1961 Valiant Wagon
- Thread starter shimos
- Start date
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shimos
Well-Known Member
Having to move out of the current location for a while... but will be able to keep working on it..
shimos
Well-Known Member
Yes roof racks were available in 1962. Not sure if they were factory but 100% dealer for sure. Would have made more sense to be factory but I will have to check my books for you.
Sounds good,
Thanks and have a successful, safe move.
shimos
Well-Known Member
I have 1. But it’s only good for displaying. The rims that will go on the wagon will be 5.5 wide x 14in.
shimos
Well-Known Member
Haven’t been able to work on the wagon for a little bit.. but still doing things for the wagon. One item I recently made was a tar top looking battery topper. I also made the battery caps a little while back. Cause the wagon was built in November 1960... I decided to use autolite battery caps. I always never liked beautiful restored engine bays with a modern battery starring you right in the face.
shimos
Well-Known Member
This was a win.... a colleague recently imported a 1960 valiant station wagon into Australia. And it still had 1 rear tailgate area wiring grommet on it. I have seen a lot of wagons over time but this was the first time one still had the grommet. This piece goes into the body below where the tailgate sits and the wiring loom for the taillights and electric tailgate go right through the middle of them. thankfully he sent it across to me and I have redone a couple of them up.
shimos
Well-Known Member
Digging through the draws at home to find something else and I pull out some nos spark plug leads I had purchased off Len Dawson years ago... I recently read that mopar didn’t print on their spark plug leads until 1961. But the ones I have are dated 3Q 60. Which match the build date (November 60) of the wagon. Who knows!?!. At least I know these will go on the wagon now.
Hyper_pak
Old School Chrysler Fan
Mike, you are a mad man!
And I mean that in the nicest way.
I sure do love your wagon and you efforts at finding rare parts!
I am confused, is the wagon a 60 or 61?
I thought that V200 trim was 61 only.
And I mean that in the nicest way.
I sure do love your wagon and you efforts at finding rare parts!
I am confused, is the wagon a 60 or 61?
I thought that V200 trim was 61 only.
shimos
Well-Known Member
Hiya,
The wagon is a 1961 Plymouth Valiant. Hence the 61 trim wear. It was built in the first week of November 1960. The 1960 model year ends September 1960... And the 61 model year start 1st October 1960.. So I took the liberty of pretending I ordered this car in September of 60 but they didnt get to make it till November 60. And with a few parts left over from the 1960 production run they (I) just put the left over bits onto the wagon. Like the black gauges, placement of the alternator, Sort of a cross over from 60/61. When I was able to visit and pull parts in the 90s in the USA I noticed 60 stuff on 61 cars and 61 stuff on 60 cars. This is where I got the idea from. A production model crossover.
There is a few items that were only available from other countries on the wagon as well. But I really liked them so I had to put them on. AutoMex (Mexican Chrysler) Tachometer from the 62 Acapulco Valiant. 1960/1/2 Chryco (Canadian Chrysler) Valiant Steering Clock... And maybe but havent decided as yet... The Australia exterior Sunvisor.
Hyper_pak
Old School Chrysler Fan
Thanks Mike, not sure why I thought it was a 60.
Did you find all the parts you need for the rear gas fill and is your tank in good shape?
Did you find all the parts you need for the rear gas fill and is your tank in good shape?
shimos
Well-Known Member
Actually the gas tank was in great shape. It had a small dent/knock in a area I don’t know how it would have got there... but once it was installed you could not see it. I still cleaned to crap out of it and used a product call redkote on the inside of it. It’s used on aircraft fuel tanks.
Hyper_pak
Old School Chrysler Fan
I am sure it looks great!
shimos
Well-Known Member
Havent been here in a little while. Life, health and other cars get in the way. Moved the wagon twice in the last year but hopefully back onto it this year. Then onto the next project I have been saving and collecting parts for. While not working on the wagon I must admit the 62 green Lancer has been clocking up a few miles and touring around a little bit. Very smooth car to drive. I replaced all the rubber suspension pieces and wow what a difference that makes to driving the car. Just a few odd carby issues and it would be prefect. For a car that lived in the cold Michigan winters to the Australian high heat summers... It's doing well.
So hopefully posting a few more wagon pictures this year.
So hopefully posting a few more wagon pictures this year.
shimos
Well-Known Member
From the Back.
Great, great write ups on your restoration! Amazing!
Thank you so much for taking the time and to do this.
I picked up a '61 Lancer 4 dr. about 6 months ago and am fixing it up.
I'm a MoPar guy and at 80 yrs. young it keeps me busy.
Thank you again for the inspiration!
Steve
Thank you so much for taking the time and to do this.
I picked up a '61 Lancer 4 dr. about 6 months ago and am fixing it up.
I'm a MoPar guy and at 80 yrs. young it keeps me busy.
Thank you again for the inspiration!
Steve
Good work! It keeps you out of the bars, pool rooms and cat houses!!!
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