The R series was unveiled on 18 January 1962 and assembled at Mile End from kits. It looks almost exactly like the 1961 American Valiant, and all 1,008 sold within days. It has the 225 slant six, a three-speed floor-change manual or push-button TorqueFlite automatic, torsion-bar front suspension, drums all round and an alternator. The S series of March 1962 uses the same shell, with round tail lamps, a new grille, no fake spare wheel on the boot lid, larger brakes, a bigger tank and a column change; 10,009 were built.
The AP5 of May 1963 was the first Valiant made in Australia rather than just assembled — “AP” stands for Australian Production. Its body is new: only the doors, windscreen and front guards came from the American car. The Regal was there from the start and the Safari wagon from November 1963. The AP6 of March 1965 has a new grille, bonnet and front guards on the same body, self-adjusting brakes and a column lever for the automatic. The Wayfarer, the first Valiant ute, arrived in April 1965 and a 273 V8 in August. No AP6 has disc brakes. Todd Motors began assembling Valiants in New Zealand in 1963.
Valiant R, S, AP5 & AP6 — specification & changes within the model
- R series
- January to March 1962. 1,008 built. American body, assembled from kits at Mile End.
- S series
- March 1962 to April 1963. Same shell as the R: round tail lamps, new grille, column change, larger brakes. 10,009 built.
- AP5
- May 1963 to February 1965. Sedan, Regal, Safari wagon. 49,440 built.
- AP6
- March 1965 to March 1966. New grille, bonnet and front guards. Wayfarer ute; Valiant V8. 43,344 built.
- Engines
-
225 slant six throughout. 273 V8 in the AP6 Valiant V8, from August 1965.
- Brakes
- Drums all round. AP5: 9in, front 2½in and rear 2in wide, manual adjusters. AP6: self-adjusting. Power brakes standard on the V8.
- Suspension
- Torsion-bar front. Leaf rear: four leaves on the AP5 sedan, five on the wagon.
- Earth polarity
-
We cannot tell you for certain, and we will not guess. We could not find a reliable source on the earth polarity for the early Valiants. Check the car before you order a coil, a regulator or a radio.
