This was the basis for my all-time favorite car. The 65 Barracuda. I've had an obsession with that car since I first saw it in 1965 on a turnstile and a big department store. To me it looked like something out of a science fiction movie, and since then I've had about, oh hell I don't know how many six, 10 maybe. I always wanted to completely restore one but I never totally accomplished it. Still in all I've got a lot of satisfaction out of those little cars. Greenhouse back windows rule!
Beautiful little car. Considering at the time this video was made it was well over 50 years old, if you rust spots are understandable. And that slant 6 as always,... Bulletproof!
Awesome car one of my very first cars growing up 64 valiant 273 4 speed. Factory black the only thing white on the whole car was the gear shift knob and the headliner. Still one of my favorite cars.
A '65 Valiant Signet, two door hard top, Slant Six, AND it's a four speed?!?! John, this is pretty much the car I've been dreaming about! I don't think I've ever seen one like it. Awesome ride!
So nice!! My first car was a ‘64 Valiant; bought it for $520 in Aug ‘71. Not nearly as nice as yours; pretty sure mine had been painted with a brush. Two weeks into the school year a man fell asleep at the wheel and plowed into 5 cars that were parked next to the drill-team’s practice field. Mine was one of them. His insurance company gave me $400 for the total loss AND I got to keep the car!! Drove it until April ‘73 with no front nor rear bumper and had to open the bashed in trunk with a screw driver. Loved that car so much! Happy for you, my brother!!
My very first car was a 1965 Plymouth Valiant Signet, white and gold same as your interior. I absolutely enjoyed this video, and even used it to show my kids what my first wheels looked like. I sure miss it! I know you love that car as much as I do! I had to let mine go for moms house payment one month and it was gone forever. Some ass hat wrecked into it a few years after we sold her. Please baby your babies!
Parents had 1965 Valiant 100 Station Wagon. 170 slant six. Three speed on the column. NON-synchromesh. Learned to drive on it. Family's first Chryco product after all Fords. When my dad finally earned some more money, Mom said to Dad "I never thought you'd hear this out of my mouth, but we should get a new car." It was the first car that didn't die on them. Love this car, John!!
Awesome ride, I have a 64 V100 with a 225 and torqflite, she has no rust, but she needs some work, wiring, brake lines, insulation, but she runs perfect
I had a couple of Valiants when I was young. I first had a 1963 coupe 100 model with a pushbutton automatic trans, great car! A few years later I had a 1965 Valiant 100 coupe, this time with a 3 on the tree. The Slant six was surprisingly fast, esp after a tune up. Both cars I got from my Dad, he liked Valiants a lot, and had 3 of them, 2 that I wound up with.
That baby is sweet! Beautiful color great glass good chrome trim super clean interior. I love how you show all the flaws too but please take care of the body rust before it’s too late.
Good solid cars. When I remember the hell I put it through, none of the modern automobiles would have survived. Easy to work on, a little temperamental but, so was I back in those days!! Your car is really beautiful and it is the Signet version!
I sold it almost 4 years ago and now I daily drive a 4th gen Camaro. Don't know how my old proud Valiant runs and looks now... Sold it to a guy who lives near city of Le Mans so not so far from my location. Hopefully I'll meet my àold car again one day !
If you keep up with valve adjustments the VW could be easier to live with. Many VW owners neglected the fuel lines which leaked causing fires. The Valiant could get 30 mpg, 25 was good in the VW. I like them both. The VW now has a plethora of aftermarket parts - plenty spendy to go that route, but pretty fun. I have two 65 Signets, one is a convertible with the 273.
I had a 65 back in my youth. Its s great machine. Yours has a lot of rust happening under the paint. I would take it off the road and start a restoration on it . It would be a shame to see it rust anymore than it is seeing as the cool ride factor is high.
I would clean up and repair as needed the undercarriage and only what is necessary otherwise, it has a great survivor look to it and is worth preserving that. Besides a full on resto could easily exceed the value of the car by 2-3 times if done. Love the car and especially that its a four speed.
What a workhorse The Plymouth Valiant won the 1961 and ‘62 Daytona Compact car race but Chrysler’s were the only entry with an additional performance package, the rest came stock from dealers. The Falcons and Corvair’s were hopelessly out classed.
Howdie from an Okie living in Japan. That's a shiny car! How is the gas mileage with the 170 cid engine on 4spd manual? Most of the other Valiants on RU-vid have the bigger 225 cid six.
I am I seeing the speed ometer right registers 180mph?That was befoe kilometers were added to american cars.Wow thats something 180mph.I would not do that if it was brand new,Beautifull sweet little car there just nice.
Must have been different options of gear/axle ratios - and improvements. Big difference between my 64 4dr 225 slant 6, and my sister's 66 2dr., which was quicker.
It's a great looking car. Was it originally an export model? I ask because I saw the USA sticker on the trunk lid, the antifreeze sticker protection at 20 degrees C, and the build plate was in French, and the speedo must be an KM (going up to 180) and the Varta battery, and the AM/FM/LW radio.
great car a little ratty here and there exterior body but the underside of the unibody ;ooks sound enough, sympathetic careful, resto only needed value of the car is 10kUS$ max.
My 76 Valiant was the worst car I ever owned. Terrible electricals, exhaust and other really shitty parts. Plus the whole body and frame was biodegradable, gaping holes in fenders. Horrible to start in the winter or bad weather (vapour lock). Clattery valves, ignition constantly in need of tuneups, poor performance, mileage, shitty handling, etc. A complete rust bucket POS. The earlier 60s Valiants were perhaps better but stay away from the 76 the last year this turd was available.
