1963 Chrysler Valiant AP5 Safari Station Wagon

Following the establishment of a new production facility of Tonsley Park, production of the Australian Valiant - known as the AP5 - commenced late in 1963. Based once more on their American cousins, the Aussie Valiant shared the same clean, sharp-edged styling with only minor alterations to the roofline and grille to set them apart. In addition to the basic sedan and more upmarket Regal models, the AP5 Valiant was offered as the Wayfarer utility and the Safari station wagon to give the range increased versatility and appeal. Push-button operated Torqueflite automatic transmission was a popular choice and Chrysler had trouble keeping up with demand for the new Valiant, building 49,440 AP5s before a revised model - the AP6 - came on stream in March 1965. The AP5 continued the tradition, laid down by the earlier R and S-Series, of building cars with an appreciable performance premium over equivalent Ford and Holden products, something gradually lost with the later Valiant, despite the inclusion of a V8 engine. The AP5 Valiant is an affordable, practical and thoroughly enjoyable Aussie classic wagon from the Sixties, the perfect classic workhorse.