"7" Plymouth's You Just Had to Have.

[john oliverio]

Bought 71 Hemi Cuda Conv. B5 Blue in 1972 stupid and sold it in 1987 have 2 65 Plymouth A990 cars purchased in 1979, owned 64 Belvedere I 2dr,wish I had a 64 Plymouth hemi Savoy, a 68 Hemi uda would also be nice

[W J]

Those little 1965-6 Valiant Commando 273 cars were some of the biggest sleepers on the street back then......the slant six models out there must've outnumbered the 235 hp Commando V8's by at least 100,000 or more....to 1, Hi- performance Valiant Commando models were also very difficult to identify......on the street, you had to come up from behind them and see that big rectangular "box" exhaust tip to know what you were about to deal with....or, looking from the side, they had barely noticable small "Commando" emblems on each front fender. The Valiants--- coupe, hardtop, station wagon, and convertible are still some of the rarest and coolest stockers and superstocks running down the track today....BTW, has Paul C., or anyone else here ever owned or even seen a 235hp Commando 273 Valiant (from factory) '65 or '66 station wagon? I have never seen one here in New England.....also, anyone here know of any people class racing that 273 Commando 4 bbl. '65-6 Valiant station wagon combo? WJ

[Jeff Lee]

Originally Posted by john oliverio

Bought 71 Hemi Cuda Conv. B5 Blue in 1972 stupid and sold it in 1987 have 2 65 Plymouth A990 cars purchased in 1979, owned 64 Belvedere I 2dr,wish I had a 64 Plymouth hemi Savoy, a 68 Hemi uda would also be nice

Was that the blue / blue 4-speed '71 'Cuda?

[Paul Ceasrine]

WJ,
On the 65' and 66' Valiants
The availability on the 273/235HP Commando

1965,
V-200 (2-door sedan, 4-door sedan and convertible)
Signet (Hardtop and convertible)
Not available on the V-100 or Station wagon

1966,
V-100 (2-door sedan and 4-door sedan)
V-200 (4-door sedan)
Signet (Hardtop or convertible)
Not available on the Station wagon.

Never saw a wagon with the Commando. Did see a Ken Connely (friends with the Centolanza's) run a 1965 V-200
4-door sedan, black with a 4-speed "Prince Valiant" run in E/Stock in 1966 at Dover. Ran 14.00's @ 98 MPH

PC

.

[W J]

Thanks Paul, have seen 2dr posts, Signet hardtop and convertible (1 convertible only) 235hp cars.....but never a 4dr -235hp model......funny they never popped out a few 235 hp station wagons......would be a cool piece, for sure.. WJ

[THE LEGEND]

I own a Pacifica does that make me a mopar man.LOL
Chip

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

WJ,
On the 65' and 66' Valiants
The availability on the 273/235HP Commando

1965,
V-200 (2-door sedan, 4-door sedan and convertible)
Signet (Hardtop and convertible)
Not available on the V-100 or Station wagon

1966,
V-100 (2-door sedan and 4-door sedan)
V-200 (4-door sedan)
Signet (Hardtop or convertible)
Not available on the Station wagon.

Never saw a wagon with the Commando. Did see a Ken Connely (friends with the Centolanza's) run a 1965 V-200
4-door sedan, black with a 4-speed "Prince Valiant" run in E/Stock in 1966 at Dover. Ran 14.00's @ 98 MPH

PC

.

It's in the books ... 65 Dart wagon 273/235/210 .Makes N/Stock..No rollbar needed

One of my fantasy builders


All time wish Mopar? 69 1/2 Road Runner 440/ 6Bbl , 4 speed , 4.10 Dana 60,
white post coupe. That'll set you back in the seat in low gear!

[Jeff Lee]

My first "hot" car was a '71 Challenger with a built 340. I've also had a '68 GTS 340 auto and a '70 Swinger 340 4-speed w/ 3.55's and the rubber carpet.
That Swinger was bone stock and I remember being able to have it in 4th gear at about 35 MPH and it would pull cleanly all the way to redline, no clutching or anything.
My Challenger showed many a 454 and other big blocks the tail lights.
Love those 340's!

[Paul Ceasrine]

Mark,
The 273/235HP Commando is allowed in the 65' and 66' Valiant Station wagons in the NHRA books,
But it was not available from the factory.
The 273/180HP 2-barrel was the top of the line for the wagons.
The 4-speed transmission and 8 3/4" posi-rear were both available options, though.
The early Plymouth ads recommended the 8 3/4" posi as a safety package, not a performance package rear.
It was said to be the 'right choice for slick roads, to keep your family safe".
Also recommended, the "Hurst" shifter and 4-speed transmission, "to ensure proper gear selection in difficult driving conditions".
Not one mention of performance. Funny wording in those 'safety first brochures'
WJ

You can see the "Prince Valiant" 4-door Valiant on the Dover site.
Under the Centolanza's thread. Lou Centolanza also ran a 65' Valiant V-200 273/235HP in 66', in E/SA. In 67' it ran in D/SA and ran on the record 13.54.
Quick little A-Bodies for that time. They ate up the 65' 327 SS Malibu cars.
PC

[Jeff Lee]

I sure would love to see a correctly restored / blueprinted (blueprinted, no NHRA upgrades) of a 290 4-speed 3.54 equipped '68 AMX vs the best 273/235 vehicle with the same gears!
The first AMX I owned was like that. It had 106K on the engine, never had the valve covers off and would easily bark 'em on the 3rd gear shift (stock tires with hubcaps). These 290's had a 2.64 low trans gear as standard.
Compared to the 273/235, the 283/220 and the 289/225's that I have driven, I would say the AMX was faster. No track times to back it up, just street time.