With summer weather well underway for most of us, what better combination is there than classic cars and baseball? This 1962 Plymouth Valiant V200 has a famous baseball-related owner in its past. This car can be found on Craigslist, or here on the CL archive, in the City of Angeles – Los Angeles, California. The seller is asking $12,000 for this V200. Thanks to Michael for sending in this great tip!
The seller thankfully has a lot of information and a ton of photos on this great looking Valiant. Most of us are used to seeing ads like, “good runner make offer” and seeing three photos if even that. Listings devoid of punctuation or really much information at all of any use. Not so this time.
This car has apparently been in storage more than it has been used, with a mere 28,603 miles on it. It looks like it’s in superb condition, almost like it’s been restored. This one has quite a story, the “original owner was legendary National League Baseball & World Series umpire, Larry Goetz, who bought this vehicle new in October 1961 and then presented it to his niece in March of 1962 just eight months before he passed away.”
“Goetz’s niece kept this special gift from her legendary uncle stored in a private garage and mostly unused while she performed on the professional stage in New York and eventually shipped the car from Cincinnati to Los Angeles where it remained almost entirely under a protective tarp in storage until she herself passed away. Her husband sold the vehicle to a close family friend who registered but has not driven it except to provide the necessary care and maintenance while it has remained unused in local storage ever since.” What a story and what a great looking car. I believe it in looking at the photos, this interior, trunk, and exterior doesn’t look like a car that has rounded the bases once – as in, having over 100,000 miles on it.
The seller talks about the engine: “it indeed has just 28,600 original miles on the 225 cid engine (which the vehicle was upgraded to) and is in excellent condition for its vintage age. All of the gauges work as does the radio and the car drives like, well, a 1962 Plymouth Valiant!” So, was it originally a 170 slant-six? Who know, a quick call or email to the seller would hopefully clear that up. What do you think about this Valiant? Is it a homerun or a squeeze play at home plate?
This is a Full equipped Valiant, I don’t know if A/C was a factory option at that time.
I love the color combination and the tinted glass.
Even with the relatively famous ownership price is to high because market for mint Valiants, Falcons, and base Chevelles it’s 6K to 8.5K IMHO
It’s a cool car, and most definitely a product of its time. Not sure an ump that died in 1962 would be much of a selling feature, though. If it was owned by a baseball legend and noted car collector like Reggie Jackson, that’s another story.
Good point Jett! How about an accountant who really wanted to be a lion tamer? An electrician; a 6th-grade English teacher; a hardware store manager? ‘ Can’t say I’m terribly impressed with the provenance.
I’m pretty sure the 225 wasn’t on the scene yet, should be a 199ci .Looks the same only different. Nice looking cheapo Plymouth .
Junkman,
I had a 1961 with the 225 ci. Tangled with 2 1955 Chev, V8 powerpaks, who ever was ahead stayed ahead. It did have 2 inch exhaust all the way and a 2 bbl Dodge carb which I had added.
nope, 1960 Valiant was the 1st of the 225s. It was an option. I had a 60 /225 and push button automatic – I’d love to have it back.
In fact, wasn’t the ’60 Valiant the first of the slant sixes…
I love it! Have always loved these first-series Valiants, but by ’62 they had already lost the elegant spare-tire imprint on the trunk. To my thinking, this design only works as a four-door sedan. The two-doors never looked right to me, and the station wagons looked like an after-thought.
Back when they were new, I dreamt of tasteful mods that would make an elegant luxury car out of it – an American answer to the Mercedes 220.
I remember test-driving a new one with three on the floor. At every stoplight, I instinctively put it in reverse. The salesman stayed quiet but it must have driven him nuts! I always caught the mistake before any mayhem broke loose.
Exner’s Valiant’s were a home run to some and a 6-4-3 double play to others.
Time capsule car. I’d love to have it.
There with the red heater hose again. Sharp looking car, but 12K is quite optimistic.. Today’s my 64th and I’m spending it watching Motorsportsehn.
When I was a young man, several eons ago, I was reading a magazine one time (I want to say LOOK or LIFE magazine but it might have been something else. Anyone else remember them?)
David Eisenhower, the grandson of Dwight Eisenhower, was graduating from high school. He’s a year older than I am so it would have been about 1966. The magazine article had pictures of him at that time, and he was showing off his gifts from his family (I don’t remember the details) and one gift was a Plymouth Valiant, a plain old 4door with black-wall tires and dog dish hubcaps.
