62 Plymouth Valiant Coupe

[AussieTJ]

This is an old build from 2011, it's a Jaymar fiber-glass resin body of a four door 62 Valiant that I converted to a two door.

It's such a horrid medium to work with, very brittle and very thick in places, but as there are no kit on the market of this, these Jaymar bodies are the only real viable option.

These pics give you an idea of where I had to start ... (Edit: I've updated the photos as I found the right ones)








I used the chassis and interior tub from a Revell 71 Cuda as a donor. The chassis had to be shortened and massaged to fit into the narrow Valiant body.
The bonnet (hood) had to be cut out so that's why it's pretty gappy.
The engine is the obligatory Hemi, typical overkill, but it makes a cool looking engine bay I reckon.
Many scratch made items, all the inner fenders, the Optima battery, carby linkages, fuel and brake lines, coil over shocks, rad cap & catch can.
As for external stuff, I made the grille, the Plymouth emblem on the grille, taillights and indicators, headlight bezels and I think I even made the ext door handles after shaving off the crappy resin blobs.
The wheels are Pegasus with aftermarket disc rotors and the hardest part was making the front and rear windscreens, they were done with clear packaging acetate (?) sheeting, with the rear windows tinted.
Anyway here's the pics, they tell more than words.



















Some progress shots to show the interior and engine bay ..















Ok, thanks for looking in, I hope you enjoy this one.
Cheers TJ

PS: I should add, the inspiration for this style of Mopar is from my 1:1 Australian built 1962 Chrysler SV1 Valiant

[tcoat]

Amazing work. I am at a loss for words and that is rare!

[handiabled]

It's hard to believe that is the same body from the first couple pictures... Outstanding scratch work crafting this beautiful build! You really balanced the terrific detail throughout this!

[moparman18064]

Wow!!!!! With how hard it is to work with that stuff, and the starting mold, it is simply amazing. Very cool subject car, you still don’t see them out there. Incredible work throughout.

[rlhart13]

Great result from a kit that left a lot to be desired!

[AussieTJ]

I edited the photos because I couldn't find the correct WIP photos at the time I posted this and I showed the previous pics as a reference, I have a few of these bodies. So these pics are of the actual body used. 

I was freaking out, I thought I'd lost these pics!

Anyway, thanks Tony, Moparman and rlhart, I really appreciate the comments guys.

[Real G]

WOW, that is some amazing work!

It brings back memories of the cars my parents drove.  My dad had a Valiant from the mid-1950s until he bought a newer one in 1970.  I got my first driving lesson in the 1970 Valiant.  That thing handled like a boat and was equally spacious in the cabin as well as the trunk (yeah as kids we played in the trunk).  A giant steering wheel combined with recirculating ball steering made for smooth driving whether you wanted it or not!      And when you popped the hood and looked inside, you could clearly see the engine (a V-6 I think) and all the accessories clear as day... and the ground underneath it all.  Quite a difference compared to today's "canned spaghetti" engine bays.

[tcoat]

Nov 19, 2024 12:52:58 GMT -5 Real G said:

WOW, that is some amazing work!

It brings back memories of the cars my parents drove.  My dad had a Valiant from the mid-1950s until he bought a newer one in 1970.  I got my first driving lesson in the 1970 Valiant.  That thing handled like a boat and was equally spacious in the cabin as well as the trunk (yeah as kids we played in the trunk).  A giant steering wheel combined with recirculating ball steering made for smooth driving whether you wanted it or not!      And when you popped the hood and looked inside, you could clearly see the engine (a V-6 I think) and all the accessories clear as day... and the ground underneath it all.  Quite a difference compared to today's "canned spaghetti" engine bays.

Would have been and old reliable slant six for '70. And yes you could almost stand in the engine bay to work on them. 

[jeaton01]

Would have been easier to start with a Studebaker Hawk kit! At least it looks similar to me. Splendid!

