Chrysler Valiant Charger

           

    

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mopar offered several muscle car V-8 engines that would become legendary: the 340, the 383, and, of course, the legendary 426 Hemi and 440 Six Pack.

Here's the real question--have you ever heard of a Hemi Six Pack? The true Mopar connoisseur would snort and say, "absolutely not." The Hemi was set apart by its hemispherical combustion chambers, and the 440 Six Pack was so named because of its three two-barrel carburetors ramming air into the engine. The idea of a Hemi Six Pack provides cognitive dissonance on the order of Superman driving the Batmobile.

However, there was such a thing as a Hemi Six Pack--on a six-cylinder engine, no less. Chrysler of Australia made the bold step of creating a hemi-head six and bolting on triple Weber carbs, creating an instant Antipodean legend.

Creating just as much cognitive dissonance as the engine was the name of the car Chrysler tapped to carry it. In the United States, Plymouth's Valiant was an economy compact car; the Dodge Charger was a muscle car, so the idea of a Chrysler Valiant Charger is a little odd. To our eyes, the styling, like the name, is a strange hybrid of domestic Mopar offerings at the time--the flanks of a Charger, the size of a Valiant, and front and rear treatments similar to a Dodge Dart.

The whole idea--engine, styling, and name--is eerily familiar yet unfamiliar for hard-core Mopar fans. However, this Bizarro World muscle car is still a legend Down Under, and rightfully so.

Scoff at the idea of a six-cylinder Hemi Six Pack all you want, but in stock form with modern tires, a 1972 Hemi Valiant Charger could pump out 245 horsepower and do the quarter mile in less than 14 seconds and 0-60 at just more than 6 seconds. Even in America, land of hulking V-8s, those numbers would place a lowly Valiant derivative among the fastest street cars available in 1972--and by far the fastest 6-cylinder American car available.

These cars weren't produced for the American market, but they are now old enough to import and drive without legal penalty.

Check out this page for one man's Hemi Valiant Charger, and the video below shows an owner slipping into his Valiant Charger and blipping the engine.

--Chris H.

Comments

[Jeff aka OzHemi on February 18, 2008 at 08:11 PM]

That is my car in the pictures...I imported it here to California in early 1998 and have since brought over a bunch of the Aussie Chargers (and Holdens)

[Chris Hafner on February 20, 2008 at 01:47 PM]

Congrats, Jeff - that's a lovely car.

[Peter on June 24, 2008 at 07:46 AM]

Chris, it is interesting to see a Sixpack in the states.

Depending on the engine code, you power figure would be 280 or 302 bhp not 245. the 245 was a CI motor for a less racey variation of the Charger.

From your photo, you look to have an E38, you can check yourself on the plate and on the motor. The E38 was a fully blueprinted ready to race vehicle putting out 280bhp. It was fitted with triple Webbers and a bunch of other cool stuff.

Enjoy the car, they are as rare as hens teeth now.

[Chris Hafner on June 24, 2008 at 10:07 AM]

Thanks, Peter - unfortunately, it's not my car. It belongs to Jeff aka OzHemi above from comment No. 1.

Thanks for the note, thoug - they are completely gorgeous cars.