(first posted 4/28/2016) There’s an interesting progression with Australian station wagons as they age. When new, they are unassuming family transport or handy fleet vehicles. After a decade or so, they are passed down to thrifty family buyers or retained by aging, pragmatic drivers because of their hauling and towing abilities. Another decade passes and many have fallen further down the socio-economic food chain and are looking rough. After another decade, most of the station wagons that still exist are lovingly restored.
Minivans never quite had their moment in the sun in Australia as they did in Europe and North America, but the Toyota Tarago (Previa) was a desirable if expensive people carrier in the 1990s. Will remaining examples in 20 years’ time be restored to as fine a condition as this Chrysler Valiant? How about today’s enormously popular crossovers, like the Australian-built and engineered Ford Territory?
While the original 1962 Chrysler Valiant was largely identical to the American market Plymouth Valiant, by the 1970s the two lines had deviated. The American Valiant and Dart sedans retained their straight-edged, dated styling while the 1971 Chrysler Valiant VH received handsome, new “fuselage” sheetmetal; a racy coupe version was also launched, wearing the Charger nameplate. It may have only grown a handful of inches in various dimensions, but the VH Valiant looked like a much larger, more imposing car. Even the wagon received a makeover, now looking much like the larger North American-market Dodge Coronet and Plymouth Satellite wagons. Dodge and Plymouth had dropped their compact wagons in 1966 and they wouldn’t re-enter the segment until the 1976 F-Body twins.
This Valiant would appear to be a 1976-78 CL or 1978-81 CM. By this point, Chrysler Australia was suffering from sliding sales and a lack of development money and was reduced to making only minor visual tweaks to keep the Val fresh. Although the death warrant had not yet been signed for big Aussie sixes and V8s, the late 1970s saw a considerable rise in sales of compact, four-cylinder sedans and wagons. Chrysler’s Simca-based Centura was a short-lived failure and the struggles of Chrysler Australia’s corporate parent meant the Valiant would finally croak in 1981, its lack of meaningful updates making it look like a relic next to the crisply-styled new Falcon and European-sized Holden Commodore.
A Ford fan lives at this house, clearly. This was the only time I have ever seen this 1976-79 XC Fairmont wagon on the street as it is usually parked on the driveway next to that XC sedan. Like Chrysler Australia’s Valiant, the Falcon was derived from an American car – the Falcon, of course – but increasing Australian engineering input eventually led to the US Falcon and Aussie Falcon going in two very different directions: the Aussie Falcon survived while the US Falcon died. Well, the Falcon’s platform lived on in North America under the cheapo Maverick compact. The 1972 XA Falcon was extensively redesigned with rounded, Torino-esque styling and a new hardtop coupe that has become a classic. The Falcon was Ford Australia’s core model and by far their biggest seller.
The Falcon range encompassed the aforementioned hardtop coupe, sedans, utes, panel vans and wagons, while the platform was also stretched to make the Fairlane and LTD luxury sedans. “Fairmont” was the name used for the highest-spec versions of the coupe, sedan and wagon, slotting in under the Fairlane and LTD in price and prestige. By the time the XC hit showrooms, Ford had axed its Falcon GT sedan and coupe. The Fairmont line was expanded to include a new GXL sedan, somewhat of an executive express with subtle styling, an automatic transmission and sport suspension. Despite minor visual tweaks like rectangular headlights on the Fairmont models, the XC was looking a tad dated. For 1979, it would be replaced by the crisp, rectilinear XD-series – looking awfully like the new European Granada – but under its fresh, new sheetmetal remained very familiar mechanicals.
But it was General Motors-Holden that reigned supreme during the 1970s (before the Falcon stole the #1 sales position in the subsequent decade). The venetian blinds in the side windows of this Kingswood wagon are an interesting touch. Whatever happened to these blinds, or those once-ubiquitous rear window louvers?
