The Chrysler Valiant (VK) is an

automobile A car, or an automobile, is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of cars state that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, peopl ...

which was produced by

Chrysler Australia Stellantis (Australia and New Zealand) Pty Ltd (formerly FCA Australia), is the official Stellantis subsidiary in Australia and New Zealand, operating as distributor of Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Leapmotor vehicles. Ho ...

from October 1975 to October 1976. It was the eleventh Australian produced Chrysler Valiant series.

Overview

The Chrysler Valiant VK series was introduced in October 1975, replacing the Valiant VJ series. The VK was essentially a facelift of the VJ with revised grilles, taillights and badging. The VK was intended to have significantly different styling to the VJ, however this did not eventuate due to financial constraints. The range was rationalised with a reduced number of models and options. The Chrysler name was now promoted more strongly with Chrysler badging displayed prominently on the new models. The Charger was now known as the ''Chrysler Charger'', having previously been promoted as the ''Valiant Charger by Chrysler''. The six cylinder engines were fitted with a new Carter carburetor.Tony David, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 143 A vacuum operated “Fuel Pacer” was offered as an option, the device using a flashing light to assist the driver in avoiding fuel wastage. This light was initially on the right-hand guard, but was later fitted to the instrument panel. Additional safety features included a pressure proportioning valve in the rear brake circuit, power-boosted brakes and hazard warning lights. Indicator, headlight dipping, headlight flashing and windscreen wiper controls were now housed in a steering column stalk. This was the first multi-purpose stalk control to be fitted by any of the “big three" manufacturers, the other two being Ford and

Holden Holden, formerly known as General Motors-Holden, was an Australian subsidiary company of General Motors. Founded in Adelaide, it was an automobile manufacturer, importer, and exporter that sold cars under its own marque in Australia. It was ...

Model range

The VK series was offered in 4-door sedan, 5-door

station wagon A station wagon (American English, US, also wagon) or estate car (British English, UK, also estate) is an automotive Car body style, body-style variant of a Sedan (automobile), sedan with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo ...

coupé A coupe or coupé (, ) is a passenger car with a sloping or truncated rear roofline and typically with two doors. The term ''coupé'' was first applied to horse-drawn carriages for two passengers without rear-facing seats. It comes from the Fr ...

and

coupé utility A coupé utility is a vehicle with a passenger compartment at the front and an integrated tray#cargo tray, cargo tray at the rear, with the front of the cargo bed doubling as the rear of the passenger compartment. The term originated in the 19 ...

body styles in the following models: * Chrysler Valiant Ranger sedan * Chrysler Valiant Ranger wagon * Chrysler Valiant Regal sedan * Chrysler Valiant Regal wagon * Chrysler Charger XL''Chrysler Charger'' (sales brochure for VK series Chrysler Charger XL & 770), Chrysler Australia Ltd. * Chrysler Charger 770 * Dodge utility 200 Charger White Knight Specials were produced, based on the Charger XL.James Cockington, ''1976 VK Chrysler Charger White Knight'', Australian Muscle Car, Issue 78, 2014/15, pages 38 to 45 Specified via Option Code A50, 100 examples were produced in Arctic White and 100 in Amarante Red. File:Chrysler Valiant VK (17123843219).jpg, Chrysler VK Valiant Ranger sedan File:1975 Chrysler VK Valiant Regal sedan (30706484745).jpg, Chrysler VK Valiant Regal sedan File:Chrysler VK Valiant Regal Sedan 02.jpg, Chrysler VK Valiant Regal sedan File:Chrysler Valiant VK Regal Wagon (16774648948).jpg, Chrysler VK Valiant Regal wagon File:Chrysler Valiant VK Regal Wagon (16342185514).jpg, Chrysler VK Valiant Regal wagon File:Chrysler Valiant VK Charger Police Highway Patrol (16167370936).jpg, Chrysler VK Charger XL coupe File:Chrysler Valiant VK Charger Police Highway Patrol (16191343711).jpg, Chrysler VK Charger XL coupe File:Chrysler VK Charger 770 360.JPG, Chrysler VK Charger 770 coupe File:Chrysler Charger (16718799284).jpg, Chrysler VK Charger 770 coupe File:Chrysler VK Charger White Knight (15037593750).jpg, Chrysler VK Charger White Knight Special coupe in Amarante Red File:1976 Chrysler VK Valiant Charger "White Knight Special" (5279713988).jpg, Chrysler VK Charger White Knight Special coupe in Arctic White File:1976 Dodge VK utility (4472404128).jpg, Dodge VK utility File:1976 Dodge VK utility (44913161914).jpg, Dodge VK utility

Engines and transmissions

The range of engines available in the VK series comprised I6, I6, I6, V8 and V8. 3 speed manual, 4 speed manual and 3 speed automatic transmissions were offered. As of July 1976, the 215 and 360 engines were dropped from the lineup, to conform with ADR27A emissions requirements. The 215 was replaced by a low compression version of the 245.

Production and replacement

VK production comprised 11,722 sedans, 4,039 wagons, 1,625 Chargers and 3,169 utilities for a total of 20,555 units. This was the lowest Valiant production since the S Series. The VK was superseded by the Chrysler Valiant (CL) in November 1976.

Chrysler CK series

also produced the related Chrysler CK series, a long wheelbase, luxury model developed from the Valiant VK. In July 1976, the 360 (5.9L) engine was dropped to meet ADR27A emissions requirements, being replaced by the 318 (5.2L) engine as standard fitment to the Chrysler, which gained colour coded hubcaps and Cloth Cord trim at the same time. The Chrysler CK was replaced by the Chrysler Regal SE in October 1976, the later being the prestige model in the newly released Chrysler Valiant (CL) range.Tony David, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 147

References