This is sort of a before-and-after photo showing this 1968 Plymouth Valiant Signet all dusty in a garage and the next photo shows it cleaned up and looking great. The seller says that this is an estate find and they have it listed here on eBay in Whitewater, Kansas and they have a buy-it-now price of $7,200 listed or you can make an offer.
Here it is in all its clean and shiny glory. What an absolutely great-looking car! The asking price is an eye-opener but it is 2022 and we all know that there aren’t really any good deals anymore. The days of finding this car in nice condition for $2,500 are lonnnnnnng gone, at least online with a global market. This one was purchased from a local estate and they have it priced right between NADA’s average and high retail value.
The third-generation Plymouth Valiant was made from 1966 for the 1967 model year up until 1973. The unique split grille would go away for the 1969 model year and they came in a four-door sedan and two-door sedan and hardtop. This is the two-door sedan version.
The Signet was a top trim level for the Valiant in this era and there isn’t one thing that I would change about this car, other than fixing the unfortunate rust issues. It’s not unusual for a car that’s over five decades old to have rust and this one appears to have been painted in the past, which the seller mentions. There was most likely some rust repair done at that time and it’s showing up again.
There will be a reason to drag out your welder again for the bottoms of the quarter panels and around the rear wheels but hopefully, that’s it as far as rust repairs go on this otherwise solid-looking car. It’s hard to tell from the underside photo if it’s solid underneath but we can hope. The interior appears to be in outstanding condition, both seats look great and this one has a TorqueFlite three-speed column-shifted automatic and air-conditioning.
The engine isn’t a 273 or 318 V8 which would have been fun, this one has the famous 225 slant-six “leaning tower of power” which in 1968 would have had about 145 horsepower. The seller says that it could use some TLC in order to be a daily driver so hopefully they’re flexible on the asking price. How would you redo this Valiant? I’d leave it bone-stock but you already know that.
Good story Scotty, the Australian Chrysler Valiant lived on till the CM Valiant, August 1981.
The VJ Valiant from earlier in the 70 a very tough car like this Signet. You could walk on the bonnet over the roof onto deck lid and not even leave a dent. People weighed much less back then though, on average!
Dave,
Several countries produced Valiants and Darts for local consumption, most closing in 1981 when Mitsubishi took over those plants. However Mexico continued to build the Valiant until 1988, and they even created a Mexico-only 2-door hardtop called the Acapulco.
There are quite a few Valiants and Darts running around in Australia and New Zealand, both countries had local assembly plants there. Barreiros in Spain also produced the Dart until the late 1970s, even offering a Diesel motor due to Spain’s high cost of fuels under Franco.
Glad they’re in the flatlands because that 225 isn’t going anywhere fast with A/C running. But it’s a doll of a car. I’d keep it 100% original and hope the rust doesn’t go too deep.
What is with that door fit? $7200? Now that’s a laugh and a half. There is no reason this car should be worth any more than it was a few years ago. People are just looking for reasons to raise prices and people are dumb enough to buy them.
Anytime I see these I run in the opposite direction. I was taught watching the movie duel that this is not a car you would want. No power against a souped up diesel truck.
Duel was a great movie, but what a crock! That Valiant could have left the truck in the dust in a heartbeat, even with a 225. The car could so out handle the truck around the curves, that alone would have got Dennis (the wimp) Weaver far away. Plus, the movie obviously used more than one car for the shoot, and in some shots the slant six is visible, and in other shots, there is a V8 emblem visible on the body work. A 318 would have for sure gotten away. I love the move, but i always find myself yelling at the TV screen about what weaver needs to do.
There were three IIRC. A 1970 with a 318, a 71 with a six, and a 72 with a six for the added scenes for the theater release. Those scenes were the broken down school bus and when the truck tried to push Weaver onto the train tracks.
I like it, I’d clean up the engine bay to factory fresh and get some sportier wheels and white-letter tires. You’ll probably be the only Slant Valiant at the cars and coffee amid a sea of Mustangs and Camaros.
Only thing that seems a bit odd? Factory air with radio delete 🧐
The a/c in this one is add-on, not factory, as evidenced by the heater control levers (instead of pushbuttons) and the huge underdash unit compared to factory ac smaller underdash vent assembly.
It wasn’t that long ago that a rusty Valiant had transportation value only, but thanks to greedy sellers and clueless buyers, this is now where we’re at.
It’s not factory A/C. It’s a later add-on. Look at the compressor and the odd way it is mounted. That’s a York compressor not a V-2 Chrysler Airtemp compressor.
Gol dang, I do declare, is it a pipe dream to wish life could return to such simplicity as a ’68 Valiant? I guess time will tell. I don’t think it will be much longer, that the public will put up with the crap being offered today, and might return to ’68 Valiant type vehicles again. As opposed to today, virtually NOTHING can go wrong with this car. Chilled cup holders and heated gas pedals weren’t needed, simple wheels, for cripes sake, how did we ever lose our way? This car would go to the other side of town, or across the country, without so much as a complaint( unlike me) and actually be fun driving a car that doesn’t have an angry bumblebee/electric shaver front end. You’ll have no trouble finding your car in a parking lot. I don’t know/care anymore about prices( yeah, that will be the day) so, in the day of $5 boxes of crackers, I don’t know if it’s a lot of money or not. Just a good ol’ car, and can’t be many of these left. Very cool find, for sure.
