60-62 Valiant/Lancer: the red-headed stepchild of the Mopar resto world

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Bill Crowell

Bill Crowell

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Why are these cars considered to be undesirable when, if you aren't satisfied with the Slant 6, you can always install a V8, disc brakes and a larger rear axle and wind up with a pretty quick car?

Too ugly? But a lot of other, much more popular, Mopar cars are ugly, too.

Is it that nobody restores them because they aren't worth enough, or are they not worth enough because nobody restores them?
 
They are like the 62 B body, its a love OR hate thing. I like them both!
They are scarce as hen's teeth, but rarity and $$$ do not always go hand in hand.
Finding needed sheetmetal or anything can be a task We do have a member on here from Ca. that does part out some though.
They are a hard model to find, project or done to any extent.
Like anything, worth what the buyer and seller will agree to.
The Aussies have them in four door trim and they have many and they love them!!!
 
IMHO- they remind me of a small fireplace brick here in New England.
Works great for its job. Practical, square, heavy and solid. It will never be-a piece of polished marble. You can paint it and polish it all you want but it is a brick - it will never do any thing spectacular. But just like bricks here in New England some people like them so much they build whole houses with them not just chimneys.

I personally appreciate them as a front runner to my 66’ a-body. But I would not buy one. Again don’t hate me please just my humble opinion.
 
I have also noticed as I have aged (old fart now older than old dirt) my tastes change. There are cars I would NEVER have owned 40 years ago and today I find them "interesting".. pretty? no, sexy? no. desirable? no. Now I have such. But I LIKE THEM!!
My only criteria with an old car is IF I like it or the wife, I care less about ever taking a car to a show. I careless if anyone else in the entire world likes it. But I will only put a $ into any car that I feel I can get back out. I usually work for free. I buy a project based on such and if I see I will have more in it and be upside down I stop and it goes down the road.
I have had tons of E bodies, the last one about '92/ Sexy cars. Had I rather have another 70 Cuda than my 62 Lancer? Not really. BUT :poke::realcrazy::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:I would sell that Cuda and pocket the $$$$$$ and finish my Lancer!!!!!!!! :realcrazy::realcrazy::poke:
 
They are not that ugly

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I have a 62 savoy. I'm used to ugly.
I would love to have a clean two door or wagon toad, but it would have to be nice, cause parts availability is a nightmare. Maxwedge in a wagon toad? Oh yeah!

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Acquired taste?
VERY hard to find good parts.
And they won't ever be as valuable as say, a Barracuda or Dart.
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When they were first introduced, some of the phone companies used them for service vehicles. At one time I had pictures of the wagons as 2 door cars. I've never actually seen a 2 door wagon, but who know they may have existed. Before I bought my Demon, I was looking at a 62 Lancer bracket car, we just couldn't get close on the price.
 
The roofline reminds me of a 60s Citroen.
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Can't help it...to me, THIS is a hideous car....


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Everyone has an opinion, to each his own.
To me, the Wagons look cool, I could not do a 2 or 4 door.
There have been a few a few attempts to do something different with them.
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Holeeee ****!

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That totally changed the look of the car. THIS is what it should have been. I'd drive that one!
 
1Badcolt said:
Awesome thank you very much im going to try and find actual article.
Click to expand...
Yes, I noticed that issues of the August, '62 Hot Rod were available on ebay for not too much (of course you never know how much shipping and handling will be). I would really like to see how they clearanced the inner fenderwells. I need to do that on my car.
 
Bill Crowell said:
Yes, I noticed that issues of the August, '62 Hot Rod were available on ebay for not too much (of course you never know how much shipping and handling will be). I would really like to see how they clearanced the inner fenderwells. I need to do that on my car.
Click to expand...
Ok thank you

I have to figure out what month
A good member sent me files and I will print and laminate them # LIKE ZERO TECH support for these jewels
I will buy the magazine thanks
 
Bill Crowell said:
Yes, I noticed that issues of the August, '62 Hot Rod were available on ebay for not too much (of course you never know how much shipping and handling will be). I would really like to see how they clearanced the inner fenderwells. I need to do that on my car.
Click to expand...
I think that answer will depend on what headers (or manifolds) you buy/build. The headers in the article are made for that car, not the max manifolds, cause they won't fit.
 
The Aussies are BIG on the RoadToads, all are more doors there. Thy have a group on FB also.

While we are talking Toads here is the story on mine. I got it about 7 years ago while I was back n Missouri. I see this add for a Toad. It was on CL and 2 hours away. I all the guy an ask him the uual questions. I get there and I find it has frame rust on just the bottom side of the rear frame rail behind the axle. Other than that pretty solid except some rust around the rear wheel wells. A PO had did a patch on floor. He tells me HO many old Mopars he has had and flipped over the years, and I start to ***** him out about that frame, he had said NO frame rot!!!!!! I said he would have to PAY ME to haul it home, but......I did gave him $600 and left.
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. Non running.
I find out it had been the pace car for years at a local dirt track!!! IT had the remain of a CK place for antennae on fenders, etc. Those years on a wt track was the cause. I fabbed some 10 ga. sheetmetal in "L's and fixed the darn frame and any other rusted spot. I repainted it B# blue as my wife claims it and loves blue.

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