The ol’ thumb-covering-the-license-plate trick… (in my best Maxwell Smart voice) (too obscure?). I wish sellers could figure out a better way to cover their license plates, but when it comes to online vehicle photos, in general, we seem to be going back in quality rather than the photos getting better, for some odd reason. In any case, you can see this 1969 Plymouth Valiant Signet for the most part, in what may be Spanish Gold, or possibly Honey Bronze. We don’t know for sure as there is no photo of the data plate.
There’s a fair amount of rust on this car, unfortunately, despite the seller mentioning the former owner kept it garaged for four decades. We do know that it looks solid overall, even underneath, and they list the mileage as being 40,839. There is some heavy surface rust underneath and that’s the worst part for these cars, as many of you know who have owned them. There is a new gas tank, fuel lines, filter, and all of those things, but they may have been needed due to being stored rather than rust, we don’t know. The one-piece grille was new for 1969.
Plymouth offered the third-generation Valiant from 1966 for the 1967 model year until the end of 1973 and there was no convertible or wagon available. I love the details of the early third-gen Valiants, but this one needs a lot of cosmetic work as you can see. The vinyl top is gone, or parts of it are and that’s probably ok with a lot of readers. I like vinyl tops when they come from the factory that way so I’d have to redo this one. The wide trim across the rear and tail lights, which were new for 1969, need some work as does almost everything.
The seats and dashtop catch my eye. Seats don’t bother me but redoing a padded dash isn’t cheap. Not that every vehicle has to be ready for Pebble Beach duty, now that I think about it. Maybe this is a car you buy just to use and tinker with on weekends as you have the time and money, fixing things along the way while drawing a lot of stares on the road and in parking lots. The backseat is also covered by a blanket cover. The Signet was the top trim level for this era.
The seller has this engine listed as a 2.8-liter, but that’s the 170-six, this VIN decodes to being a 225-cu.in. OHV slant-six, which in 1969 would have had 145 horsepower and 215 lb-ft of torque. Sneaking it back through the three-speed TorqueFlite automatic to the rear wheels, this one is in “excellent mechanical condition”, according to the seller who has it listed here on eBay in Smithfield, Rhode Island with a $3,900 buy-it-now price or you can make an offer. They have included a video here. Are there any fans of third-generation Valiants out there?
My kind of car
Very optimistic
Why cover the plate? Is owner info available without a police report, ie hit and run?
The license plate cover is classic…
I hope the owner put a home security system to keep that vehicle safe…
Me, I would leave the keys in the ignitions and leave it in they yard with a big for sale sign on the car with the windows down.
It’s a great car to slowly put back together as those engines are bullet proof when restored….
It’s gotta be a car someone wants to put in his collection and purchase. It’s the type of vehicle that someone whose parent bought for them as a first car to want to get nestalgia about and purchase.
I wish them the best in selling the vehicle and hope that it gets slowly restored with seat covers and then paint etc.
Good luck with the sale..
Its a bit pricey , if it was cleaned up it may attract higher money offers, just not as high as the asking price – As for the dash pad ? on these cars replacing the pad is no big deal , as long as you have a quarter inch ratchet and a long extension to remove the few nuts holding it in ; replacements are available . Being a higher line Signet, I was surprised to see that it has no power steering, but back then you could get any combo of options , or lack of . For the right price this could be a good entry level car for someone , a new vinyl top ,newer tires and a good cleaning would do wonders in the looks dept.
DON,
I was just thinking that back in the day you could personalize a car with options. Now and for the last 40 years they’ve had “packages” of options and if you didn’t want power steering but you did want power brakes you were out of luck. You got the “package” of p/s &p/b or no package at all. Have ALWAYS hated that.
One thing I’ve noticed working at Hertz is all these new cars are either fully loaded or basic. There is no middle of the road. And with basic, you still get automatic trans, power windows, am/fm/sx radio, p/s, p/b, a/c and tinted glass. You don’t get power seats or power door locks with basic.
99% of these Signets were basic transportation. You had a few that were higher status and fewer still of fully loaded, but as someone pointed out, you couldn’t kill them even when you tried.
Many of my teenage friends drove these as it was their parents car. Usually Moms as dad had on upscale car.
Grandpap was wondering where his car was!
Nice looking car My favourite years for the Plymouth Valiant are 1969-1972. Assuming everything on this car is solid, this would make an awesome resto project. I’d willingly pay around $3000 for the car. I’d keep the engine stock, a 225 cu. in slant six.
$3,900—————–you can buy alot nicer car for alot less. Some people THINK because its old–its growning money. It will take a good bit to get it road ready. How about $400. Figure the expense to have it hauled –parts and your time. Be reasonable with the price.
$400 is scrap price. Make a reasonable offer.
You are right, an offer of $2,500 is realistic and should be in the ballpark. Drive it until it dies, then replace it.
Steve R
But, but…..the seller says it’s a classic!
My mother’s exact first car (new) in 1969. Only difference was a green cloth interior. My folks drove it down to Florida from NJ in 1972 on their honeymoon. The following year when I was born, they traded it for a new 1973 Pontiac Ventura. My mother missed that car from the moment it was traded. Didn’t like the 2 doors on the Pontiac…
And as for covering up the license plate, what’s the big deal? The car has been off the road for 40 years.
And here’s the simplest solution…….
Get yourself a screwdriver and remove it! You’re selling the car anyway, the plates arent going with it.
I can not believe the laziness of people now-a-days
Angel, I couldn’t agree more. well said. What’s it take 5 minutes to grab a screwdriver and remove the plate. When the car has been off the road, or, the car goes to a new state, they’re going to get new plates when the title is transferred.
This is a $1000 stone at best.
The rear panel started in 1967 on the top of the line Signets….have one of those 1967 I’d fixed up for my mom to replace her 1968 Signet she loved the best. This ones has a ruff 144,000 miles as well but the ask isn’t to far off for those across the pond.