1968 Plymouth Valiant

The Plymouth Valiant was in production from 1960 through 1976, occupying the entry-level segment of the compact car market. A redesign occurred for the 1967 model year and the prior hardtops, convertibles, and station wagons were dropped. The Valiant-type hardtop coupe or convertible was still part of the Plymouth line on the similarly-styled Barracuda, which was based on the Valiant.

The Plymouth Valiants rested on a newly lengthed wheelbase of 108-inches and offered as a two-door or four-door sedan. The design was clean, simple, and rectilinear, with body sides that had a tapering lower feature line that widened toward the wheels. The grille was vertically split and subdivided horizontally. In the back were vertical taillights and the fenders had a vertical slab appearance. Power was from a Slant-6, overhead-valve six-cylinder engine displacing 170 cubic-inches and used four main bearings, solid valve lifters, a Carter one-barrel carburetor, and delivered 115 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. A three-speed manual transmission was standard equipment. New federally-mandated safety equipment included a new dual-chamber brake master cylinder, new four-way hazard flasher, shoulder belt mountings, an energy-absorbing steering column, wheel, and instrument panel controls.

Changes for the 1968 model year included moving the nameplates from the rear fender to the front fender. The horizontal division bar was removed from the grille and a fine cross-hatched insert was framed by a segmented chrome surround. Standard equipment included a left-hand outside rearview mirror, armrests, side marker lamps, windshield wipers and washers, back-up lights, turn signals, heater and defroster, padded dash and visors, warning lamp emergency flashers, seat belts, and Safety-Rim wheels. At all four corners were 7.00 x 13 Blackwall tires.

The sedan had a factory base price of $2,275 and the two-door sedan listed for $2,225. The Signet trim level added approximately $150 to the base price. The Signet had front fender signature script, dual horns, carpeting, cloth and vinyl interiors, body and wheel opening moldings, a rear deck lid, horizontal beauty panel, and rocker moldings with front and rear extensions.

The 318 cubic-inch, overhead-valve V8 - the standard V8 engine used in the 1967 Fury and VIP - was now optional. The engine had solid valve lifters, a Carter two-barrel carburetor, and delivered 230 horsepower at 4,400 RPM.

The list of optional equipment was vast, including an automatic transmission, four-speed manual with floor shift controls, heavy-duty alternator, front disc brakes, power steering, shoulder belts, rear window defogger, deluxe wheel covers, wire wheel covers, three-spoke steering wheel, cigar lighter, dual horns, and a sport simulated woodgrain steering wheel (and more).

49,446 examples of the Valiant 100 Sedan were built and 31,178 examples of the two-door sedan. The Valiant Signet sedan added an additional 23,906 examples and 6,265 of the two-door sedan.

The new styling introduced in 1967 would continue through 1973, with modifications along the way. In 1974, the 108-inch wheelbase variant of the A-body sedan was no longer offered, and the Valiant sedan became a rebadged Dart. Its larger 111-inch wheelbase included new rear fender contours and wider C-pillars. The front sheet metal and grille of the 1973 Valiant was retained, but the bumper's rubber guards were now chromed. In compliance with U.S. Federal 5 mph bumper standards, rear bumpers were added to the 1974 models. The rear taillight design received a new design.

A slight redesign of the grille occurred in 1975 and the 1976 models were nearly identical to the previous year's design. 1976 was the final year for the Valiant.

The Plymouth Valiant was, for many years, the bread-and-butter model for the company and provided much needed financial stability during hard economic times.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2020