1973 Plymouth Valiant 225 from North America

Summary:

New imports never see it coming

Faults:

Front windshield started to leak causing headlight switch to rust.

Replaced wiper arm sockets.

Alternator wiring is for a 30 amp output originally. All new alternators are 60 amp causing wires to burn.

General Comments:

This motor is built like a tank and is known to be indestructible. I have never had any engine problems mechanically and I have since upgraded the carburetor to a two-barrel setup. This made the car very fun to drive.

It also handles extremely well on 15x8 inch rims and tires.

The paint still looks great after 30 years and has no rust at all.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th February, 2003

1968 Plymouth Valiant Slant Six 225 cu. in. straight slant six from North America

Summary:

Built like a tank!

Faults:

Nothing went wrong with it.

General Comments:

This was the most mechanically sound and durable car that I ever owned. I had the Plymouth Valiant in high school when it was 3 years old and sold it to get into more high performance cars. We lived in a rural area of the Western US where I actually saw this particular car of mine on the road until 1990's. I sold the car for $700. The slant six has to be the single most reliable and durable engine that Chrysler ever produced. No Mopar motor has come close to it yet, and never will. The Valiant had a really solid, thick sheet metal body for its time -- almost like a 1950's car.

I still see these cruising around. People don't ride these today for show; they are rebuildable workhorses that are built to last and used as commuter cars.

The 225 slant six can also be found in the early Dodge Dart, a somewhat sportier workhorse. And the automatic version of the Valiant was used in the country as a US Mail delivery vehicle long before Jeeps and vans.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd October, 2002

20th Nov 2003, 00:42

Yeah I agree.. these things are indestructible. I had a '75 Dart sedan with the 225 and I ended up selling it for $200 because it had a bad K-member (front-end component), the guy took the motor out for his son's Duster and scrapped the rest of the car (what a shame). I wish I'd rebuilt it because I know I'd still have a trouble free ride, instead of this Neon I drive which is nothing, but problems!!