1965 Valiant brake woes

I fail to see a question. At any rate, that's a drum/drum master cylinder. With the addition of the Speedway distribution block/proportioning valve, I suspect one of two things. Either like you say it used to have discs on the front, or someone was getting ready to do it.
that looks like a universal GM disc/drum (corvette) master to me. which is what most of those after market disc brake set ups come with.