Plymouth joined Chevrolet and Ford in 1960 as all three manufacturers entered the new compact car market. Ford’s Falcon was the most conventional, Chevy’s Corvair the most unorthodox, and the Plymouth Valiant the most aesthetical. This 1962 Valiant V200 (the mid-trim level) looks rather worn, yet the seller says it’s a fun little car to drive. And it may have some connection to NASCAR, though perhaps in name only. Located in Santa Ana, California, this smaller Mopar is available here on craigslist for $6,500.
Chrysler’s automobiles from 1957 and into the 1960s were the most “stylish” of what the Big 3 was cranking out. Thanks to the “Forward Look” design of these cars, Chrysler caught the rest of the industry off guard – but only for a short while. When the Valiant was conceived for the 1960 model year, it continued Chrysler’s trend to have cars that looked different than the competition. By 1962, Plymouth was selling 157,000 Valiants a year (less than Ford or Chevy), including about 8,500 V200 2-door coupes like the seller’s car.
NASCAR rolled out a compact car category in 1960 to race at Daytona. The Slant-Six engine used in the Valiant had an advantage over the Fords and Chevies and a Valiant won both races that January, one on a road course and the other on the superspeedway. The key was the Hyper-Pak set-up which was a tuning kit that smoked the rest of the field. We understand those outings in 1960 were a one-and-done.
The seller refers to NASCAR in the listing for this car, but there’s no indication it was a racer. He/she also refers to a write-up about the car in Hemmings, but a Google search didn’t turn one up (may be too far back). The condition of this Plymouth today is fair (cosmetically) though we’re told it runs and you could drive it the way it is or restore the Valiant back to its former glory, though the interior is rather poor. The odometer is stuck at 29,000 miles, which may be on the second go-around.
The 225 Slant-Six engine has been rebuilt and is paired with an automatic transmission. The rear end has been swapped out and disc brakes added to the front. The shocks, water pump, hoses, master brake cylinder, and an aluminum radiator are all newer additions. The photos provided are before and after with the last one after the car was cleaned up by its owner of the past four years. Thanks for the nifty tip, “numskal”.
The Valiant pictured for sale is not a V200.
It is a Signet 200.
V100 and V200 were separate models, that had previously been offered in `60 & `61 and again in `62, but now beneath the Signet 200.
The Signet 200 eclipsed the V200 as top of the line in `62 and became the only 2-door hardtop model, which the V200 had previously been in `61 only.
In `60 all Valiants were 4 doors.
In `61 V100 2-door sedans and V200 2-door hardtops were added to the line up.
`62 Signet 200 production was 25,586.
`62 V200 2-door sedan production was 8,484, and V100 2-door sedans were 19,679.
`62 Signet 200s were also the first to have bucket seats standard.
The 170 /6 was still standard, with the 225 /6 becoming optional mid-year `61.
I’ve owned a `61 V200 2-door hardtop since 2014, 1 of 18,586 built.
Below is a Curbside Classic link about the Valiants at Nascar, since Hemmings now requires Membership/Sign-Ins to read any articles if you have any ad blockers.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/when-the-new-1960-compacts-went-racing-the-130-mph-valiants-cream-the-corvairs-and-falcons/
I wanted one of these for my first car when I was 18. My dad wanted me to buy a rust bucket 60 biscayne oil burner instead. Just because it was refered to him by a co-worker.
All that talk about the engine and no pictures. Have seen a couple of these cars with the six modified with cams, multible or 4 barrel carbs, and head work. Did well on the drag strips in it’s class.
Had a friend who paid $50 in the day for one. Called it Prince Valiant. It finally died from abuse, and was replaced by a second $50 special, the Princess Valiant. Gotta love a slant 6
I remember when these were new, can’t remember an uglier car, I know…beauty is in the eye of the beholder…someone bought them…..but ugh…
I have to agree with you. Ugliest car ever built in my opinion
Yeah, and you guys consider SUV’s beautiful?
I always thought these cars were kind of cool-looking. Quirky, not ugly… LOL
I don’t remember ever seeing a green one. I do like it dressed in this shade of green.
