Plymouth Valiant

Introduced in 1959, the Valiant was Chrysler Corp’s response not only to the 1958 recession, but also the rise in sales of small European imports. Though large by international standards, the new Valiant was a compact in American automotive parlance. Courtesy of a daring new Virgil Exner design, the Valiant was more stylish than its rivals - Chevy’s new rear-engined Corvair and the Ford Falcon. With an optional 225 cubic inch slant 6 under the bonnet (standard was a smaller 170 six( the Valiant had a performance edge for a few years until Chevrolet offered a turbocharged Corvair, and Ford made the 260 small block V8 available in the Falcon.

Offered in sedan, two door hardtop, station wagon and later a convertible, Plymouth also released a muscular, V8 fastback version in ‘64 called the Barracuda. The Valiant was a success from the start and sold well throughout the 1960s. It came into its own again in the early 1970s as the entire industry began to downsize after the 1973 Arab oil embargo.

Valiants were also manufactured overseas - the most successful market being Australia, where Chrysler built right hand drive copies of the Plymouth through the ‘60s - check out our Aussie Valiant gallery

We’ve put together a gallery of original, vintage print advertising images covering Valiant from it’s introduction in 1960 through to it’s demise in 1976. Take a look back in time at Plymouth’s cheap and compact family car that was once a common sight on America’s roads.