Chrysler by Chrysler Memories 

Thanks Gerard. Scary how time flies. I wish we could still buy those cars for those prices though! Great memories hey? 👍

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it 👍

Thanks very much. Me too. 👍

Yes, definitely guzzlers. 😀👍

Yes, I wish he kept it too. 👍

Thanks Jim. I’ll take one of those too thanks. Triple black 360. 👍

Hi Greg. Great info. I’ll have to re-watch that Jag episode to see the tape player. Glad you salvaged it from the wreck of the coupe. 😀👍

Hi Greg yes I now remember the radio would scan for stations. We must try and catch up next time in Melbourne. You are a fountain of knowledge

What colour was the hardtop before it was painted black ?

@@CH6P23 I think it was factory black as it was ordered for the US Trade Centre in Sydney.

@@CH6P23Hi it was supplied in triple black, (black enamel paint, black paisley pattern vinyl roof, black nylon brocade seats) and BLACK headlining, with white coach lines around the wheel arches and along the sides of the car, as that's the way dad ordered it, direct from Chrysler Sth Australia. He could of had/ordered the last of the RHD Dodge Pheonix's for 1971, which to "grow" an extra year and make it look a little different Chrysler Aust' had done a "mash" up of a Canadian and US 1970 version with different lights, wheel covers and some chrome work, however this big car did not appeal to him and he chose the smaller premium 2 door Aussie Valiant based car. My dad a senior US diplomat, and it was to be his official US Government car, his "company" car to use, all the senior official's cars were in black enamel, support cars and pool cars were in dark navy blue, the mail cars were in a pale fawn/beige color. So, it was registered to "chief" of the USA State & Commerce Dept Sydney, Underwood House 37, Pitt Street, Sydney city, the old US consulate building before it moved to Park St in the twin towers in July 1979 between Elizabeth St and Castlereagh St's. It was sent from Sth Aust Chrysler in black, NO REPAINT. I'm now 67 yrs old and was in late high school when he received it as his new work car. Sports in summer was Tuesday afternoon at the council baths at Balmoral Beach in Mosman and we finished school for the day 45 minutes early at 2.30. I walked from one end of Raglan st to the other up & over the hill and down to Musgrave st wharf, got the ferry into the city, met dad at the office and one of his guys drove us to Kinsella & Nicholson at Sth Dowling st and ANZAC Pde intersection, where the 1967 Dodge Pheonix, also in triple black had been dropped off in the morning , the number plates swapped and car registration updated, the new car prepped and readied for use. It had the old-style navy blue & white NSW consular/diplomatic plates, C de C - 263, the two C's & 263 were in white paint on a navy-blue background & between the 2 C's there was a small white shield, the de was in navy blue in the shield. 50 odd years ago it was a pretty snazzy looking car, however it was always a pig to start when it was cold, or wet, AND if it was wet and cold, forget it, the darned thing would flatten its battery before it would start. It would need to be jumper lead started by my mums new 1971 giant Jaguar mk10/420G. It was like the weirdo sounding Chrysler starter motor just didn't have enough guts to get the job done.

Thanks Jason. Glad you enjoyed it. Another unique Aussie car. I’ll do some Chrysler episodes like the Falcon ones down the track too. 👍

Wow. Those were the days!

Me too 👍👍

Yes, that’s right 👍

Yes. The name was strange although I am certainly used to it these days. The 360 equivalent for the ZH would be the 351 as you know. Still the 360 would be quicker and torquier. The Ford more refined in its body construction. Massive difference between the Chrysler and the Peugeot. The Peugeot was very comfortable ride and interior wise, had much better steering and was quieter, however, power and reliability were all in Chrysler’s favour. 👍

VK RIP it would be a pile of rust now earth it came and earth has returned

@@Eric-kn4yn I saw a VK Regal 360 powered car for sale a few years ago. It was a sedan. Either that or a wagon in nice condition would be a very cool car to have these days, especially in a bright 1970’s colour. They had terrific interiors.

@@markbehr88 i worked at chrysler south australia 74/75 on assembly line

Interiors very sumptuous but p/steering ☠️

Hi James. I told Gerard that Albo comment. He thought it was hilarious. They were cheap cars back in the day but an $800 one would be pretty average, even then 👍

@@markbehr88 it was a dog. It had P76 Targa Florio alloys too. I reckon when it ran out of rego was one of the happiest days of his life!

@@jamesmcgowen1769 The Targa Florio alloys would be worth something too now.

Thanks very much 👍

Very cool.

Thanks Louis. Glad you enjoyed it. I love the hardtops. They look terrific. That grandson needs to keep away from the car. Dukes of Hazard would be like putting a moustache on the Mona Lisa 👍

@@markbehr88 Exactly couldn't put it better myself 👍

Love to find out about the hardtop stored since 1983..I run the CH hardtop register

@@CH6P23 over to you Louis! 😀

Hi Ivano. I am glad you enjoyed the episode. I would say Gerard bought the green Chrysler by Chrysler in 1984.

