Chrysler Valiant (CL)

The Chrysler Valiant is an automobile which was produced in Australia by Chrysler Australia from 1976 to 1978. The CL, which was the twelfth Australian Chrysler Valiant model, replaced the Chrysler Valiant (VK). It was also built in South Africa by Sigma, who marketed it there as the Chrysler SE.

Changes

The Chrysler CL models featured new grilles, a new nose cone and new bonnet, and,, new rear panels including boot lid, lower panel and quarter panel. A panel van body style was added to the range in April 1977.

Model range

The Chrysler CL passenger car range comprised 4 door sedan, 5 door station wagon and 2-door coupe body styles in the following models:

Chrysler Valiant Sedan
Chrysler Valiant Wagon
Chrysler Regal Sedan
Chrysler Regal Wagon
Chrysler Regal SE Sedan
Chrysler Charger 770 Coupe

The Chrysler CL commercial vehicle range comprised a 2-door coupe utility and a 2-door panel van.

Chrysler Valiant Utility
Chrysler Valiant Panel Van

Regal and Charger models were not designated as Valiants.

Limited edition models and option packs

A limited edition Chrysler Le Baron luxury model was announced in April 1978. 400 examples were produced.
A Charger XL model was available, but only as the K16 Police Pursuit Special with the 318 V8 engine and automatic transmission.
A Sports Pack was available for the Panel Van and the Utility as Option A53.
A Drifter Pack was offered for the Panel Van and Utility. Models fitted with this option were marketed under the Chrysler Drifter name.
A Charger Drifter pack was offered as Option A34 and Option A49.

Engines and transmissions

Three engines were offered:

Four transmissions were offered:

3 speed manual
4 speed manual
3 speed Borg-Warner 35 automatic
3 speed TorqueFlite A904 automatic

Production and replacement

32,672 CL models were built prior to the replacement of the CL by the Chrysler Valiant (CM) in 1978.

New Zealand

The CL was the last Australian Valiant series assembled by Todd Motors in New Zealand. Only the Regal and Regal SE were offered. The Regal SE was the first car to be assembled in New Zealand with air conditioning as standard.

South Africa

In 1978 a model of the CL Regal was introduced in South Africa for local assembly. These cars came equipped with a locally-built four-barrel 225 slant-six producing. In spite of the engine's impressive "Charger-Power" name, this only sufficed for a top speed of in a period road test. While the performance came in for some criticism, fuel economy and brakes received higher marks. The SE only came as a fully equipped model, with the interior and suspension having received some fettling in Detroit prior to Sigma finishing development in South Africa.