Come back! Alas, I couldn’t get a good shot of this Holden as it sped off but it’s clear even from these pictures that it is mint condition. This particular wagon sheetmetal was offered from the 1971 HQ until the 1977-80 HZ, and as wagon sheetmetal is revised far less frequently than sedans (and because the car was taking off from a red light), I can’t quite pin down the year of this. Holden wagons were offered, in most years, as a base Belmont, mid-range Kingswood or top-spec Premier. It’s the Kingswood name that is most remembered, however. It seems everyone had one and they were so ubiquitous and so iconic, they even inspired the name of a popular TV series.
It’s wonderful to see enthusiasts keep these old station wagons, such important parts of Australian automotive history, in excellent condition. I hope in 40 years’ time, I will spot a 2010 Holden VE Commodore Sportwagon or a Ford Territory – heck, even a Toyota Tarago – and smile warmly at the thought that someone has cherished a car that was once such a fixture on our roads and in our families.
Related Reading:
Automotive History: The Valiant in Australia Part 1
Automotive History – The Valiant in Australia, Part II
Curbside Capsules: Four Generations of Oz Falcon Wagons
Cohort Sighting: 1979 Holden HZ Premier Wagon – Imagine A Chevy Nova Wagon
It’s amazing how all three of these wagons are instantly recognizable to North American eyes as Chrysler, Ford and GM products, even if they were part of the alternate universe as we see it.
That Valiant wagon is the handsomest of the bunch, and the Holden seems downright frumpy compared to it.
Unfortunately, if the Valiant still looked like that in 1981, it was truly a very dated look to North American eyes, and apparently to Aussie eyes as well.
It took me milliseconds to conclude “’70s Chrysler” upon 1st glance even though I’m otherwise unfamiliar with that model. Stylists knew their business, apparently.
That silver SUV [Toyota RAV?] behind the one in the 1st pic makes an interesting contrast in size && proportion. And even the red Honda Jazz/Fit in front looks taller.
I’d still go for that Valiant!
Amazing how North American styling cues carried over to models sold down under.
Yes. That Chrysler Valiant’s wagon end reminds me of the early-70s fuselage wagons, like the Plymouth Satellite Suburban one of my mom’s friends drove.
I too immediately recognized the “fuselage” effect on the Chrysler wagon.
All that’s missing is the “simulated wood grain paneling”.
The “Brady Bunch” wagon! Went camping in the Grand Canyon, pulling a pop-up trailer.
Here it is with wood paneling for the South African market.
Cool! That’s a look we never got here.
Here’s a bigger view of that same brochure pic. The mentioned “Charger engine” is a 225 Slant-6 with 2-barrel carburetor; the Hemi-6 was not exported outside Australia.
That looks rather spiffy, and the way the wood is done has one very positive effect: it lines up those wayward, rising doorhandles along the side.
Have a glance at the one in Will’s picture. By then, Chryco were rather desperately adding straight line rub strips to approximate a neater look that worked ok on the mildly re-done sedans (the rear guards look less bum-droopy, as Aus had originally wanted), but it sure is out of whack on the wagons!
That is EXACTLY what the wagon my mom’s friend had looked like! Even the color and the trim!
William,
Two of the “Related Reading” web links failed to materialize as follows :
Curbside Capsules: Four Generations of Oz Falcon Wagons
Cohort Sighting: 1979 Holden HZ Premier Wagon – Imagine A Chevy Nova Wagon
Thanks for pointing that out, Chuck!
WordPress changed the “add link” function slightly and I’m not really a fan of the change. I didn’t even notice the links didn’t work.
That is a HQ wagon and from the trim seems to be a Kingswood the Belmont had no wheel arch trim or tail lamp trim good find there are a couple of minters around here seen regularly but Falcons and Valiants are getting rare in wagon, I like em all having owned examples of all of them with varying engine sizes from 3.3 holden thru to 302 Ford and a couple of 265 Vals great old cars.
A Belmont wagon would really be a find – they were never common. Nobody went for the cheap models except as taxis; even fleets went for the Kingswood.
Old Pete,Belmonts in any configuration were rare here in Tasmania.The only one I saw was the one my brother bought in early 1970s.A sedan,grey colour like EH Holden utes.If I remember correctly it had minimal or no chrome and the typical skinny tyres that didn’t fill out the mudguards.He put wider tyres on it and detailed it and it looked very fine,grey with black tyres and rubber window surrounds.Yesterday I saw a Falcon panel van and regularly see a nice HZ Premier wagon.A few days ago I saw a mint Holden Sandman panel van.My neighbour in the Blue Mountains,a German guy,was a collector of Valiants and owned a wagon like the one pictured here.See many daily driver classics in Tas but rarely any Valiants,although last week saw an AP5 Valiant sedan at the supermarket.
