The Valiant was Plymouth’s compact car offering between 1960 and 1976. A redesign came in 1967 that increased buyer interest through the end of the line when the Volare replaced the Valiant. This 1968 edition is the upscale Signet model, and it has “Grandma’s car” written all over it (you know, only driven to church on Sundays). This nice survivor with four doors and 40,000 miles is in Ellerton, Florida, and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $9,000 (and no trades). This fine tip comes to us via Barn Finder Bruce M!
Few changes were made to the Valiant in 1968, with the most noticeable being the addition of small side marker lights as required by the Feds for all automakers. Valiants came with Chrysler’s venerable Slant-Six engine as standard with the one in the seller’s car sporting 225 cubic inches. These powerplants would run long after the rest of the car fell apart, and this Signet also has a TorqueFlite automatic transmission. We’re told this vehicle has only seen 40k miles and the overall condition of the vehicle tends to support the claim. Only two owners have been issued titles in the past 57 years.
The body, paint, and interior all look original and in pretty darn good shape. The factory air conditioning has been upgraded to R134A and will run you out of the Plymouth. The seller references a few upgrades, and visually the aluminum radiator and steering wheel are two of them (sorry, the muscle car wheel looks completely out of place with the rest of the Grandma car).
This is said to be a turn-key auto that you could show off at Cars & Coffee next weekend. It may have a few minor flaws that aren’t apparent in the photos which we assume are very minor. If you’re looking for a solid machine as your first vintage car purchase, you could probably do worse than this Mopar – as long as it doesn’t have too many doors!
Sweet Signet Valiant, maybe a true Grandma 👵 special as you said Dixon. If the mood struck a hot-rod 🏁Granny in 68′, Plymouth had her covered.
Order up a Signet with the 318ci motor 230hp/340lb-ft, a 4sp. stick, and check the box for 3.91 gears ⚙️
Sigh! Why do people do stupid things like putting this ridiculous steering wheel on this wonderful little car?
A better question is why the aluminum radiator? That Slant Six won’t win any drag races. None grand. No way.
Oh, that’s ridiculous, too. But you at least can’t see it unless you open the hood.
Copper radiators are prohibitively expensive.
What do you do when the original wheel has several cracks or the horn ring breaks? Where do you find a replacement, hit the junkyards hoping to find one in good shape in the stock color?
The lack of the original steering wheel is not going to dissuade anyone that is genuinely interested in purchasing the car. A few minutes online and the next owner will either find a used steering wheel or a place that restores original wheels, either option should only cost a few hundred dollars. The other option is to save the money and keep the steering wheel that’s on it or they offer the seller a couple hundred less than the asking price so they can deal with it themselves.
Steve R
A steering wheel with cracks would look better than that stupid thing. And there are lots of places that restore steering wheels.
JDC, what do they charge? All I see is $350 on the low end to $1,000 or more. Maybe that’s why people install aftermarket wheels.
Steve R
I’m sure there are replacement steering wheels closer to the style if not outright original style (RockAuto.com?).
That slant six and TorqueFlite combination will outlive most readers of this site.
You are not wrong
There have been a number of these granny and grampa cars here lately and I got to say, for someone that didn’t grow up in this era this car almost looks cool. I did though and putting a racing steering wheel in doesn’t change the fact these were a joke in their time. But now? You’re going to get some looks for sure.
Ok my turn to carp on the steering. ;). Honestly i would take it as is and in my free time try.to locate an o.e.m. unit either used or repro. Aside that and just for added safety i’d convert to power brakes. I’m sure oem parts.or repro could be easy to locate. Didn’t see a power steering pump so for wifey’s sake i’d go that route. Hope it finds a nice home
We chuckle at the “Grandma’s car” persona, but it exists. Using my folks and their small-town life as an example, in their later years: church was within walking distance, the local town market was within walking distance, friends were within walking distance, they “went to town” (to Kroger in the neighboring bigger town) once a week, and rarely went anywhere else. So the mileage on their “Grandma” gold Taurus was low.
Nice Valiant.
I had a 67 just like this back in the previous century. Put a set of Chrysler rally wheels with radials on it, and that $500 Valiant refused to die. I love these Valiant Signets.
Slant 6, Practical, fix it with a paper clip, presentable, perfect car for someone who lives on an island or way out there. At least the steering wheel isn’t chrome welded chain…. and pretty sure no ballast resistor !
Ballast Resister is on the Drivers side of the Firewall, behind the washer jar.
It is still the old single unit.
Nice car, probably my biggest complaint about the engine is the distributor location way down low on the right side made it a pain to adjust the points. Otherwise my opinion is this car will outlast the new junk they are building today
Pick up some upgraded parts here: https://www.aussiespeedshop.com/slant-six-products/
This is a car I could love — and did, back when it was new. But that steering-wheel’s GOT to GO!!! Wonder how hard it is to locate an original stock ‘wheel, and have it colour-co-ordinated to match the rest of the interior, so it looks original? This car DESERVES that. As for the radiator: at least that doesn’t show. I might be “very old”, but I don’t require power steering or power brakes. Though I HAVE become used to air-conditioning. Still, this would be a practical vehicle, for me. I hope it finds a good home!
Wow, purist central here. The wheel looks fine.
Car is excellent. Too bad the market won’t pay 9 G’s for a 4 door, no matter how nice it is.
Opinions are free. So is standing up for overpriced cars without a strong following. If it were an overpriced early Mustang fastback or 68-70 Charger the seller would be labeled as greedy.
Steve R
Bunch of whiners who don’t know anything about cars! Any REAL gear head knows that steering wheel adds an instant 50 horsepower at the rear wheel(s)!
I had a white one. Red interior. Everything else exactly like this example. I daily drove one from 1982 to 1984. About as Plain Jane as it gets. Manual everything. I would daily this one if I owned it. Good luck with the auction.
As to that steering wheel: If I want a grandmother’s or school teacher’s low-mileage sedan, then I want it as “grandmother’s” as it was when it left the factory. And sport wheels are as hideous to me as mag. wheels and centre-consoles. I want a standard seat, gear-shift lever on the steering column, original wheels and hubcaps, and factory steering wheel. On a 44,000-mile survivor, is that asking too much? “Sporty” custom touches (and/or, fuzzy dice) scream a youthful owner who may have sometimes driven this car HARD, as though it had been build for that. I’d feel much better if the owner were a 99-year-old widow or spinster who had rarely driven it, and never very far, and it now needing carbon blown out of the engine.
This will be the last car someone will ever buy.
Had a ’75 Dart Custom. Sold it because it didn’t have air.
Hmmm…
My 91 year old uncle had a 1975 or 1976 Plymouth Valiant 4 door identical to this. Nothing to break or go out. Just start run and go. When cars were proudly made of steel in America.
What a great car for doing Door Dash! And there ain’t nothin’ better than a good reliable car especially with repair costs going through the roof these days here in Fl9rida when an oil
Change will set you back $300 or more. Yes boys and girls, this is indeed the car for me– even with that crappy wheel. Yeah, I’d
add power steering disc brakes in order to keep my girls safe. Uh guys, what about a 2 pot master cylinder? I don’t see one there do you? With the cash you’re gonna save on repairs and maintainance, this car would be worth the ask. Or maybe you can negotiate with the seller as I don’t see Firm after that price.
Were it closer, I’d be tempted to try it.
Dual circuit m/c, just a center bolt hold down. Car is gone anyway.
Get rid of that UGLY excuse for a steering wheel and replace it with the original one. Then I’d say its a very fine car. Lot better than the junk they build nowadays and charge you the amount of 50 pounds of gold, or more.