Being the car geek that I am, I noticed it was of the first era, 1960-62. I was just amazed that he received car that was already 4 years old (and maybe 6) and thought, boy, couldn’t his rich family have bought him a new car? And why I remember this 50+ years later, I’ll never know.
That’s a very valuable lesson, Mike. If he wanted something new he could apply himself and use his own money to buy it.
Too many financially ignorant young people out there who have been ruined by parents who have spoiled them. They never learn the value of delayed gratification, money management, budgeting and saving and have no respect for what’s been given to them just because.
Kidding, right?
Repainted, engine swapped, push buttons out of whack, looks like the dash has been repainted, chrome missing from the dash knobs,side mouldings screwed on, looks like left doors don’t match around the upper frame, just a look under the hood was enough for me.
And Mamie Eisenhower drove it later on?
It does look like a solid old Valiant that has gotten delusions of grandeur.
BTW, after over a year of coming here, this drove me to comment.
No. Mamie Eisenhower did not drive it later on. The ad says there is an identical one in the museum dedicated to her.
Missing some teeth in the grille. Judging from the brochure pictures no chrome was used on the dash knobs.
Much better shape than my 63 Valiant was with 113,000 miles when I found it. [But then it may have actually been 213,000 miles].
And it IS 56 years old and 123,000 miles after all. I would think that time and wear would take it’s toll on even the best maintained car.
BTW: Motor Trend’s test of a 62 Valiant Signet 2 door hardtop had the same ivory colored dash knobs as on the featured car.
Different dash than the 60-61 which may have used chrome.
I’d say it’s the real deal. There just aren’t any telltale signs of wear. Steering wheel, especially. The blue slant 6 came out in 1970, but with such few miles, the original engine could have been shot, from lack of use. The control knobs yellowed easily, it was crummy plastic. Cool find, a little steep, many of these show up online for half the price.
Not a favorite body style. Needs 2 less doors and no B pillar, but that’s just me.
Picture 18 the door trim appears to be sheet metal screwed on and looking at the trans push buttons there appears to be a problem there.
Worth 1/2 of what they are asking max. IMO
I don’t recall a two-door hardtop in their model line-up. I do remember a two-door sedan which I did not like. I agree that all the push-buttons look pretty sad. Did the bottom transmission button melt, or what? I guess we are to presume they work properly.
Did somebody also mention there appears to be a paint mismatch between front clip and front doors? ‘ Don’t think that diamond-tucked vinyl liner on the inside of the hood came out of the factory. Nor did that under-dash horn button beneath the speedometer. The interior screams out RED in a way that would seem more appropriate on a Porsche. ‘ Looks to me like the metal has been repainted. But in the picture of the radio, we see that funky heater control arm, as well as an equally funky arm for the brake pedal. Why not attend to these details?
Don’t get me wrong – it could be a very nice example, but it’s obviously gotten some (amateur?) restoration work that just isn’t up to show standards, and I’m bothered by a description that belies the pictures. If the price comes down precipitously into the bargain-basement, I could get interested at about a third the price.
Allen,
in the 200 series there was a 2 dr, 4 dr & 4dr wagon.
There was a 2 dr hardtop in the Valiant Signet series. don’t know what the difference was, maybe just trim level.
I believe the dash is suffering from to much top dressing, clean up, shiny up, make it look too perfect application. The front seat appears to have the same treatment.
Detailing is one thing but over doing it doesn’t help. IMHO
Kenzo,
You have a good point. Over-done detailing leads to an expectation that everything is perfect. But it isn’t. The real shiny parts imply an unfulfilled promise. I end up not trusting the pictures, the description, the seller, and the car.
I had a decent 1962 2 door automatic. It ran well enough but it always felt like a hold over from a bygone era.
I don’t see where people get their valuations on their cars.
I feel like we are the sharks and these people come in to the tank with their high prices they picked out of the sky.
Shoulder harness?
Not until much later. What really is the shoulder harness attached to/with?
I think that this car was rode hard and put away wet (alot). Why else was the engine changed? This is one of the most reliable engines on the planet. Very nice job of a partial refurbish/major detail however. I think that the mileage is accurate. But I think the love and caring description is way over the top along with the price.
Engine should be red in that year of vehicle. The blue paint would seem to indicate that some kind of monkeying around has been done. Very, very nice car. Last one I saw like this was getting ready to be shipped to an overseas buyer.
Boy thats some hood insulation, not to mention the chain.
Slant six and the push button automatic. Classic combo. Love it!
Im going to chime in on the bogus claim of actual miles. The seat covers look too perfect-probably replaced at some time.