My 1960 Valiant
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Why I Bought This Car
For many years I had wanted to buy a 1960 car. Finally, in early 2017, I started looking in earnest. Out of curiosity I went to Craigslist, to the Cars for Sale section, and just typed in "1960" to see what would pop up. I saw a bunch of 1960 cars in a variety of conditions. When I saw this 1960 Valiant, I remembered: My dad had one just like this when I was a little boy. I knew at that moment - this is MY CAR. My wife and I drove to Sherman Oaks and bought it the same day.
I bought the car for its sentimental value. At the time, I didn't realize its historical significance. Read on to learn more...
For many years I had wanted to buy a 1960 car. Finally, in early 2017, I started looking in earnest. Out of curiosity I went to Craigslist, to the Cars for Sale section, and just typed in "1960" to see what would pop up. I saw a bunch of 1960 cars in a variety of conditions. When I saw this 1960 Valiant, I remembered: My dad had one just like this when I was a little boy. I knew at that moment - this is MY CAR. My wife and I drove to Sherman Oaks and bought it the same day.
I bought the car for its sentimental value. At the time, I didn't realize its historical significance. Read on to learn more...
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What the 1960 Valiant Meant to Chrysler.
In the mid 1950s, the American automakers were producing the large cars we know from that era. In the mid-50s, the German carmakers started bringing smaller cars to the USA. In 1960, the Americans responded with smaller cars of their own. Ford introduced the Falcon, Chevrolet brought out the Corvair, and Chrysler introduced the Valiant.
Chrysler's aim with the Valiant was to give drivers a car that has the looks, power and comfort of the cars they loved from the 50s, but in a smaller, easier-to-park, more affordable and more fuel-efficient package. Here's how they did it:
The Body Style
The 1960 Valiant's lines, curves and faux spare tire remind drivers of the cars of the 50s.
The Slant-6 Engine
The 1960 Valiant was the first car to feature this legendary engine. The Slant-6 is smaller, more powerful and more fuel-efficient than the engines that came before it. It's size allows it to take up less room under the hood, providing more space in the passenger compartment.
Unibody Construction
The 1960 Valiant was the first Chrysler to feature unibody construction, which is the standard today. This type of construction provides a solid, comfortable ride and weighs less than the earlier body-and-frame construction.
Computer-aided Design
The 1960 Valiant makes significant use of computer-aided design. Computers were used to test torques and other specs, eliminating the need for many expensive prototypes. This reduced costs and production time, and resulted in a quieter, more stable car than its predecessors.
The 1960 Valiant was massively successful and many of its innovations were transferred to other cars. A statement from a 1959 magazine article says it all:
"Chrysler is building more than just a smaller car. Instead, it appears to be a revitalized approach to basic transportation."
In the mid 1950s, the American automakers were producing the large cars we know from that era. In the mid-50s, the German carmakers started bringing smaller cars to the USA. In 1960, the Americans responded with smaller cars of their own. Ford introduced the Falcon, Chevrolet brought out the Corvair, and Chrysler introduced the Valiant.
Chrysler's aim with the Valiant was to give drivers a car that has the looks, power and comfort of the cars they loved from the 50s, but in a smaller, easier-to-park, more affordable and more fuel-efficient package. Here's how they did it:
The Body Style
The 1960 Valiant's lines, curves and faux spare tire remind drivers of the cars of the 50s.
The Slant-6 Engine
The 1960 Valiant was the first car to feature this legendary engine. The Slant-6 is smaller, more powerful and more fuel-efficient than the engines that came before it. It's size allows it to take up less room under the hood, providing more space in the passenger compartment.
Unibody Construction
The 1960 Valiant was the first Chrysler to feature unibody construction, which is the standard today. This type of construction provides a solid, comfortable ride and weighs less than the earlier body-and-frame construction.
Computer-aided Design
The 1960 Valiant makes significant use of computer-aided design. Computers were used to test torques and other specs, eliminating the need for many expensive prototypes. This reduced costs and production time, and resulted in a quieter, more stable car than its predecessors.
The 1960 Valiant was massively successful and many of its innovations were transferred to other cars. A statement from a 1959 magazine article says it all:
"Chrysler is building more than just a smaller car. Instead, it appears to be a revitalized approach to basic transportation."
Check out this short video: Valiant Video
Please note:
The link takes you to a different website.
After you watch the video, click on the back arrow (top left corner of your screen) to come back here.
Please note:
The link takes you to a different website.
After you watch the video, click on the back arrow (top left corner of your screen) to come back here.