“… the Falcon’s platform lived on in North America under the cheapo Maverick compact…”
Also the 1975-80 Granada/Monarch. And Lincoln Versailles.
That Valiant has to be one of the best-looking wagons of the era, US or Australian. I wonder if the design would’ve worked at a full-size (US) scale.
+1. Ranking these three wagons for looks: Chrysler, Holden, then Ford. It’s a pity U.S. Chryslers of the same era didn’t have as much style.
(Great piece, William.)
I have actually seen that Holden wagon in New Farm, Brisbane – just down the road from Fortitude Valley where you snapped it.
A few years ago in London I saw a light metallic blue XC Fairmont wagon! 302 V8 no less. On doing some reading I found that they were actually sold there through Ford dealers on special order. Makes sees in that they were RHD and all, but they must have been expensive and therefore up against dome fancy Euro competition. They were probably the biggest option though!
Valiants were offered in England too but only V8s so they could use the US parts supply chain no Hemi sixes were offered but there are some there.
Yeah, seen it in New Farm too, pretty sure it is a stock standard Kingswood. BTW anyone else been to Bubbles yet?
I live near Brisbane but I don’t know what Bubbles is.
It’s the old Bubbles Bath House that was a notorious brothel in the Fitzgerald inquiry. Now it it a steak restaurant on street level and a cocktail bar with a huge spa bath down stairs. Lots of picture of “colourful Valley identities” on the walls, hehe!
That Fairmont wagon is interesting. I think someone’s been raiding the spares cache. A standard Fairmont wouldn’t have the scooped hood, and a Fairmont GXL would have that hood but also factory alloys rather than the chrome 12 slots seen on this wagon.
Whitewalls were almost never seen back them, not even in the brochures, but they sure look good here and on the HQ.
Auto transmission cars of all makes had whitewalls as factory fitments in NZ the practice ceased sometime in the 70s but both the trimatic HQs my dad bought new had WW tyres.
Good stuff William. From the side badges (no Valiant script) I’d say it is a CM; yes Dave they were very dated by then! The silver CUV beside it is a Highlander (Kluger here), and the Honda will be taller, all modern cars are taller than 1970s cars (are there any exceptions?).
The Fairmont wagon looks to be well optioned, the bonnet scoops are part of the GS pack. Note the blue oval grille badge from the update in mid-1978. Family friends had one of these new with the two-way tailgate.
It is interesting to compare the different way Chrysler created their wagon’s compared to the other two. The Holden & Ford wagons shared the same platforms as their long wheelbase luxury sedans, you can see the wider dogleg panel between the wheelarch & the rear door.
The Valiant wagon does not have this wider panel and given that it is 6 inches longer than the sedans means it must have been extended in the load carrying area.
It makes for a much better look in my opinion, not to mention more load area.
Whats strange is ,Chrysler’s long wheelbase sedan model has the wider dogleg between the rear door & wheelarch, so two distinct platforms must have been used.
Chrysler Australia really tried hard with the VH range in 1971, way too many variations to be sustainable.
With the rear seat folded the Valiant is seven feet long in the load area great as a camping setup for travelling the Falcon is not quite as big and the Holden too short, for me anyway, the Valiant with the baby hemi 215 engine is the best on gas the Falcon and Holden V8s the worst.
Speaking of gas sucking abilities, my Dad bought a near new VH wagon 245 automatic in about 1972, soon after he had a tow bar fitted, which must have involved removal & refitting the fuel tank. Something must have blocked a breather or such. He was driving along and the suction from the fuel pump crushed the fuel tank inwards like a tin can !!!
Very nice write-up!
I think that this Valiant would have done well for Plymouth in the U.S.–shame the fuselage stopped with the mid-sized Mopars. Frankly, I think ALL of these cars would have been successful in the U.S. at the time…
What I’ve seen is that here the second life of wagons seems to be tradie wheels.
