Plymouth entered the compact car scene in 1960 with the Valiant. The engineering was period correct, even with the Slant-Six engine. But the styling was a bit weird, which was generally the Chrysler way in those days. Dodge wanted to get into the game in 1961 and rolled out the Lancer, which was a Valiant with different trim here and there. For whatever reason, the Lancer was far less successful than the Valiant and disappeared after two years. This 1962 Lancer is a restored GT that comes with bucket seats. Located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, this Mopar has been available here on Facebook Marketplace for $12,900 for several months. Either it hasn’t sold, or the seller forgot to take the listing down (which happens far too often).
One obvious difference between the Lancer and Valiant is the deck lid. The one on the Lancer did not have a fake spare tire hump in it like the Plymouth. Mechanically, the cars were identical, but you got better trimming with the Dodge as befitting its mid-range status in the Chrysler Corporation ranks. While Plymouth built 300,000 Valiants in 1961-62, Dodge produced 139,000 units. Why was that? Did Dodge not market the Lancer as well as Plymouth did the Valiant? When the compacts were redesigned for 1963, Dodge changed the name of the car to the Dart.
We’re told this Lancer has just 19,000 miles, which means it was the least-used car on the planet back in the day, or the odometer has turned over. The vehicle was restored in 2018 or 2019, so maybe the dial was reset, and that’s the mileage since then. It has the venerable 225 cubic inch “Slant-Six” (these engines are hard to kill), paired with a push-button automatic transmission. The same as in the Plymouth Valiant.
When the seller first listed the car, the asking price was $3,000 higher. Even at the current ask, there’s likely a loss to be incurred if the seller sprung for all of the restoration expenses. This looks like a very nice vehicle and could be one of the better Lancers left. What do you think is a fair amount to pay for a car like this that wasn’t particularly popular when new? BTW, thanks to “Terry” for the tip!
I am shocked at the production numbers Russ quotes on both the Valiant and the Lancer.
Are we to understand that 300K Valiants of this ungainly bodystyle sold in the two model years 1961 and 1962? 150,000 units per model year would be a very good seller in those days. Even Lancer’s 70,000 units per year in those two years would be respectable.
Somehow I just can’t believe they sold that many of these ugly ducklings.
I had a 61 Valiant with a 225 and a 3 speed on the floor.. 4 door though. Wish I still had it..
Actually they were quite popular. Especially, when the competition was either the first gen. Falcon or Corvair
They’re not bad looking in my ever-so-humble opinion. They look different, which is not the same as ugly. I liked the grill on the Valiant better though. These are not classic cars in the sense that early Camaros, Mustangs, and certain other Mopars are, however, and the seller if simply asking too much, even though the car looks great. This car would have been more interesting with a V8, but Chrysler’s only “small” V8 at the time was the early 318 which was physically too big to fit in one of these cars.
I’m with you on the styling, Terrry. Our jellybean-jaded eyes may find it shocking but it certainly broke with the wildly extravagant finniness of the day in a bold, balanced– as opposed to, say, the horrid ’57 Shebbi– and pleasant way. I guess you and I are a couple of guys who proudly think “outside the box,” so to speak.
In the FB pictures the passenger side motor shot shows three clothes line clips on the alternator area. There is no mention of what? or why?
Would the clothes dry faster in there?
What’s up with the three clothespins down by the alternator? Can’t say that I’ve ever seen that before.
Clothes pins are probably attached to the fuel line. Old school fix for vapor lock.
Yes, probably vapor lock. I had one of these (a ’61 two-door Lancer), and on a really hot day (95 degrees or so), it would get vapor lock, and that was years ago before the lousy gas that we have today.
No doubt there’s the possibility of vapor lock… look at where the in-line fuel filter is… right over the forward exhaust port. That line should have been run around the base of the block then up to the carb. Seems like it might be an easy fix.
I Can Tell One Of The Reasons Why It Didn’t Sell. A/C. Have People Not Noticed The Extreme Temps We’ve Been Experiencing Throughout The Country. We Had A Heat Index Yesterday Of 114 Degrees. These Lancers Were Extremely Reliable. The Slant 6 Was Tremendous.
My grandfather had a Valiant! Three speed on the floor. Turquoise in color.
nice but too much money.
Is this a Virgil Exner design?
Yes, ACZ, I believe you are correct that the design is Exner’s. I think it was the poor sales of the overall Mopar lineup that got him shi+-canned right about 1962, then in came Elwood Engel.
I remember seeing one at the airport in either Portland,Oregon,
or Seattle.Knowing cars,I asked my Grandmother “Is that a Valiant,-
or a Lancer?”.
Weird things I remember from my youth.
As a kid we had the exact car! Only a 2 year affair. Got a 65 Barracuda gold on gold with a 3 on tree and slant 6 next. Now that was a cool car! These Lancers are neat. But not as cool
beautiful car – not for everyone but I love these – they made some 225 aluminum blocks in 1961 and 63 (I seem to remember the production being like 70,000) – if this car has one, it would be a selling point as these are a desirable block for slant 6 enthusiasts. The aluminum block weighs about 80lbs less
Nice example of a unique design-if you squint it almost looks like something European from the same era (can’t quite put my finger on which cars, though). I liked these when they were new and I haven’t changed my opinion.
Offered as a GT, I might have expected the aluminum 225 c.i., with some Hyper-Pak options.