Fireside Valiant chat

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RustyRatRod said:
Of course we've all seen mine, but here it is again.

It went from this......

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...to this......

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.....to this........which is where I am currently. More to come when this heat breaks a little.

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I found out through a lot of research that the 64 valiant dash cluster is different than 63.

63 was a throwback in many ways to the road toad and older cars yet trying to be 60s. 64 was similar but much refined with symmetrical gauges which are of the same diameter unlike 63

65 went totally 60s with the two round gauges which in my option set up the ground work to evolve into the 67 rally dash.
 
Now my attention is going to be into completing the 65 dash. Since it came out of an a/c car, I need to find the non a/c controller and bezel.

I have an ad here on fabo offering the a/c controller in trade for a non a/c version.

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Another thing I am up late pondering...... and is the hardest part of any build, at least the part I have so much difficulty with......

Picking a color. The color is going to mold the personality of the whole car and certain options may even be contingent on personality traits brought on by the color.

One big problem is that between 1963 and 1965 the color selection was BORING!!!!.
In those days, high impact was either sky blue or red. Then you had white so you could look like frigidaire on wheels.

If I go with a mopar color, it would probably be white which has its own personality.
I am actually considering new, non mopar colors.
I had a friend take a pic of this Ford fiesta the other day so I could find the color. There are a lot of pop colors out these days. VW has some attractive bright colors.

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Rainy Day Auto said:
Another thing I am up late pondering...... and is the hardest part of any build, at least the part I have so much difficulty with......

Picking a color. The color is going to mold the personality of the whole car and certain options may even be contingent on personality traits brought on by the color.

One big problem is that between 1963 and 1965 the color selection was BORING!!!!.
In those days, high impact was either sky blue or red. Then you had white so you could look like frigidaire on wheels.

If I go with a mopar color, it would probably be white which has its own personality.
I am actually considering new, non mopar colors.
I had a friend take a pic of this Ford fiesta the other day so I could find the color. There are a lot of pop colors out these days. VW has some attractive bright colors.

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Not seeing it -----------^
 
I beg you NOT to add air bags and 20 inch wheels and band aid tires!!!! hahahaha I admit that 20 years ago I would occasionally go to a GoodGuys deal to see what was what, and Springfield, Mo,'s Street Rod Nats thing. I wondered how many years would it be before we saw the street rod scene got started on the 60's cars! The pro touring turns into the restomod and so it goes. I have no problem with people doing what they wan with their cars, and I do love seeing the people' ability to change things into a more interesting car, at least to them. I admit I watch some of MotorTrend's car channel stuff. I have trouble watching some shop really customize beyond sanity a 60's cars. Now they can chop French, whatever a 30-'s to 50's car, and it has no negative effect on me!
I probably should erase these comments as the purpose of this thread is opinions as to dash and now car color!! But Rainy said "chat" just too darn hot for the fire!!
I have changed colors on lots of Mopars over the years but I always used a real Mopar color, maybe from several years off its production date. Take F8 green Roadruuners, NO ONE back in the 80-90's hardly ever repanted a green car green unless it was a lime car!!! There are some awesome new colors out there today, I say go find a Toyoto color and give her heck!! hahaha (JOKE!!)
 
barbee6043 said:
I probably should erase these comments as the purpose of this thread is opinions as to dash and now car color!! But Rainy said "chat" just too darn hot for the fire!!
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I am surprised no one understood my reference when I titled the thread "fireside chat"

If anyone is real into American history like I am, they might remember studying Franklin Delino Roosevelt's "fireside chat" radio series. President Roosevelt used the chats to explain to people in detail about things like banking and any other hot topic of the times.

In the same way, I am using this thread to talk in very concise detail about valiants, using my own valiant as a reference. Anything you all add to this thread about valiants is more than welcome and encouraged. It is using the internet to talk car interactively.
 
Rainy Day Auto said:
Another thing I am up late pondering...... and is the hardest part of any build, at least the part I have so much difficulty with......

Picking a color. The color is going to mold the personality of the whole car and certain options may even be contingent on personality traits brought on by the color.

