mattmatthew
^_^
Hi all.
In 1965, in Lafayette, Indiana, my uncle purchased a 4-door Plymouth Valiant for his father, my grandfather. He had just graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette, and was on his way home to Hawaii to deliver the car. He drove it nearly three-quarters across the United States to California, where he put it on a Matson ship and took it back to Hawaii, for a total of $150. I still have both the receipt of the shipping and the returned check for payment of the car.
I practically grew up in this car.
When my grandfather passed away in 1992, I started driving it when I got my license. No one else wanted to. Compared to the cars of the time, it was a grandma car - no power brakes, no power steering, no a/c, no fm radio, even - it lacked every creature comfort most cars after 1980 have. The car had 42,000 miles on the block. My grandparents were of the generation that were exceedingly thrifty, and would only drive the car once a week, usually, just to visit relatives on the other side of the island. Most of their daily commute they did by public transportation, to save money. And, being garaged for practically three decades, the car was in beautiful condition.
I have a ton of family history tied up in this car. And I am the only one that wants to keep working on it. In 2003, I officially acquired the car in my name for $1.
In 2008 when the market crashed, I lost my job. I had to move back home to my parents house, where the car sat, for 2 1/2 years, with no garage, while I struggled to make ends meet and get back on my feet.
She's acquired a ton of body rust but the car still runs. A few months ago I decided I had some extra cash to get the car working again. We did a lot of work to the car over the years, mainly, to add life to the car by using parts that were easier to find:
- Large bolt pattern 7.25 rear end with 10" drums from a 76 Duster
- Electronic ignition conversion
- Slant 6 and 904 Torqueflite from a 71 Dart
Etc.
The goal is to get the Valiant mechanically sound first, then worry about the rust later. This forum seems pretty active and hopefully, I can find some of the harder-to-find parts either here or via outside sources.
There's a lot more work to do, including but not limited to a front drum to disc conversion from the same Duster in Salem OR that donated the rear end.
Anyway, it's great to meet you all.
Matt
In 1965, in Lafayette, Indiana, my uncle purchased a 4-door Plymouth Valiant for his father, my grandfather. He had just graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette, and was on his way home to Hawaii to deliver the car. He drove it nearly three-quarters across the United States to California, where he put it on a Matson ship and took it back to Hawaii, for a total of $150. I still have both the receipt of the shipping and the returned check for payment of the car.
I practically grew up in this car.
When my grandfather passed away in 1992, I started driving it when I got my license. No one else wanted to. Compared to the cars of the time, it was a grandma car - no power brakes, no power steering, no a/c, no fm radio, even - it lacked every creature comfort most cars after 1980 have. The car had 42,000 miles on the block. My grandparents were of the generation that were exceedingly thrifty, and would only drive the car once a week, usually, just to visit relatives on the other side of the island. Most of their daily commute they did by public transportation, to save money. And, being garaged for practically three decades, the car was in beautiful condition.
I have a ton of family history tied up in this car. And I am the only one that wants to keep working on it. In 2003, I officially acquired the car in my name for $1.
In 2008 when the market crashed, I lost my job. I had to move back home to my parents house, where the car sat, for 2 1/2 years, with no garage, while I struggled to make ends meet and get back on my feet.
She's acquired a ton of body rust but the car still runs. A few months ago I decided I had some extra cash to get the car working again. We did a lot of work to the car over the years, mainly, to add life to the car by using parts that were easier to find:
- Large bolt pattern 7.25 rear end with 10" drums from a 76 Duster
- Electronic ignition conversion
- Slant 6 and 904 Torqueflite from a 71 Dart
Etc.
The goal is to get the Valiant mechanically sound first, then worry about the rust later. This forum seems pretty active and hopefully, I can find some of the harder-to-find parts either here or via outside sources.
There's a lot more work to do, including but not limited to a front drum to disc conversion from the same Duster in Salem OR that donated the rear end.
Anyway, it's great to meet you all.
Matt