I would love to see a lovingly restored VT or EL wagon.
My neighbour across the street kept his VN acclaim wagon. Barely used, still runs like a charm.
Good call on that tradie thing. I caught a CL wagon pulling workhours for a painter just recently.
Nice one. CM for me, loooooove that shape as a wagon. But if that HQ was a Premier in a period factory metallic…
What we need now is a Leyland P76 wagon, though we have to be realistic.
For me, the Chrysler Valiant looks the pick of the bunch, with side spear/fender flare.
You mention the Chrysler 180/Centaur not succeeding in Australia, as it didn’t in Europe. To fill the gap, Chrysler used to market the Valiant in the UK (the only RHD drive market in Europe) and that didn’t succeed either. I cannot recall ever seeing one, except at the London Motor Show in 1977.
A lucky guy like yourself, Roger, you might just find one of about 3 assembled. Used as factory hacks until closure of local operations. Not great beauties as I recall.
In case you think that’s beyond the realm of possibility, at a show on April 10 just gone a vendor was offering a badge for the never released “Force 7” two door variant. POA. No, I didn’t ask.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=images+leyland+P76+wagon&espv=2&biw=1152&bih=831&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjwsPPggbXMAhUnG6YKHahyBTcQsAQIGg
I’ve got an owner’s manual for a Force 7. When Leyland Australia was closing down manufacture you just had to write and ask for one.
Force 7s turn up at car shows over here quite regularly there are at least three in this country ugly things but better looking than the sedans, I cant see the appeal meself.
Only 10 Force 7’s escaped the crusher when Leyland Australia was shut down, although many more had been built. Apparently the theory was they would bring higher prices at the auction if there were only a few of them available.
The Aussie Centura like the straight 6 Cortinas scared a lot of people away with their wild handling, very light in the tail, so if you didnt like or werent capable of using opposite lock at high speed a Centura was not the car for you though I loved my one.
I regret that I’m not from Australia or New Zealand. However I do like cars produced in Australia. If I had to choose between any of the three station wagons, I’m afraid I’d be lost. I like Fords, but I also like GM cars. I’m also interested in Chrysler cars.
Finally had some time to really peruse these fine finds. I never tire of seeing these 70s Australian doppelgangers. Thanks.
That Valiant is quite the looker, and the Falcon is attractive as well. Can’t get as excited about the Kingswood but it’s certainly nice-looking also, and they all are quite exemplary of the parent company’s styling direction.
One wonders if it would have been a better idea to sell these models in the USA as well, considering the Maverick/Granada never offered a wagon, the Nova stopped offering one after ’67, and the US Valiant/Dart didn’t have one from the late 60’s until the introduction of the Aspen/Volare in ’76
One side effect of that was that the AMC Hornet Sportabout wagon, compromised as it was by a high liftover height, had the segment to itself from 1971-75 and in some of those years half of all Hornets sold were wagons.
That Valiant brings back some memories! One of my uncles trained greyhounds, and he took them to the track in the back of a white Valiant similar to this one.
My memory was how much room there was in the back behind the rear seats.
A mate’s dad had an HQ Kingswood wagon, a plain white 202 manual. There wasn’t a whole lot of room in the back; from what I recall the Valiant and Falcon were roomier. It’s like they said “We got to have a wagon, this’ll do”, and went off to the pub. The 202 never seemed as nice an engine as the 179 in their old EH either.
Nowadays the Falcon’s tail looks a bit too short, but back then these things seemed huge! Ridden in a few but never driven one.
That fuselage styling on the Valiant perhaps looked best in wagon form. The sedans (which would normally be the most popular model) weren’t that pleasant. Of the three, the Valiant would be my choice.
I’ve always loved the Val wagons. No pull-yer-damnfool-pants-up saggy bums for them, unlike the sedans. In fact, they rise like a cat patted near the ass button – if nicer from right behind, obviously – as quite possibly the world’s most massive wedge. They must’ve sold nowhere near the amount of Holdcon wagons, as you never saw them in flotillas like those.
