Valiant

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Background:

The Plymouth based Dodge Dart was introduced in 1960, as a slightly smaller vehicle to replace the Plymouth line at Dodge dealerships. The DeSoto name was removed from the Division name in 1960 as a prelude to the demise of DeSoto as a car line. 1960 was also the year that a new class of car called the Compact was created. Compact cars were smaller in dimensions, lighter, and used smaller displacement engines. Their goal was fuel economy and ease of parking in urban areas. Chrysler Corporation's initial answer to the compact market was the Valiant.

The new Division removing the Desoto and adding the Valiant became the Plymouth\Valiant Division. The Valiant name would stand separate for only its first year. In 1961, the Valiant line was merged into and rebranded as a Plymouth. Chrysler vehicles replace DeSotos at DeSoto\Plymouth Dealers, making most of the dealers Chrysler\Plymouth dealers.

History:

Model Predecessor

None. Valiant was the first of the compact cars with the Chrysler Corporation.

Model Successor

• Volare

Related Models

• Barracuda (the A-Body versions from 1964-1969)
• Duster The sport coupe version created in 1970

Competition

• Dodge Dart
• Chevrolet Nova
• Chevy II
• Ford Falcon
• Studebaker Lark
• Chevrolet Corvair
• Pontiac Tempest (prior to them becoming Intermediate size
• Oldsmobile F-85
• Buick Skylark (prior to them becoming Intermediate size
• Mercury Comet
• Rambler American