[Real G]

Nov 19, 2024 13:13:54 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Nov 19, 2024 12:52:58 GMT -5 Real G said:

WOW, that is some amazing work!

It brings back memories of the cars my parents drove.  My dad had a Valiant from the mid-1950s until he bought a newer one in 1970.  I got my first driving lesson in the 1970 Valiant.  That thing handled like a boat and was equally spacious in the cabin as well as the trunk (yeah as kids we played in the trunk).  A giant steering wheel combined with recirculating ball steering made for smooth driving whether you wanted it or not!      And when you popped the hood and looked inside, you could clearly see the engine (a V-6 I think) and all the accessories clear as day... and the ground underneath it all.  Quite a difference compared to today's "canned spaghetti" engine bays.

Would have been and old reliable slant six for '70. And yes you could almost stand in the engine bay to work on them. 

It was a really tough engine!  One day my dad drove home with a dead water pump.  He pulled into the driveway with the car dieseling and belching thick clouds of steam!  Even when he shut off the ignition, the engine ran for a bit until it cooled off.  The water pump got replaced, and the car was back in action as if nothing had happened.  Try that with a modern car!

[tcoat]

Nov 19, 2024 13:24:52 GMT -5 Real G said:

Nov 19, 2024 13:13:54 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Would have been and old reliable slant six for '70. And yes you could almost stand in the engine bay to work on them. 

It was a really tough engine!  One day my dad drove home with a dead water pump.  He pulled into the driveway with the car dieseling and belching thick clouds of steam!  Even when he shut off the ignition, the engine ran for a bit until it cooled off.  The water pump got replaced, and the car was back in action as if nothing had happened.  Try that with a modern car!

Easily the best inline 6 ever made. The basic design was from the late 50's and didn't change much until they ended them so they were still really heavy duty while everybody else was cheaping out.

[BattleScale Collectica Show]

Great work, that really is a custom beauty!

[AussieTJ]

Nov 19, 2024 13:34:16 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Nov 19, 2024 13:24:52 GMT -5 Real G said:

It was a really tough engine!  One day my dad drove home with a dead water pump.  He pulled into the driveway with the car dieseling and belching thick clouds of steam!  Even when he shut off the ignition, the engine ran for a bit until it cooled off.  The water pump got replaced, and the car was back in action as if nothing had happened.  Try that with a modern car!

Easily the best inline 6 ever made. The basic design was from the late 50's and didn't change much until they ended them so they were still really heavy duty while everybody else was cheaping out.

Yep, I have one in my 1:1 Australian '62 Valiant, "The leaning Tower of Power" is a beast, 225ci + 60thou, Sig Erson cam, 390 Holley, headers, stainless steel exhaust = fun

TJ

[AussieTJ]

Nov 19, 2024 13:18:00 GMT -5 jeaton01 said:

Would have been easier to start with a Studebaker Hawk kit! At least it looks similar to me. Splendid!

Thanks John. 

Hmmm probably not, the only similarity I see is the front styling, the Studey's look podgy to me

[modelcarjr]

Looks like a lot of work but you knocked it out! Looks great and that engine looks fast and mean! Nice work!

[keavdog]

Very cool build - and quite the project undertaking. Dig those engine bay details.

[kyledehart5]

Wonderful work!! You didn’t have much to start with but you sure knocked it out of the park! Love the interior and engine as well. Just a beauty!

[kyledehart5]

Nov 20, 2024 1:29:13 GMT -5 AussieTJ said:

Nov 19, 2024 13:34:16 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Easily the best inline 6 ever made. The basic design was from the late 50's and didn't change much until they ended them so they were still really heavy duty while everybody else was cheaping out.

Yep, I have one in my 1:1 Australian '62 Valiant, "The leaning Tower of Power" is a beast, 225ci + 60thou, Sig Erson cam, 390 Holley, headers, stainless steel exhaust = fun

TJ

This is awesome. Love straight 6s and the leaning tower of power always makes for a cool power plant.