“What’s old is new”, or so goes the saying. Take today’s find, a 1974 Plymouth Valiant. It’s one of the 127K four-door sedans assembled that year and was the definition of a budget-based economy car – you know, one of those necessities in a gasoline-starved, recessionary year. Use it, drive it, ditch it, and move on to the next thing. Now, half a century later, there’s definite interest in plain-Jane cars like this. Why? I don’t know, nostalgia, a desire for simpler times and machines, or a recognition that these usually gobbled-up commodity cars have actually survived the test of time. Looking pretty sound, at first glance anyway, is this Kansas, City, Kansas based sedan. Tony P. found the listing for us and here’s a little more…
Now in it’s fifteenth model year, Plymouth’s Valiant was offered as a two-door hardtop (the Scamp – much like Dodge’s ubiquitous Dart), a four-door sedan (our subject car), and an alternate two-door hardtop known as the Duster. Sedans were offered in standard and Brougham trim – my guess is that this one’s a Standard.
The “Frosty Green Metallic” finish shows well and the seller claims just 42K miles of usage. There’s no sign of corrosion though the seller states that there is some minor body rust but obvious deterioration is not noted. The body’s nice and straight until…ouch, you take a gander at the passenger side quarter panel. I don’t think that’s going to buff out.
Many Valiants from this era were budget powered with six-cylinder engines but not this one, it has a 150 net HP, 318 CI V8 occupying the engine room. The seller tells us that the engine “hums” and mechanical improvements include, “Recently rebuilt front suspension from frame up – including new shocks, strut rods, tie-rod ends, ball joints, bushings, and bushing sleeves.” As one would expect, a TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission provides the rear-wheel hook-up.
Inside, we find green vinyl upholstery and it is said to be, “…immaculate with 100% original upholstery and no tears or holes. Must see to believe!” There’s only one image of the front seat but a bunch of the door panels so it’s difficult to make n objective determination about the entire environment but let’s run with the seller’s claim. This is an A/C equipped car, having been modified to use 134-a refrigerant but it “doesn’t blow cold“.
In conclusion, the seller suggests, “Prime specimen for full restoration or hot-rodding.” I’m not sure I’m down with that thought; old may be new but in this case, it’s not that new. This “specimen” is available, here on craigslist for $4,900 but I think that quarter panel problem is going to make for a difficult sale. It’s going to need to be replaced and that probably means finding one from a non-rusted discard. And then, there’s that four-door thing to contend with. What’s your thought, a project opportunity or forget it and move on to something else?
It’s a shame. The only way I see this poor car ever getting repaired is as a “Labor of Love” kinda thing. It’s going to cost more than he’s asking to put Humpty back together again. And at that point all you have is a super nice, non-original, green, Valient sedan. 🫤🫤🫤
If looks don’t bother you. It would make a great driver for more like $2500 ish.
Five will get you ten that the only reason it’s for sale is because of that crunch on the corner, and they know they can’t economically fix it.
Drop the bumper remove the tail light put a piece of 2×4 in the light area fasten a chain to it and pull with a truck.you can get it 80-90% out
Since its on Craiglist where nothing you buy is good, probably Grannies and stolen out of her driveway. I say best is to donate it to your favorite non profit. These clunkers were awful and underpowered. Agreed about the durability of the famous Valient slant 6 a decade earlier but this joke of a car would be better off as a target practice vehicle for military training. All kidding aside, anybody selling a car with fresh damage is probably running from the law. This jalopy is red flagged and wrecking ball bound. jv smashpalace
Seller says it’s a 318, but sure looks like a Slant 6 to me. Given the body damage, he will be lucky to get half the asking price.
Its definitely a 318 , the two valve covers is a dead giveaway that its not a slant six…
Would be quite nice once that fender is fixed. But given the condition, the ask is about twice what it should be. Don’t think I’ve ever seen one with such a basic interior. I took my driver’s license test in a 73, which, I have to say, had a more attractive rear end. They changed to a rear that was nearly identical to the Dart in 74, and it list its uniqueness
Lovely looking car. I remember cars like the Plymouth Valiant. Assuming the car still runs and drives safely, hopefully all the car needs is a new right rear end to replace the damaged part.
It’s definitely doable and I don’t think the issue is finding a quarter panel or any of the other parts. The issue is finding the right bodyman.
I agree. Assuming parts are available. I’ve always liked “plain jane” cars. If only this was available as a station wagon.
Repaired this would be a nice little cruiser, abet a bit invisible. Nobody younger than a millennial is going to recognize it or even care.
What bodyshop today is gonna want to fix this old car?
one thats being paid..?
These days, NO bodyshop by me in my VERY congested area – more than 30 shops! wants to even hang a new door to replace my 1st gen camaro’s rusty one – no collision damage. They do not work on old classic cars anymore – must be liability issues/fear of rust/dirt/mold/odors. Whatever
I’m curious how that happened. Did he back into something or was it slammed from the rear. I blew the pictures up to get a closer look and I don’t think it would be as difficult to repair as it looks at a glance. The space between the rear door and the front of the damaged panel looks perfect so the quarter panel didn’t move. If you just wanted a cheap driver you could have a shop pull the panel back into shape and don’t worry about the bondo and drive it, or you could fix it properly and have a reliable car. The problem is the unreasonable asking price which is at least double what it might be worth to someone. I hope it finds a good home.
Good question. I’ve been guilty a few times.
If it is as nice as it looks and it were mine, I would only entrust it to someone like Mark Worman. He charges like a wounded bull but the result would be perfect.
Too many questions here. If it smells like a turd, it’s a turd.