Here’s my new 1966 Valiant two door sedan. This is a classic “stripper”- a low cost Valiant 100 two door sedan with a 170 cubic inch slant six and a three speed manual transmission, the only option may have been an AM radio. I think it still has the original engine but I haven’t checked the numbers. This is the first three on the tree I’ve ever owned and also first one I ever drove. Originally it was bright red with a red interior but it now wears a badly faded ‘resale’ red repaint and a lot of spray can black primer. The interior is also red and was apparently refurbished some time ago and it is still presentable.
Like a lot of vintage cars there was a long period where it had been in storage. It had a lot of needs to make it something I could drive. To address these needs quite a bit has been done so far; typical tune-up, new battery, it now has an 8 ¼” rear axle, rally wheels with new tires, new fuel pump, new gas tank, new fuel tank sending unit plus redone brake system with new wheel cylinders and brake lines. It now starts quickly, runs with the usual lifter noise and really shifts smooth. It’s not pretty but is now a nice running car. The body is pretty solid, no it’s not perfect by any measure, the driver’s side fender and door are banged up, but having originally lived in Michigan I’m accustomed to seeing many cool cars turned into rusted hulks by winter road salt - it’s just so refreshing to see a car body this solid. It was impossible for me to turn down a ’66 Valiant that was not rusted out. I’ve gotten lucky and have already located replacements for the driver’s side fender and door, both need a little work. I’d like to get some decent paint on it but I’m not sure that I want to tackle the rest of the body work that’s needed. So for now it’ll be a ratty and un-restored driver.
Like a lot of vintage cars there was a long period where it had been in storage. It had a lot of needs to make it something I could drive. To address these needs quite a bit has been done so far; typical tune-up, new battery, it now has an 8 ¼” rear axle, rally wheels with new tires, new fuel pump, new gas tank, new fuel tank sending unit plus redone brake system with new wheel cylinders and brake lines. It now starts quickly, runs with the usual lifter noise and really shifts smooth. It’s not pretty but is now a nice running car. The body is pretty solid, no it’s not perfect by any measure, the driver’s side fender and door are banged up, but having originally lived in Michigan I’m accustomed to seeing many cool cars turned into rusted hulks by winter road salt - it’s just so refreshing to see a car body this solid. It was impossible for me to turn down a ’66 Valiant that was not rusted out. I’ve gotten lucky and have already located replacements for the driver’s side fender and door, both need a little work. I’d like to get some decent paint on it but I’m not sure that I want to tackle the rest of the body work that’s needed. So for now it’ll be a ratty and un-restored driver.
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Now you know how sweet these little 66's are and ride nice 
Welcome to the one year only body Valiant club .