I’m also of the crowd that thinks the HQ a pretty car, arguably finest as a wagon, which is curiously at odds with most of our trans-Pacific commenters here. Mind you, as actual cars, especially when basic and manual, they were thirsty, gutless, clunky, vinyl-filled, drunken-handling horrors, and yes, not so much room for the external size either, but apart from that, they were fine conveyances.
You only saw fleets of Valiant wagons if itenerants were around several of us campaigned mid 70s Valiant wagons at the same time great for long distance travelling, go any speed you liked if you were cashed up enough for the gas.
My father bought the first HQ wagon to land in NZ he bought it during the dealer tour to see them unveiled July 71 but of course it was the Aussie spec model but with disc brakes added for NZ export very basic inside no carpet brown roof lining, we had been used to NZ assembly Kingswoods untill then much better trimmed.
Justy I bought several HQ panelvans that didnt have trailing arm rear suspension much better at steering and no rear end steering from shot bushings when the mileage got high.
That’s just so. Leaf springs, the better alternative, who knew? One-tonners might’ve been the best of the (factory) lot! (For US folk, they were the most basic commercial flat tray ute versions).
Fair dinkum, that coil rear end wobbled you about side to side at low speed, let alone high, and it didn’t take high miles to get involved in steering you too. He-man steering, rollover body roll, tree-hugging understeer (on normal-sized wheels), and a rear axle wanting a say at all times, what bloody awful engineering. And all – mostly – fixable, as the last HZ proved!
Damn things are $30K now, for a basic one not quite rusted-out. They’re welcome to ’em!
Here is the 71 Val on a family holiday in about 1973, not sure who that dorky kid is,
ok then, I will own up, its me.
My god that’s ugly.
As to the Val, that’s a very early one, what with the “K” rego. I don’t think I’ve seen one with quarter-vent windows ever, in real life (noticed them in old magazine tests). Interesting shades and panel fit down the side there, doubtless as-delivered in those days.
A real memory-poker too that it’s sitting nose-up (or bum down, depending which end gets your attention). They all did that! For years now, when folk do them up, they level them up, perhaps as they were intended, but it never looks original to my eyes. I’ve only just here realized why.
Say, you lot were doing alright, with your new Val and your new Vizcount (as I thought them to be called as a kid, no-one knows you’re thinking this stuff, hell, what normal kid would even be seeing the name, or the sag on the Val come to that, so it doesn’t get corrected till you have some reason to say it publicly years later, just sayin’).
Can’t help but ask, where’s the caravan park? I’m about half a decade under you, but it has a familiar look. (Much like your glasses and haircut, both of which were also had purchased for me, and to equal effect, but I digress).
Forgot to click reply, see below
Amazing what an old camera will show, till you pointed it out, I hadn’t noticed the different shades down the side, it was maybe a year old when we got it, so who knows.
The caravan wasn’t ours, it was an on site van, at Renmark SA, we lived in Swan Hill at the time and drove to Adelaide, even though Dad had no interest in cars, We went on a guided tour of the Chrysler plant at Tonsley Park, which I of course enjoyed.
I have good memories of those days even with that haircut and glasses, life would become more complicated after this, moving to a new town and secondary school.
Swanill! My last speeding ticket, about 2012, and one perilously close to getting me a bit of time off. Nice copper was kind, and after a chat, gave the old alleged speed a fairly decent haircut. Phew! Big fine, but a licence to proceed with.
Only ever driven through Renmark: vague memory of a pretty-ish river oasis in very dry country.
As mentioned, I shared your aesthetic assaults, albeit a bit later, and I had a good kidhood too. And from under the same haircut and through the same glasses, I too have good memories from then or so, and they’re true – except for the clever ways in which my aging mind has kindly eliminated many, many other things that are also true, and aren’t.
HQ for the win. Combine the sales of any three of these four, XA-XB, VH-VJ and the the HQ still beats them. Radials and some basic suspension upgrades transform them. In six cylinder form they are they easiest cars to work on. On the wagon front the HQ-J-X-Z had a useful storage area under the floor. Big enough to carry a second spare, tools and fluids. The coil rear end made that possible.
My Premier wagon, circa 1990