More than meets the eye

-
pt61v

pt61v

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2012
Messages
57
Reaction score
0
Location
OK
After buying a bizzare 61 Valiant wagon and removing all of the interesting accesories I have decided I'm in this one for the long haul.

It needs a pretty decent amount of body work with floor pans and lower rear quarters. Even though it has holes all over it from the previous owner's idea of a nice car I think it's going to be worth the time.
 

Attachments

  • 61 Valiant.jpg
    63.4 KB · Views: 533
  • 61 Val.jpg
    59.4 KB · Views: 516
These cars are so ugly it is cool. Unfortunate the PO thought they were an artist.
 
Yeah, too bad about the holes. I have no trouble filling 1/8" holes with my mig (I have a Valiant Brougham fender on my Duster). But this wagon has such a nice patina, if it were mine, I'd drive it that way for a while if there were no holes or marks from filling them. Oh well, it's in better hands now.
 
I hope OK is an open carry state LOL... that totally looks like something someone around here would drive.
 
Yeah, the guy thought he was a real comedian. I'm going to get the floors fixed, tune on the motor a little and just enjoy it for a while. At least it looks almost normal now that all the junk is off of it.
 
Left the hood the way it is for now. Don't know if I will get another or just grind and fill.
 

Attachments

  • v1.jpg
    17.8 KB · Views: 402
  • v2.jpg
    17.8 KB · Views: 409
Oh yeah, that looks way better. If he didn't cut holes for the stacks, maybe wouldn't be so bad to just grind carefully and fill. I'd love to pick up something like this.
 
There are 2 sets of holes, about 1/4" diameter. One where he was originally going to put them (spaced more than they are now) and the set where they are now. I've got a few leads on a hood, I'm just trying to get a better deal.
 
Yeah, not worth screwing with then. Funny that exact placement was so important to make 2 sets of holes LOL
 
72Dodge said:
Yeah, not worth screwing with then. Funny that exact placement was so important to make 2 sets of holes LOL
Click to expand...

Well you see the rest of the car, the guy was clearly not all there upstairs.
 

Attachments

  • 61 Val2.jpg
    46.1 KB · Views: 388
you could always take the stacks off and put a scoop :D

i'm pretty sure if they are 1/4" holes you could follow the dots cut that piece out square and put a piece of sheet metal in place, use little clamps like these:
p354b.jpg


spot weld a few spots, take out the clamps, spot weld all the way around alternating sides. grind it down and that's a lot easier than finding a 1961 hood
 
Wow Moparlover, those are some nice wagons. I don't think I want to get that far into it. I would rather pick up another car, more muscle, and get crazy with that. I figure I will be looking for a 67-69 Dart by mid summer.
Had a 68 when I was a kid and really liked it.
 
yeah i had a '68 that i sold 25 yrs ago for about $900 bucks. could shoot myself for doing that. tried to find a decent one but no go. north east winters and salt did most of them in. i'm currently workin on a '74 duster that is only half ate up lol.

in those pics i like the color of the first wagon and the wheels on the last one. so you need a good paint job and some wheels. what motor do you have in her? is it a 273? those are nice lil engines. decent power not bad on gas, pretty close to a 318. dependable and last a long time.
 
moparlover said:
yeah i had a '68 that i sold 25 yrs ago for about $900 bucks. could shoot myself for doing that. tried to find a decent one but no go. north east winters and salt did most of them in. i'm currently workin on a '74 duster that is only half ate up lol.

in those pics i like the color of the first wagon and the wheels on the last one. so you need a good paint job and some wheels. what motor do you have in her? is it a 273? those are nice lil engines. decent power not bad on gas, pretty close to a 318. dependable and last a long time.
Click to expand...

This has a slant 6 from a 72. Previous owner also changed the tranny and steering column to auto on the column (no more push button).

The bright side is that i found a hood and it should be here by the end of the week. rust free and no idiocy attached to it.
 
Thanks for saving the wagon. I hope it grows on you. We need to do a Exner Wagon Nationals!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4727_25.jpg
    165.9 KB · Views: 228
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top