Chrysler Valiant Charger - VH Valiant Charger

VH Valiant Charger

The Chrysler VH Valiant Charger range, introduced in 1971, consisted of Charger, Charger XL, Charger 770 and Charger R/T models. The R/T (Road/Track) version effectively carried through Chrysler's performance image from the VG Valiant Pacer range, and soon became the new platform for Chrysler's continued participation in Australian touring car racing. The range of cars was broad-based with appeal to all manner of people :

Charger - 215ci base engine (140 bhp), 3spd manual, $2795.00

Charger XL - 245ci base engine (160 bhp), 3spd manual, $3195.00

Charger R/T - 265ci HP base engine (218 bhp), 3spd manual, $3395.00

Charger 770 - 265ci HP base engine (218 bhp), 3spd automatic, $3625.00

The Charger R/T and Charger 770 shared a base 265ci "HP" (high performance) 2bbl six-cylinder engine, whilst option E37 featured a tuned "Six Pack" version of the engine characterised by the fitment of triple sidedraught Weber carburettors. Exclusively available for the R/T was a further tuned version, option E38, which formed the basis of Chrysler's touring car racer for 1971. The E38 option blessed the Charger R/T with 280 bhp and bumped the base price from $3395.00 to $3975.00.

In 1972, option E49 was released for the Charger R/T, whereby a more powerful (quoted at 302 bhp) version of an E38-style engine was mated to a four speed manual gearbox. This engine produced remarkable torque on a seven bearing configuration which enabled considerable power development previously unobtained from 6-cylinder engines and not surpassed until the Porsche Turbo 911 (300) release of 1975

Charger 770 SE - In August 1972 Chrysler Australia released an exclusive model based on the Charger 770. The 770 SE (Special Edition) featured an option E55 340ci 4bbl V8 engine, which many motoring journalists incorrectly reported had been imported by Chrysler for an aborted racing touring car homologation exercise. As these performance 340ci engines (Chrysler LA engine) did not perform as well as the six cylinder Charger R/T package,and they were automatic treansmission engines, Chrysler decided to use them for a Charger 770 package with a single pipe exhaust system and mandatory 'torqueflite' 727 automatic transmission. Apart from its unique engine, the Charger 770 SE featured other signature details such as combination black and white vinyl trim and a turned metal dash facia, and it was only available in three body colours, namely Vintage Red, Limelight (green), and Sunfire (yellow metallic). Production records indicate that Chrysler manufactured a total of 124 VH Valiant Charger 770 SE cars, one of which varied from standard specification in being painted Deep Maroon.