I mentioned yesterday about liking Studebakers and Ramblers of this era. Add these Variants to the list. I love the look of these cars. Unfortunately, up here in New England, these are difficult to find that haven’t rusted away. I was working in Keyser, WV in the early 70s. There was a place called ,I believe, Chat and Chew drive in, a burger place right over the start line in Maryland that also had frequent drag racing. I had a 65 442 at the time. I got called out by a Valiant from out of town. H had a built slant 6 in it so I thought I’d take home an extra $100. I was wrong, while I was spinning he jumped me off the line and I couldn’t run him down.
Back in the early seventies a guy (unknown) a couple of small towns away had one of these with a 383 stuffed into it. Was supposed to have been a really fast street racer for the time. It was painted blue and was jacked up all around (a popular look at the time) with big wheels and tires. I don’t remember if they were Cragars or what they were for sure.
Chat & Chew is correct. It was across the State line at the top of the hill on US 220 in McCoole, MD. I was there 10 years before you.
Let me guess, you probably spent a few Friday nights at the Westernport Legion Hall, live band and well stocked adult beverages.
I just don’t care for this body style, looks like something the designer drew up with a Monday morning hangover and his or her bosses who were also hungover said lets do it.
It was the creation of Chrysler Design Chief Virgil Exner himself, father of the Forward Look designs `55-`62 at Chrysler.
I have his 1960 patent drawings.
They were popular, selling 494,664 of the `60-`62 first gen Valiants.
Unibody construction, /6 engines, first compact, first alternator vehicle etc.
Dodge had Lancer as their version `61-`62, replaced by Dart as the compact for Dodge in `63.
Some say European influences.
I’ve heard it all, Road Toad, Toilet Seat (`60/`61), Frog etc.
An acquired taste to be sure.
I’ve had a `61 V200 2-door hardtop for 10 years.
I’m often the only one ever at shows.
In contrast, the Falcon sold nearly as many in 1960 alone
Yblocker, yep, they were only 8,593 sold units apart on 4-door models the first year.
But Falcon offered a 2 door sedan which Valiant wouldn’t have until the following year.
And Falcon sold 193,470 of those 2-door sedans, versus 167,896 of their own 4-doors.
Probably what pushed Plymouth to add 2-door sedan and hardtop Valiant models in `61.
Not sure what year Falcon introduced a 2-door hardtop, cause I think they were all 2-door sedans until `63. Even the Falcon Futura.
And in `61 Falcon added a 2-door wagon which I wish Valiant had offered.
Corvair came in second to Falcon, with no wagon models in `60
And green looks like a big toad
I always thought they were so ugly they where cool
Read a story once in a car magazine’s readers rides section, a man reminiscing about his first car back in the 60s. It was a ’49 Ford 2 door and he had saved up enough money to take it to Earl Scheib for a $29.95 paint job. He just couldn’t decide on a color from the chips and finally picked a bright green, but it was an extra $10.It took him a couple more weeks to save up, and in it went . A couple days later he went to pick it up and it looked like a giant pickle. LOL. In fact his friends named it that. Terry J
r-i-v-e-t 🐸
My dad first got a 62 V200 which made us a two car family. Later replaced it with a 87 V200. We never got to the Signet level. Both of these cars were fun to drive and ride in. We had no maintenance problems at all. These were modest cars but took care of us very well.
meant 67 V200
Chrysler executives: “Can we make anything uglier than our big cars?”
Virgil Exner: “Hold my beer..”
Seems like the vote is in they were ugly, but than ran well and had good drive trains.
It’s not easy being green, especially if it’s a Valiant.
Thanks David for that linc…..yep fast enough to beat the competion !
Geoff Bodine had an asphalt modified with this body on it back around 1970. Thing was dominant. Dutch Hoag, Andy Romano, and Lou Lazzaro also had Valiant bodied modifieds. They looked as good as a modified stock car as they do a street car. I’ll leave it at that.
Actually, the first year Valiant, was just a Valiant, not a Plymouth Valiant. Definitely some funky styling, the new body style in 63 was much cleaner, and was the basis for the upcoming Barracuda