The End of an Era for Chrysler

The last ever 30 Chrysler vehicles are in dealerships now, when they’re gone, they’re gone. Forever. Ii was recently announced that Chrysler are leaving Australia for ever (See links below). Sadly for people like me who have owned and enjoy Chrysler vehicles it is a very sad time in our history. First they came as imports, then they were manufactured here for decades, and finally, after Chrysler Australia sold out to Mitsubishi, Chrysler products were once again imported. Until now.

That’s not the end of the bad news. The World’s most powerful V8 (yes, its a Dodge) is being axed (See link below). This is a double-blow for those of us who love cars with powerful internal combustion engines. I believe in protecting the environment, especially our native flora and fauna. I also believe that ICE cars are the most efficient way for us to move around this large country and until battery powered cars are improved to the same level, they are best used for city transport and short distance travel only.

https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/goodbye-to-our-last-cheap-v8-chrysler-australias-biggest-hits-and-misses-over-its-nearly-60

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/10-chryslers-you-may-have-forgotten-about

https://www.drive.com.au/news/worlds-most-powerful-v8-axed-as-electric-future-looms-for-dodge/

My Images. Your business.

It has been bought to my attention that some people have been using my images to sell their items.

If you like my images, I do not mind if you use them, but NOT for commercial purposes.

I do this for free, for the love of it. How rude is it for someone to make money off something I offer for free? It is rude because they did not seek my permission. My images have been used to sell a variety of items. Stop doing it without my permission.

If you want to use my images for non-commercial purposes. Go ahead. If you plan to used them to sell your items. Don’t. Not without seeking my permission.

To my regular visitors, I am sorry, but I will have to be more thorough in the watermarking of my images. I didn’t want to have to do that but disrespectful people have forced the issue.

My email address is in the ‘About’ section.

Rant over.

Aussie Panel Van: Ford Falcon Sundowner

It could be argued that by 1979 the Panel Van craze, as far as new car sales, was on the wane by 1979. Holden had clearly won the race with their Sandman models, and, Chrysler was very late to the party with their Drifter. Then there was Ford, who had released their Sundowner Van in the XC range for the weekend sun and surf set. This 1/43 scale model by Trax is the 1979 Ford Sundowner van. More than likely it was fitted with a 4.1 litre (250CI) engine with a manual transmission, with other options available.

My 67 VE Valiant Safari Wagon

Well its been some time since I have posted an article. I would consider doing more if there were more interaction in the comments section so if you want to see more articles, be sure to comment and share this blog. There is a dearth of Aussie model car blogs on the web so lets keep the dream alive!

If you have read my previous posts you will know I have owned my share of Aussie made Valiants. So here is another post about another car from my 1:1 real life. This model is the 1/43 scale model of the VE Valiant Wagon by Trax. The VE Valiant was Car of the Year in 1968 and its easy to see why. The Valiants had it all over their competition, especially in the power department. The model shown here is the 160HP Six cylinder version of the slant 225 engine.

I bought my VE off an old bloke in his 80s. He was the second owner, having bought the car when it was just 2 months old. His main use for the old Val was as a tow vehicle, which it was ideal for, since it had the 273 V8 engine instead of the 225 six. It did not set the world on fire but it did make for a great tow vehicle. Mine was exactly the same as this model apart from the engine size and the colour. This model is accurate, right down to the chrome dust deflectors on either side of the rear window. the Safari and 160HP badging. Well done Trax!

1973 CJ Chrysler by Chrysler 1/43 Scale by Trax Select Series

Trax Select Series CJ Chrysler by Chrysler

The CJ series Chrysler by Chrysler (CxC) was the second iteration of Chrysler Australia’s large luxury car which followed the 1971 CH CxC release.  The first point I want to address here is one which Im sure will be obvious to you; Couldn’t they have come up with an original name? As far as luxury cars went in this era, Holden had their Statesman and Ford had their Fairlane and LTD. And Chrysler had their… well… they had their Chrysler. Ok now we have addressed that point lets move on. The CxC was larger in every way than the Valiants it sat above in Chrysler’s range. It came standard with the 265 (4.3L) six cylinder but could be optioned with the 360 cubic inch (5.9L) V8. It also came with the Torqueflyte Auto gearbox as standard.

The list of luxuries fitted as standard and options do not seem much to us Today, but in 1970’s Australia, most of us could only dream of them. Some of them were power windows, power disc brakes, power steering, power aerial, illuminated boot, glove box and ashtray (woohoo!), huge comfy seats with an option for electric adjustment and more. This was Chrysler’s limousine.  The top of the tree in their luxury offering at the time.

The closest I came to owning one of these was sometime in the 80’s I was negotiating with a guy who had one under his house. It was 360 V8 in fairly good condition but it did not end up happening and I ended up with a Valiant V8 instead. But that is a story for another day.

 

The Trax Select Series model shown here is one of their better offerings. I couldn’t buy one in my 1:1 life so I will have to be satisfied with this one. Which I am.

Trax Select Series 1973 CJ Chrysler by Chrysler