1976 Chrysler VK Valiant Charger 'White Knight Special' Coupe

Description

The legendary Valiant Charger, which burst onto the scene in 1971 to cries of "Hey Charger" thanks to a memorable television advertising campaign, moved away from its muscle car origins as the supercar scare - and subsequent loss of factory support for racing - spelled the end for the racy 'Six Pack' option.  Instead, Chrysler moved into the luxury GT market with the upmarket 770 model, combining V8 power with automatic transmission, radial ply tyres, heavier torsion bar suspension and standard anti-roll bar to deliver a more sophisticated, European driving experience.  The interior benefited most from this new approach, with better seats, full carpeting, improved sound insulation and an alloy-spoked steering wheel lending a much needed touch of class.  In an effort to keep up with rivals Ford and Holden, Chrysler facelifted the range every couple of years; the VJ of 1973 and VK of 1975 offered little in the way of significant improvement but continual revisions to trim and equipment levels kept the Charger range looking fresh.  Like the earlier Sportsman, Chrysler offered a limited run model for the VK Charger 770 called the White Knight (option code A50), sold in two colours, Arctic White and Amarante Red.  Only available with the 265-cid Hemi under the bonnet, just 200 White Knights were made of which 120 came with the three-speed console automatic and the remaining 80 had a four-speed manual.  Special stripes and badges distinguished the White Knight’s exterior, while special two-tone white/red upholstery contrasted with dark red door trims and carpets inside.  A rival for the likes of Ford’s “John Goss Special”, the White Knight is becoming increasingly collectible as interest in Seventies Aussie limited-edition muscle cars continues to rise.