Plymouth Valiant
The legendary Plymouth Valiant was one of the best and most interesting classic American compact cars. The car was introduced in 1960 but its development started in early 1957 after Chrysler realized they needed a small model to compete with the VW Beetle. The company invested lots of time and money into the new project and the result was interesting. With striking styling, smaller dimensions and engines, and a lower price, Chrysler deliberately presented the car in Europe. The Valiant was styled after many Chrysler concept cars from the late ’50s and looked more expensive than the rest of the compact car market in those days. The vehicle had a unibody construction and standard suspension, which included front A-arms and leaf springs set up in the back (via Valiant).
Under the hood was the Slant Six engine, which was new in 1960 and later became one of the most durable engines Chrysler had ever built. In the Valiant, it was available in two forms – 170 and 225 cubic inches. The Slant Six characteristic became one of Valiant’s most significant selling points. The car had decent performance and good fuel economy, even by today’s standards. The Valiant nameplate stayed in production until the late ’70s. Still, the first generation sold between 1960 and 1962 remained the best and the most sought-after, not only for its design and appearance but also for its excellent driving characteristics. Compared to the Ford Falcon, the Valiant looked much bigger despite similar performance and had more power and equipment.