![]() ![]() My mom had bought a stripped ’74 Valiant new as affordable, reliable transport to work as a school teacher. When I first got my driver’s license I was quickly indoctrinated into slant six culture. Was there a part of me that realized that a good percentage of cars on the road could turn my tiny Valiant into a sheet of tin foil with just a light tap of my rear bumper? Absolutely, but I tried to ignore that thought: I took this old sedan to my dry cleaner, I took it to my junkyard to haul parts, I took it to restaurants, I took it to official meetings, I took it to parties, I even took it 70 mph on road trips - the Valiant got me everywhere I needed to go without issue and in comfort. The ride was soft, the bench seat was cushy, and the radio cranked Alan Jackson whenever I needed it to. The manual brakes, too, weren’t that bad at slowing the 2,600 pound car down. The huge steering wheel and short gearing in the steering box meant taking turns without power assist - even at low speeds - wasn’t really that hard. I expected this car to be a pain in the ass given its age and low cost, but it was totally fine. In the snow, those thin, studded snow tires were absolute beasts, slicing through the fluff with ease, with those rear tires - weighed down by the car parts I had in the trunk - pushing the car confidently down the road. After I poured in some clean fluids and slapped on some used winter tires, the machine got me 650 miles back to Michigan without any major issues. What I didn’t know was that the $2,000 four-door sedan would actually live up to - hell, exceed - its bulletproof reputation. When I spotted a 1965 Plymouth Valiant with a stick (on the column) and one of the toughest engines in automotive history, I knew it was the one. So I searched for a car, with my criteria revolving around simplicity. I’d just driven from LA to New York, and didn’t feel like flying back to Michigan. I’ll admit that I bought the Valiant on impulse. Somehow my 1965 Plymouth Valiant - which I just sold - ended up being the best “winter beater” I have ever owned here’s why. ![]() And, aside from some small issues here and there, it really was. Equipped with the Chrysler Slant Six “Leaning Tower of Power” mated to a three-speed column-shift manual - and devoid of luxuries like power steering, power brakes, power windows, or power locks - the old car had all the right ingredients to be a stout, unkillable machine. Last fall I bought a 1965 Plymouth Valiant. ![]()
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