Last week, I covered this 1968 Dodge Dart GTS and mentioned that Plymouth’s similar counterpart, the Valiant, was a no-go in the performance department. Nope, that responsibility was bestowed upon the Barracuda, a sporty car with Valiant underpinnings. So, what exactly did Plymouth’s Valiant offer the buying public in 1968? Well, stay tuned, and I’ll explain. Curvette has found a listing for a basic four-door 1968 Valiant sedan; it’s located on Bowen Island in British Columbia, Canada, and it appears to be original and in decent shape. It’s available here on craigslist for $8,500 ($6,035 U.S.).
Valiant’s lineup was very basic for ’68, consisting of two body styles, two and four-door sedans, and two trim levels, 100 and Signet. Our subject appears to be a 100-level car, one of about 50K four-door sedans assembled 57 long years ago. The exterior is in reasonably sound condition, though the paint is mismatched, some trim and the badging are missing, and the bumper’s chrome plating has seen better days. The seller adds, “Recent paint, fairly clean chassis and frame…” It would seem that the recent “paint” was facilitated in places with a rattle can. Rust, fortunately, does not appear to have darkened this Plymouth’s doorway. All-in-all, the body looks straight.
The interior is an oyster-shade vinyl affair that’s dingy and worn-looking – the front seat in particular. This is a real bare-bones environment; it’s sans radio, and complete with a rubber floor mat – but that’s how Plymouth intended it to be, and entry-level compact cars from all auto manufacturers were so situated back in the day. Despite this Valiant’s inherent simplicity, an array of full dash instrumentation, a ChryCo hallmark, is present and appreciated. A deep cleaning and a front seat repair, or probably a reupholstering, would do this Valiant well.
Valiants in 1968 could be ordered with V8 power, but nothing that compared to the Dart’s 340 CI powerhouse. As is often the case, slant-six power was the order of the day, and that’s exactly what’s occupying this Valiant’s engine compartment; a 145 gross HP 225 CI powerplant to be precise. The seller claims, “Runs and drives,” – not exactly a ringing endorsement, but then again, what would one expect? The odometer indicates 88K miles of experience, which isn’t significant for a slant-six, assuming proper maintenance. A Torque-Flite three-speed automatic transmission makes the rear wheel connection.
This is another example of an “everywhere” car, as this edition (’67-’73) of Plymouth’s popular compact was all over the place back in the day. I often wonder if a bare-bones model like this Valiant could sell today. My thought is, probably not, at least not domestically. Still, stripper Valiants, like Dodge Darts, Chevrolet Novas, Ford Falcons, and AMC Rambler Americans, fulfilled a notable market position, and they all did it with aplomb. The likely buyer for this Valiant? Boy, that’s a tough one – you gotta’ get it off the island first. I think I’ll just leave this one with a GLWTS; how about you?
The Craigslist goes to a different car lol 😂
It’s fixed now. Thx.
JO
These cars basically wrote the book on basic transportation. And this car is as basic as basic gets. And this platform soldiered on all the way through 1976, being replaced by the Volspen. These are good, if not exciting, cars. If I bought it and if the mechanicals are good, I’d just throw a set cover on it and daily-drive it.
I’d have to put a bluetooth radio in it, and hopefully there’s a way to do it that doesn’t tear up the car.
If you really want a time machine, you need to get an old car, and have tunes playing from that era (or before); as long as you aren’t looking at other newer cars, it might as well be 1968…
If I was looking for a good dependable car, this would be it.
So if this car brings 8500 , I wonder what a 1968 GTS h code 383 dart numbers matching everything new and just needs paint would bring? Asking for a friend. Peace !
Nice shape, really. Since the seller is “open to offers”, I might start negotiating with $5k USD and shell out for new upholstry and a decent repaint.
Nice little Valiant. My grandfather bought one new back in 74′. It was a great car. Back when I was in my 20’s this would be a $1500-$2000 car all day long. I think $8500 is a bit of a stretch but in todays world I think around $5k would be reasonable.
I’m going to go out on a limb here, and say the front end got clobbered at one time and the front sheet metal was replaced . the bent front bumper ,missing headlight trim, and a recent hasty spray can paint job over rubber parts and steel parts that shouldn’t be painted sets off an alarm in my head .I’m not saying it was structurally damaged, probably a light hit that affected its looks more than its drivability
Story time….my mom had a 1968 early on when I got my beginers lic and dad was letting drive when we had a flat on the left side. He said – son – nows the time for you to learn how to change a flat. He handed me the lug wrench while he got out the jack and I put the foot to it and broke off the lug. Knowing out dad usually whoop but when we broke stuff – he said…sorry son I forgot to tel you it’s lefty loosey…..I would buy my mom a 1967 which I still have because she liked that Valiant so much.
This one’s a little on the high side as a base model….I’m thinking.
Depends on which side of the car your removing the tire from. The left side would be right to loosen, and the right side would be left to loosen. This system was changed in 73′. My 72′ van was the old system.
When my Father died my Mother traded in the 1963 Chrysler with a 383 for a 68 Valiant with 318 and 3 speed stick. I was using it in between buying and selling Chevy’s in high school and managed to sort “out run” one Snohomish county sheriff in it, but for the most part it was dog. good old dependable car though.