Remember the Pratt and Miller 62 Hemi Valiant resto mod? I really had a soft spot for that car when I saw it, because as I said in the article, my mom drove one of those for many years and it was one of the cars I learned to drive in. I remember it like it was yesterday. Well, I just ran across this little gem, it’s an absolute beauty in stunning condition and it’s for sale.
The seller says it’s a true survivor, no full restoration, though the carpet and headliner were replaced. Well, I don’t know, it looks too good for the paint and body to be untouched, though I guess anything is possible. All of the normal maintenance items have been replaced and the heater control has a broken cable, but other than that, the photos speak for themselves.
The Slant 6 was a popular engine with rodders and racers
These were amazing little cars. The slant six was incredibly reliable and a respectable performer, in fact, I remember articles a long time ago, in Hot Rod Magazine, that showed the little Mopar engine in drag racers and custom cars. I also remember a concept drawing from a custom shop that envisioned two of these slant sixes, mounted side by side, but in opposite directions, in a custom car for a V12 of sorts, though I don’t know if that idea ever left the drawing board.
Overall, this example is a knockout. It would be a lot of fun to drive and whoever gets it will have a car worth holding on to.
UPDATE: After writing this, I took a quick run down into the HorsePowerSports research library and grabbed an early Hot Rod Magazine, August 1963 to be exact, and the cover car is their XR6 roadster project. The 6 in XR6 refers to number of cylinders and the engine they designed the car around is none other than the slant 6 just like the one you can see above in the Valiant. Not every early custom car or hot rod was built around V8s!
Love the 62′ Valiant. Had one for years until a utility pole fell across the top of it. For some time now I have been seriously looking for a Wagon to restore. The Lancer was its alternative trim from Dodge.
Thanks for the post
My brother had a Lancer and, like you say, almost identical except for the grille and front fascia as I recall
I forgot to mention, that I put a 440″ Six-Pac and 4-speed into a friends 62′ Lancer back in about 70′ – 71′. Car was scary fast compared to my 68′ Charger with the same engine and an automatic. Would love to build another one, but using a wagon.
The stock rear end didn’t last to long so we shortened a Hemi rear end and hung that. We had a wheel company widen the stock rear wheels and ran a wide oval tire on the back, but retained the stock dog dish wheel covers all around for that sleeper look, though, we had to hold the rear caps on with screws as they tended come off if we got a little wheel hop. Cured the wheel hop and after that the car was bulletproof.
Wide ovals, haven’t heard that in a while.
If you happen to have a photo or two of that 440 swap, I’d like to see it. It would be interesting to see the earlier roots of recent swaps like the Pratt and Miller Valiant.