charger R/T E49 File:1971 Valiant VH Charger E55 770SE

.JPG, Chrysler Valiant VH Charger 770 SE E55 File:Dodge Utility (VH).JPG, Dodge VH utility File:Chrysler Valiant VH Town & Country Ute (14905075070).jpg, Chrysler VH Valiant Ranger Utility with Town & Country Pack

Changes

The VH Valiant featured an entirely new body which was larger and more roomy than that of its VG series predecessor. The VH Hardtop models used body panels that were made entirely in Australia, unlike the previous VG Hardtops which had used imported sheet metal for all panels rear of the windscreen.Chrysler Valiant VH at www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au
Retrieved on 4 December 2011 The hardtops now rode on a 115-inch wheelbase, 4 inches longer than that on sedans and wagons.
Retrieved on 4 December 2011 The

Valiant Charger The Chrysler Valiant Charger was a two-door hardtop coupe introduced by Chrysler Australia in 1971. It was a short wheelbase version of the concurrent Australian Chrysler Valiant sedan. Introduced within the VH Valiant series, it continued as a v ...

, which made its debut as part of the VH series used a 105-inch wheelbase. From 1973 Australian regulations required amber turn signals be fitted to the front of all passenger vehicles, as well as the rear. This meant the combined park light/turn signals with clear lenses fitted to the VH were no longer legal. As a result 1973 build VH series cars were fitted with amber turn signals in place of the clear lenses, and park light were relocated to the panel below the front bumper.

Engines and transmissions

Chrysler Australia’s “Hemi 6”

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 bal ...

was offered in three displacements, 215 cid (3.5 litre), 245 cid (4.0 litre) and 265 cid (4.3 litre). and a 318 cid V8 was also available. A 340 cid V8 was fitted to the Charger 770SE E55 model which was released in October 1972.Pedr Davis, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 123 3 speed manual and 3 speed automatic transmissions were offered initially with a 4 speed manual available on Charger models from June 1972.Gavin Farmer, Great Ideas In Motion, 2010, pages 217-218

New Zealand production

Local importer Todd Motors assembled a VH sedan and Charger line using around 40% local content and unique specifications. The column shift manual or automatic front bench seat Ranger XL had exterior trim the same as the Australian base Ranger (no door frame or wheel arch brightwork, no tail lamp embellishment), unique local seat design and upholstery and a two barrel version of the 245 Hemi engine. The Regal 770 had separate front seats, 265 Hemi with floor console shift automatic or 318V8 and a standard delete option vinyl roof. The Charger was assembled only as a 770 with the console automatic and lacked the Australian version’s reclining front seats and rear overriders. Early production had one piece front door glass and opening rear side windows; due to sealing problems, this was changed to front quarterlights (an Australian factory option) and fixed rear side glass.

South African production

VH Valiants were assembled at Silverton, near

Pretoria Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa. Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

using Australian bodies, electrics and trim and locally sourced mechanical components including a 225 cid engine.Gavin Farmer, Great Ideas In Motion, 2010, page 197 Prior to 1971 South African Valiants had been sourced from

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

. Local versions were sold as the Chrysler Valiant Rebel, Rebel 660, Regal, Charger Coupé, and Chrysler VIP. Station wagons were also available of the Rebel and Regal. For 1973 the Dodge SE (for "Special Edition") appeared, a luxury version with different front and rear treatment, vinyl roof, full equipment and a version of the slant-six engine. Aside from the six-cylinder engine, the Dodge SE was very similar to the Australian-market

Chrysler by Chrysler The Chrysler by Chrysler is an automobile produced by Chrysler Australia from 1971 to 1976. It is an extended wheelbase, luxury variant of the Australian developed Chrysler Valiant. CH Series The original CH Series Chrysler was introduced in Nov ...

Production and replacement

A total of 67,800 VH Valiants were built prior to its replacement by the

VJ Valiant The Chrysler VJ Valiant is an automobile which was produced by Chrysler Australia from 1973 to 1975. It replaced the Chrysler VH Valiant and was a facelifted and revised version of that model. The VJ series Valiant was the tenth Chrysler Valia ...

range in 1973.Elisabeth Tuckey & Ewan Kennedy, Chrysler Valiant, 1996, pages 145-149

Chrysler by Chrysler

In November 1971, Chrysler Australia introduced the CH series

, which was a long wheelbase, luxury model developed from the VH Valiant. It was offered in 4-door sedan and 2-door hardtop bodystyles with a choice of 265 cid six and 360 cid V8 engines.

References

{{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 1971 1970s cars