The Chrysler VJ 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 ...

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 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 Valiant Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automotiv ...

model from Chrysler Australia.

Overview

The VJ Valiant models featured new grilles, round headlights and revised tail lights, along with improved trim and a larger range of colours. A new electronic ignition system was introduced on some models, the first time that this feature had been offered in an Australian built car. The total number of models offered was significantly reduced with Ranger XL, Hemi Pacer, Regal 770 and Charger R/T not carried across from the VH Valiant into the new series. Equipment levels were raised in July 1974 with power assisted front brakes, retractable front safety belts, improved sound deadening, a lockable glovebox and a front stabiliser bar now available on all models other than the utilities.

Model range

The VJ Valiant was introduced in April 1973Valiant VJ/CJ Technical Specifications at www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au
Retrieved on 18 December 2011 and was offered in 4-door sedan, 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 ( ...

, 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 ...

, 2-door

coupé 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 ...

and 2-door

coupé utility A coupé utility is a vehicle with a passenger compartment at the front and an integrated cargo tray at the rear, with the front of the cargo bed doubling as the rear of the passenger compartment. The term originated in the 1930s, where it wa ...

body styles in the following models: * Chrysler Valiant sedan * Chrysler Valiant Ranger sedan * Chrysler Valiant Ranger wagon * Chrysler Valiant Regal sedan * Chrysler Valiant Regal wagon * Chrysler Valiant Regal hardtop * Chrysler Valiant Charger coupe * Chrysler Valiant Charger XL coupe * Chrysler Valiant Charger 770 coupe * Chrysler Valiant utility * Dodge utility The Dodge utility was virtually identical to the Chrysler Valiant utility but had a slightly lower level of equipment.Chrysler Valiant VJ at www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au
Retrieved on 18 December 2011 File:Chrysler Valiant Ranger Sedan (VJ).JPG, Chrysler VJ Valiant Ranger sedan File:Chrysler Valiant VJ Ranger (16936264056).jpg, Chrysler VJ Valiant Ranger sedan File:Chrysler Valiant Regal Sedan (VJ).jpg, Chrysler VJ Valiant Regal sedan File:1974 Chrysler VJ Valiant Regal (5163950062).jpg, Chrysler VJ Valiant Regal sedan File:Chrysler VJ Valiant Regal Wagon.JPG, Chrysler VJ Valiant Regal wagon File:Chrysler VJ Valiant Regal Wagon (rear).JPG, Chrysler VJ Valiant Regal wagon File:1974 Valiant VJ Regal Hardtop

.JPG, Chrysler VJ Valiant Regal Hardtop File:1974 Chrysler VJ Valiant Regal hardtop (6336326121).jpg, Chrysler VJ Valiant Regal hardtop File:1974 Chrysler VJ Valiant Charger coupe (30697118467).jpg, Chrysler VJ Valiant Charger coupe File:Chrysler Valiant VJ Charger (15803529454).jpg, Chrysler VJ Valiant Charger coupe File:1975 Chrysler VJ Valiant Charger XL coupe (30618195791).jpg, Chrysler VJ Valiant Charger XL coupe with optional Sports Pack File:1975 Chrysler VJ Valiant Charger XL coupe (30072345403).jpg, Chrysler VJ Valiant Charger XL coupe with optional Sports Pack File:1974 Valiant VJ Charger E48 XL

.JPG, Chrysler VJ Valiant Charger XL (with option E48 265 "six pack" 248 bhp engine) File:1974 Valiant VJ Charger 770 E55

.JPG, Chrysler VJ Valiant Charger 770 (with option E55 340 V8 engine) File:Chrysler Valiant VJ Town & Country Ute (16160404709).jpg, Chrysler VJ Valiant utility (with option A77 "Town & Country Pack") File:Chrysler VJ Valiant "Town & Country" V8 utility (5167697924).jpg, Chrysler VJ Valiant utility (with option A77 "Town & Country Pack") File:Dodge utility (VJ).jpg, Dodge VJ utility (with non-standard alloy wheels)

Limited editions

A limited edition Valiant Charger Sportsman model was introduced in August 1974. It was available only in “Vintage Red”, with bold white exterior striping, plaid cloth seat inserts and various other extras. It was fitted with the Hemi 265 engine and a four-speed manual gearbox. 500 examples were produced. File:1974 Valiant VJ Charger Sportsman A23

.JPG, Chrysler Valiant VJ Charger Sportsman coupe File:1974 Chrysler VJ Valiant Charger XL Sportsman coupe (26597928367).jpg, Chrysler VJ Valiant Charger Sportsman coupe File:Chrysler Valiant VJ Charger Sportsman (16388133153).jpg, VJ Charger Sportsman tartan interior trim

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 bala ...

was offered in three displacements, 215 cid (3.5 litre), 245 cid (4.0 litre) and 265 cid (4.3 litre). A 318 cid V8 was also offered and a number of Chargers were produced with the 340 cid V8. A 360 cid V8 replaced the 340 in 1974. 3-speed manual, 4-speed manual, and 3-speed automatic transmissions were offered.

Production and replacement

A total of 90,865 VJ Valiants were built, more than any other Australian Valiant series.Gavin Farmer, Great Ideas in Motion, A History of Chrysler in Australia 1946-1981, page 418 Production consisted of 49,198 sedans, 15,241 wagons, 10,509 Chargers, 1,067 hardtops and 14,856 utilities. The VJ Valiant was replaced by the VK Valiant in October 1975.

South Africa

Sold as the Valiant J series, the South African assembled Chrysler Valiant lineup included the Rebel, Rebel 660, Regal, Regal Safari, and the VIP. During 1975 the "J½ series" appeared, first as the VIP only but gradually spreading down the range. Sound deadening was improved, while the Regal sedan also received a new "iso-clamp" rear axle insulator. The Regals also received new seats, while all J½ series Valiants could be recognized by the ventless front door windows.

Chrysler CJ series

also produced the Chrysler CJ series, a long wheelbase, luxury model developed from the VJ Valiant.Elizabeth Tuckey and Ewan Kennedy, Chrysler Valiant, 1996, page 130

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 1973 1970s cars