I agree whole heartily about everything you said, except one point…people will never go back to these types of vehicles because they have no idea how to use a screwdriver or pliers to change a fuel filter, set the points with a match book, change a tire, diagnose a problem on the side of the road, read a map to get were their going and on an on. I bet 90% of the people today don’t even know were the jack is located in their car if they even know what one is. Yes, I realize flat tires are pretty much a thing of the past, but they still happen and usually at the most inopportune time. If they don’t have a cell phone with them their screwed. And as far as I’m concerned the advent of cell phones was the beginning of the end of society as we once knew it, but that’s just a personal rant of mine. The people of our age thought nothing of taking off cross country or wherever, knowing they could deal with about any problem on the side of the road, besides engine failure, BY THEMSELVES…..Now, they look out the window, hit the remote start, and when they get out to their vehicle and its not running, go back in the house and call someone…..I know all this tech has improved , fuel milage, performance, helped with air pollution and so on but as Howard said, “life was so much simpler then” ….every day we’re constantly bombarded with one thing after another….I like SIMPLE…. I’d buy a car like this in a heartbeat and enjoy it every day if there was such a thing in my neck of the woods…..And this is from someone that came of age in the muscle car era and still worships them till this day….
Most cars dont even come with a spare tire anymore !
This is a nice car. Alot better built. Then any junk coming off the assembly line today. . I drover a 4 door like this as a taxi. Easy riding and easy on gas. Had alot of fun in it. A little too much they are asking.Since it does need some repair on the rear quater panels. I,d still like to have it. Fix the places and drive and enjoy it.
Wow you hit the nail on the head with the invention of the cell phone I thought it was just me thinking that
My first car was a green version of this with a 273. I paid $400 in 1987 and drove it for 6 years until the rust got it. I remember being depressed by how gutless the V8 was but you could steer it with a pinky!
I’m not surprised that the ask for even a mundane car like this Valiant is raising eyebrows. The average price of a new car has edged past $47,000, according to a new report from Kelley Blue Book. Buy this car for $7,200, put some money into to it to fix the rust and you’ll have a pretty nice daily driver for a lot less than a new car. Plus, you’ll attract a lot of attention driving it and that’s always a cool thing.
My daily driver is 27 years old, and as I can’t afford a new pickup, I’ll continue to put money into it to keep it on the road. If I were to lose it in a crash or theft, I’d go out and buy a vintage pickup, fix what needed to be fixed and still come out way ahead of what a new pickup would cost me. So, I’m thinking this Valiant is a pretty good deal when you compare it to the cost of a new car.
I liked all these comments! I’m old school as you can get. I too had a blue Valiant with a 225 “leaning tower of power”! I drove it as a “very used Beater” for just shy of 300k miles. Then sold it to a buddy who drove it for over another 100k. The sub frame @ the torsion bars finally rusted out so he very slowly drove it to the wrecking yard. Every mile on that old soldier was in Michigan. The heart of the “Rust-Belt” !!! Actually $7200 sounds like a steal by today’s standards!
The LEANING Tower of Power.
Yes, sir! You’re 100% right, thanks for jogging my cobweb-filled brain. I fixed it, thanks!
One thing that might be keeping the price up on Valiants like this is the series during the last few years that ran in Hot Rod Magazine. They started with one like this and just improved it in steps, like better wheels, a good detailing, and other things that you could do by your self. Theirs was yellow but otherwise just like this one. I’m an old Mopar guy and the series almost made me want one. That is not factory air on this one, it’s one of the generic add-ons that were sold by most every place that sold automotive stuff. If the rust on this one is minor it will probably bring the asking price or close.
If I had the cash, this would be in my driveway. My first car was a 1974 Scamp (that hardtop that Scotty mentions in his excellent write-up) and had my ex-fiancée’s brother not run the engine out of oil, I’d still have it to-day. Had the Slant Six……it would not beat anything from a red light, but it was great on gas (low 20s), the trunk was big enough for my bike and the backseat large enough for my friends.
I have Saabs now, but I still carry a torch for the Dart and Valiant………..
I am compelled to disagree with SaabGirl. I had a ’71 Plymouth Duster with the indestructible leaning tower of power and a 3 speed on the floor (a $13.00 option ). Sitting at a red light, I heard the car next to me, a 65-66 Mercury Comet, revving its engine. It was driven by a young man with his girlfriend sitting right next to him (something else you can’t do today). When the light changed, I took off and so did he. I beat him in ever gear and was waiting at the next light when he arrived. I looked over and saw his girlfriend laughing hysterically.
It could be so cool, I would love to have it. Detail it to the max with all the chemicals you can find. Twist the torsion bars and ad an outstanding tire and wheel treatment and drive it forever.
Hi Gearheads !
Well,I had to chime in on this one. I have had many ’67 – ’67 Valiant 2 door post cars, mostly Slant 6 powered, one 1967 that was factory ordered with a hi-po 273 that was real hoot to drive. But the need for speed in the late 90’s couldn’t stop from stuffing a stroker 500 cubic inch Mopar monster motor for lively street action. What fun I have in my original paint/patina 1968 Signet with a big block. Like I tell folks at cruise night & car shows…” It’s just a Valiant, nothing to fear.” Enjoy your cool rides, they need to be seen & driven !!!
Price is close, perfect with a 340, 4spd. Better diff and a gear, do the swap and have cheap fun.
Why would anyone take a picture of a car door that is not completely closed or is this the way it is?.. Also the added lower door trim detracts from the car. I do not remember a 2 Door hard top “VALIANT” for the 1967 thru 1969 Model years, only 2 and 4 door sedan versions. If you wanted a 2 Door Hardtop “A” Body you had to go to the Dodge Dart Line up and get either a Custom, GT, or GTS model
Auction update: this one apparently sold for $6,500!