In 1971, a small team of engineers in Adelaide built something that nobody at Chrysler's Detroit headquarters had officially approved — and it became one of the most celebrated Australian cars ever made. The Chrysler Valiant Charger wasn't supposed to exist. It was developed in secrecy, tested in disguise, and launched to a country that wasn't ready for how good it was.
For seven years, the Charger rewrote what Australians expected from a locally built performance car. It won the 1971 Wheels Car of the Year Award. It ran the quarter mile in 14.1 seconds — faster than the Ford XY Falcon GTHO. It put 302 horsepower through a straight-six engine at a time when the rest of the world said you needed eight cylinders to go fast. Only 149 of the most powerful version — the E49 R/T — were ever built, and they are still regarded today as among the greatest muscle cars ever produced anywhere on earth.
And then, on the 16th of August 1978, the last Charger rolled off the Tonsley Park production line in Adelaide. No replacement. No successor. Just silence.
In this video, we tell the full story. Why the Charger was built in secret. How Chrysler Australia developed an entirely Australian six-cylinder engine that outpaced V8 competitors. What happened at Bathurst in 1971 and 1972. How the 1972 supercar scare destroyed the racing program and gutted the performance variants. Why Chrysler's American parent company ran out of money to fight back. And why, when Mitsubishi took over in 1980, there was nothing left to save.
This is the story of the one Australian car that nobody — not Ford, not Holden, not anyone — has ever truly replaced.
📖 FURTHER READING & SOURCES
For those who want to go deeper on the Charger's history, we recommend:
• Hey Charger! by Gavin Farmer — the definitive book on the Valiant Charger story • Wheels Magazine, January 1972 — original Car of the Year coverage • Charger Club of Western Australia — chargerclubofwa.asn.au • National Motor Museum, Birdwood, South Australia — home to significant Charger racing history
🔔 If you're into Australian automotive history, classic muscle cars, or the stories behind the cars that shaped this country's car culture — subscribe. We cover the full story, every time. Not just the highlights.
⚠️ DISCLAIMER
This video is produced for educational and entertainment purposes only. All information presented is based on publicly available historical records, period automotive publications, and verified sources relating to Chrysler Australia and the Valiant Charger. Every effort has been made to ensure factual accuracy; however, some figures — particularly production numbers and performance statistics from the 1970s — may vary slightly across different historical sources, as record-keeping standards of the era were inconsistent.
This channel is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Chrysler, Stellantis, Mitsubishi Motors, or any of their subsidiaries, partners, or representatives. All brand names, model names, and trademarks referenced in this video remain the property of their respective owners and are used here solely for the purpose of historical identification and commentary.
No financial, investment, or purchasing advice is given or implied. Classic vehicle values mentioned are for historical and contextual reference only and do not constitute a valuation or appraisal. If you are buying or selling a classic vehicle, always seek independent professional advice.
Footage, images, and archival material used in this production are either original, licensed, or used under applicable fair dealing provisions for the purposes of commentary, criticism, and review. If you believe any content has been used in error, please contact us directly before submitting a copyright claim and we will address your concern promptly.
The views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the production team and are based on publicly available information. They do not represent the views of any automotive manufacturer, racing organisation, or affiliated body.
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