OK, this one’s a bit rough around the edges, and some of you may even wonder why we’d feature a car like this 1975 Plymouth Valiant four-door sedan. Well, it’s old, a half century to be exact, it runs, and at one time, these were everywhere. And some may opine that what we really need today is an inexpensive car of this Valiant’s simplicity and reliability. Rocco B. discovered the listing for this crew cab Mopar; it resides in Marana, Arizona, and is available here on craigslist for $1,900.
Plymouth offered three different Valiant trim levels in ’75: Base, Custom, and Brougham. This one’s not identified, but it looks like an entry-level model. Assuming that’s the case, it’s one of 44K assembled that year. Reflecting on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1975 album release, “Nuthin’ Fancy“, that could be an apt description for this car born that same year – it’s just the basics. And, it was the right car for the times, considering our stagnant punk economy and runaway fuel prices. The seller tells us the body is “very good,” and that may be due to its Arizona locale – no rust; rot being the Mopar A-body’s biggest Achilles heel. The Powder Blue finish has as much powder going on as it has blue, but it’s still reasonably presentable. This was not a trim-heavy car, but what it originally had is partially missing. The big railroad tie-sized front federal bumper appears to be unkissed, but the grille is missing a tooth or two.
Speaking of that Arizona climate, it has done a number on the interior. The dash has collapsed, the door panels are wrinkling away, the instrument panel is highly delaminated, and the cloth and vinyl seating upholstery has significantly disintegrated. Despite all that, the sturdy-looking factory-installed three-speed floor shifter is still standing strong, waiting for its next go at rowing the gears.
While hardly zoomy, the 95 net HP, 225 CI, slant-six in-line engine is one of those kinds of modest powerplants that just keeps doing its thing, mile after mile and year after year. In this case, that mileage count is at the 180K mark and likely still has some more to go. Absent the battery, the engine compartment shows as complete,
Some confusion sets in as the seller states, “To be clear, I consider this a good restoration candidate, not a running car,” even though earlier in the listing, the claim is, “It does run and I have driven it.” Which is true? I don’t know, an inquiry would have to be made. Regardless, I’m not certain about this Valiant’s restoration candidacy. An entry-level, six-cylinder, four-door sedan isn’t exactly inspirational. Sure, we collectively want to “save ’em all,” but that’s not realistically feasible. And that begs the question, who would be a likely buyer for just such a car?
Thanks for the Lynyrd Skynyrd reference, the best part of the post,, so many great bands, LS is my favorite. The band, BTW, was named for a HS gym teacher they hated, I believe named Leonard Skinner.
The car is junk, and 20 (30?) years ago, would have made a nice beater, it may have an O/D 4 speed, but this thing has been baking in the AZ. sun for too long. That odometer has been around a couple times, I bet. Really, who would want this?
Better parts car than project. Floor shift columns are always in demand, especially those that differ from automatics with reverse lockout provisions, so is clutch linkage and floor shift humps. Still it’s hard to see even the $1,900 asking price from this car.
Steve R
If it still runs, it should be driven straight to the crusher. IMHO
Well said. Do that with everything that’s not a muscle car, because that’s what everyone drove back then anyway. Craig Jackson told me so.
When you compare this to the numerous 1960’s-1980’s 4 doors featured on this site nearly every day that look to be in driver ready condition often for $4,000-5,000, this car doesn’t stack up well. Cars like this don’t have strong followings, they compete on price, there are better cars for not much more money if someone is willing to put in the work to find one.
Steve R
I had a ’71 Duster with the same slave t six and three speed on the floor. This brings back happy memories, but is too far gone to recreate them.
i have been working on cars 50+ years and never heard of a gas tank gasket. scrap this P.O.S and take the money and buy a steak dinner
This would be a good restoration candidate if you already have a northern parts car that’s rusted to nothing but has a complete interior ready to replace the melted one.
Who wants this car? I do that’s who! I could take this car and make something really nice out of it. Yeah, it will take some time, but that day will come. Get it safened up, update the mechanics, and drive it while you fix it up. At least that’s how we did it when the hobby started. You bought the car of your dreams, got it running, and fixed the rest when time and funds permitted. Bet if I offered him $500 he’d probably take it. He’d have to as shipping costs for this car would be in the thousands. Had the chance to buy one of these 40 years ago but passed on it when the guy upped the price while I was talking to him. Hard pass then, but maybe not now.
Boy howdy. What a bunch of whiners! If that car were close, it would be headed to my house. A stick shift family cruiser. No computers here! Everything needed to restore this is readily available, and hang resale value.