Faults:

Usual problems with these types of cars.

Ball joints all worn and replaced.

Alternator and regulator failed.

Paint is badly worn.

Carburetor float got a hole in it, so it kept floating the engine.

Radiator got a hole in it.

New clutch.

Tyres wearing on the inside of tread.

Rust spots appearing on bottom of the rear quarter panels.

General Comments:

I absolutely love this car. Yes it has flaws, but it has something that modern cars don't have. It has character. My daily drive is a Verada, and it's a great car; it handles well and is very comfy, but when I drive my Val, I always have a smile on my face.

The brakes are woeful by today's standards, and probably back then too (drums all round), but they work well enough when cruising.

The steering is woolly and not direct. But again, works well enough when cruising around.

The interior space is tiny. Considering the size of the car, one would think it would have more room in the backseat. But I'm in the front so space isn't an issue.

Suspension is hard to explain. It can be a hard ride at times, but sometimes it's soft so it leans in the corners.

Then there is the engine. The "Leaning Tower of Power" is an absolute gem. In my eyes, one of the greatest engines to be put into production. Not perfect, but it has soul. It needs to be warmed up on cold days. Its fuel economy is not the best. But they are indestructible, and takes a lot of abuse and it doesn't worry it one bit.

Just got a set of extractors with a 2.25 inch Lukey sports exhaust installed, and now it sounds as well as it goes. Amazing.

Currently have a single barrel Stromberg installed. Just need a 2 barrel 350 Holley for it to be perfect.

Yes, the Valiant is flawed if you look at it as a car. When your driving it, you're not just driving a car. You're driving an experience that very few people get to feel, because you actually have to drive this car, not just sit there and tell the car what to do.

At the moment, the car is far from show room condition, but when I get behind the wheel, I know I'm driving something special, and that's all that matters to me.

Faults:

The engine required a rebuild when I got it. I drove it for a while with bad compression.

Got full rebuild on the original 225 slant and it was a weapon.

General Comments:

I bought the car in 1990 on the side of the road for 2 grand. The guy who owned was a panel beater so the body was great, new Spring Gold metallic, very straight. Drove it for a few years and rebuilt the slant six due too bad compression. Then I sold the drive train and put it in storage until now.

It is being rebuilt completely including new Dodge 360 Magnum and 4 speed auto. All new suspension and rubber and new paint job.