Early Valiants Question

First year for the 273 was 64. All 64 273s were 2-barrel versions, 180 hp.

First year for the Commando 273 was 65. It was optionally available on Barracudas and on V200 and Signet series Valiants. It was not available in V100s.

Four speed was optional for both V8s and slant sixes in 64 and 65. Just under 7% of all 64 Valiants were equipped with four speed transmissions, most of them mated to slant sixes (over 90% of 64 Valiants were slant six powered). Only 1.3% of 65 Valiants were equipped with four speeds (vs. 20% of Barracudas). As in 64, most Valiants in 65 were slant six powered, and most had automatic transmissions.

Commando 273 continued to be available in 66 and 67 Valiants. According to my info, you could still order your slant six with a four speed in 66, but four speeds in 67 were V8 only.

I'm not 100% sure of this, but I don't believe you could get a Commando 273 in station wagons any of these years.

In 68, the Commando 273 was gone. In its place was an optional 318 2-barrel with 230 hp. Four speed transmission was still available in V8 cars in 68 (it would be missing from the 69 Valiant option list). The new for 1968 340 was not an option in Valiants.

Much of the above also applies to Darts.