Never heard that one before. The engines would have had an E code and different for both so not sure how that could get mixed up as it is central to producing the cars. I know this because I rang NSW Distribution for Mitsubishi and that was basically the Chrysler code system updated for Magnas etc. Unless they had 340’s laying around and knowingly changed them but that is high risk for dealer and customer rejection as the first service would uncover it. 👍

@@markbehr88 There was some customer rejection. Especially at dealers in Perth. Customers thought they were 'robbed' with 20 ci. No one realised the 340 was a better engine as opposed to the truck engine. International Harvester trucks had the 318 and 360 truck variants. and the factory had problems keeping up. Tonsley had no choice but to get whatever Chrysler could send. Enter the famous 245 and 265. The upright Mopar motors were around after the VG. Would love to see a story on the Pacer.

@@royferntorp Thanks. I will cover the Pacers when I do the Chrysler series. 👍

Thanks Adam. I will definitely be doing all the Chryslers so please Subscribe and stay tuned. Plus, there will be other misc vehicles along the way, incl a Mopar coming up very soon. 👍

A bit hard as they were sold 25 plus years ago!

@markbehr88 how many of our old cars do we all wish we still had.!

@@andrewgriffithsSam18900 All of them I reckon 😀

Yes. They had great power and torque. Power steering was ultra light though. 👍

@@markbehr88, I never got to drive one, unfortunately. I remember them being worth nothing in the 80’s, but up in FNQ, they mostly were full of rust.

@@benbowles1014 They went really well, drank fuel like there was no tomorrow and the steering was ultra light. 👍

I once rented a VJ Ranger from one of those rent a wreck type places. It was in Qld and we drove into Brisbane in the rain. The car had Cooper tyres and it was as skittish as all get out. This was back in the 1980’s.

@@markbehr88 No chance of falling asleep behind the wheel back in those days, the cars kept you wide awake trying to keep them on the road.

@@Djr67 Ha hah. True. 👍

G’day Stephen. It was great growing up with these cars from the Big 3 wasn’t it. 👍👍

Thanks Shaun. I agree re the stories. It’s the memories that make them more than just cars. Our Chrysler by Chrysler looks quite American but it is our own unique design. Chrysler exported some to the UK bin fact there is an old Sweeny episode with one in it as I recall. Happy New Year to you and your family. 👍

@@markbehr88 Hi Mark, your right there is one in one of episode of the Sweeney

I assume that is a W.N. Bull reference? 👍

@@markbehr88 he was one of my local FDs when I was managing a particular bone orchard.

@@alphan13091999 Aha. He is my absolute best friend.

Yes the 245 was a good powerful engine too. 👍

The slant was a 225 ci, totally different to the hemi 6

Yep 👍😀

I know what you mean Phil. Yes, the Buick Riviera was right hand drive. I wish I still had it. 👍

Very true what you have said here. Holden probably had the best with its variable ratio power steering, then Ford, then Chrysler.

@@markbehr88 I know of a woman that put a HX panel van into a tree when she lost drive to the power steering pump. The downside to Holden's is you need muscles on muscles to turn the wheel on the HQ-HZ when they have no assistance. Other than that I agree with the order you placed them.

@@erroneouscode Yes, I have an American 1975 Ford LTD. Light power steering although not quite as light as the Chrysler but close. It lost a belt once and was strong arm steering to get it the 5 kms home.

They did burnouts as well as they guzzled fuel 😀👍.

Hi Tony. Compliments of the season to you. Any models in particular? It might be the doors and door handles? I see more Dodge Coronet in the loop bumper. Hope you have a Happy New Year and I look forward to more of your videos.

​@markbehr88 Yes, definitely in the doors and handles, and even the complete shape of the sides. It was the same with the Falcon. Like you say the bumpers look Coronet as the the Falcon bumpers look Torino.

@@tonyscarcare5657 Yes, I see what you mean. Rambler Matador etc.

At least you both came out alive! 👍

Wow. Interesting story. The VC wagon would be very cool and no doubt still running today if looked after. The Alfa was an unusual choice and probably not that cheap, so something must have encouraged him? Maybe he watched the original Italian Job movie?

​@@markbehr88 He had a mate who owned one and loved it, so dad got one too. They're two were probably the only two Alfa's in that area of southern NSW at that time. I never saw any others. Nobody else was interested in them!

@@noelgibson5956 Yes, they would have been very different back then.

Thanks very much Jim. I remember those days too. My younger brother had a green on green VF VIP 318 V8. 7 out of 10 condition and it was regarded as a bit of a bomb back then. Would love to have it now…..just like those Chrysler by Chryslers 👍

They were great cars and not too expensive either. Such good performance out of the 265 six. 👍

Thanks Brian 👍

I got used to it. What about the Nissan Cedric or the Vanguard Spacemaster?

"Nissan Cedric by us at Nissan" sounds good!@@markbehr88

I’d say more an Aussie great uncle 😀

Normally the PMs had Ford LTDs following the end of the Ford Galaxie in 1973. Whitlam famously got an S Class Mercedes (great for local workers). That lengthened Chrysler does ring a bell re Big Mal although normally he would have been in a P6 LTD. I reckon the Chrysler power steering was much lighter than even the XF. I had a 5 speed XF S pack with power steering for comparison. 👍

That’s right Barry. They should have added a little more weight to the steering. You do get used to it though. 👍

Ok a bit more than slightly. 🙂 I thought the 360 would be about the same weight as a 318 ,I thought wrong .