Ever since I’ve figured out how to work YouTube, I’ve been fascinated with the cars of Australia, and not just the Mad Max Falcon, either. Australia gets the concept of the muscle car and celebrates it at least as hard, if not more so, than we do here in the States. I’ve seen plenty of them in person, and while I’d be happy to own any of them, if I had to choose, I’d go for a VJ-era Chrysler. It’s not a Mopar thing…I just like the size of the car. You might be more familiar with the Charger R/T Hemi 6, the 265ci inline-six stomper that packed small-block V8 power into a car roughly the size of a Ford Maverick. And I love that Australians picked up on utes and haven’t let them go…even now, with Aussie auto production shutting down, you can still go to a Holden or Ford dealer and buy a ute. And that went for Chrysler all the way up until 1979, when ute production was axed as part of Mitsubishi’s takeover of Chrysler Australia.
Yet, you don’t need to go to Australia for a decent ute. In Atlanta, there is this 1975 Chrysler Valiant VJ ute up for sale, straight six, dog dish caps and all, for $12,500. You might be scratching your head trying to justify that cost, but let’s put that into context: you aren’t having to go to Australia to find your ideal car, box it up, ship it to the states, do the paperwork dance on both ends of that trip, get the car legal and inspected, and finally get it registered. You can go to Atlanta, lay down a reasonable amount of cash for a running, driving, non-native car, and call it good. The six is a solid runner, the car looks to be at least a good driver, if a touch rough, and in the end you save time, probably money, and certainly hassle for a neat little pickup.
And honestly, I don’t think I’d be in a hurry to yank out the six cylinder. It’s clean enough…I’d drive it as-is.
Check out more pictures at Motor Car Studio in Atlanta, where the VJ is up for sale!
I’d install a 426 Hemi with a 4-speed and a Dana 60 and Mopar Rallye wheels and make it look as absolutely OEM as possible
X2!
That thing deserves an E49 Hemi Sixpack.
RoadKill it to Alaska!
hellcat powered multicolor burnout monster
I don’t know why but I’m thinking 340, 4 speed and red line tires.
Blown Hemi on nitrous, huge exterior roll cage, giant off-road tyres and flat black paint.
Then go off hunting Mad Max…