One big problem is that between 1963 and 1965 the color selection was BORING!!!!.
In those days, high impact was either sky blue or red. Then you had white so you could look like frigidaire on wheels.
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You're right, if the wagon is all white.
But You can go to two-tone paint and paint the roof according to interior colors - I did it this way, to avoid the frigidaire-ambulance etc- look..

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Rainy Day Auto said:
What color do you suggest??
I would like suggestions :)
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Why not look at the high impact colors? If you're thinking about modern Ford colors, what's wrong with skipping up a few years but staying Mopar? Take a look at the 1970 color chart and see if you like any of those.
 
- Marvin - said:
You're right, if the wagon is all white.
But You can go to two-tone paint and paint the roof according to interior colors - I did it this way, to avoid the frigidaire-ambulance etc- look..

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I love that! Here in Georgia though, we like the ambulance look. I call it the polar cap treatment. Sure keeps them cooler in the summer. I might paint the top white on mine.

Maybe something kind of like this. Maybe some white pinstripes to help add some flair.

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RustyRatRod said:
I love that! Here in Georgia though, we like the ambulance look. I call it the polar cap treatment. Sure keeps them cooler in the summer. I might paint the top white on mine.

Maybe something kind of like this. Maybe some white pinstripes to help add some flair.

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Nice valiants , but white tops makes the tops look bigger to me . Detracts from the sporty look --------
Color is a matter of personal choice tho .

Rainy : Its ur car , but late 60`s colors are good too . The green metallic on the 68-9 GTO`s was pretty to me , never had one ,and might be a little loud . 66-67 Plymouth blood red (dont know the # was good too . Candy tangerine is beautiful ,altho far out for a wagon !
Give us pics of what u come up with , I`m sure it`ll be great .
 
This is a great thread.
I remember when i was 8 or 10, my sister’s friend had an early barracuda. If i recall it was a light blue. That huge back window was so cool.
When my car came up i recalled that first one i saw.

Always liked the look of them, now i have one.
A very slow process,collecting parts and fulfilling a dream.

Still waiting to hear about the parts car,as time goes on my interest to buy it dwindles. Im buying pieces that are better than what i have, and parts car has everything i need to complete mine. And then some, which i would pass on to someone that needs.

That one is a slant/4 speed,btw..

My colour choice is way out there,and some day i hope to be close to applying some.
 
I think these early Valiants look best in their light blue color or light turquoise. I might consider a pearlescent light turquoise - very sixties but would be unique today.

A matching interior color like the light blue dash pic you posted of the ‘65 dash looks great. You could consider a light blue or light turquoise. The ‘66 Valiants with light blue interior had dark blue dash and some other details while the light turquoise was all light colors. You could consider painting the dash in with some contrast; a dark upper portion separated by a dash pad.

‘66 light turquoise
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This is light blue but note dash is all dark blue

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I'd pick a color that would compliment your interior, unless you plan on redoing it also. Loved the dash of my 64 Barracuda, simple and bulletproof. Now to find a 65 Formula S Tach. I'd keep the AC, even if you don't think you want it now.
 
Didnt the a/c cars have a vacuum port to cut off the water flow through the heater core? I could see that as a benefit, even without a/c having no coolant flow through dash would reduce cabin temperature.
 
Tooljunkie said:
Didnt the a/c cars have a vacuum port to cut off the water flow through the heater core? I could see that as a benefit, even without a/c having no coolant flow through dash would reduce cabin temperature.
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The parts car the dash came from had a/c. I didn't get any of a/c parts off it other than the dash.

The wagon never had a/c
 
SSVDP said:
I think these early Valiants look best in their light blue color or light turquoise. I might consider a pearlescent light turquoise - very sixties but would be unique today.

A matching interior color like the light blue dash pic you posted of the ‘65 dash looks great. You could consider a light blue or light turquoise. The ‘66 Valiants with light blue interior had dark blue dash and some other details while the light turquoise was all light colors. You could consider painting the dash in with some contrast; a dark upper portion separated by a dash pad.

‘66 light turquoise
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My wagon was originally this color combo.... white exterior with a light turquoise interior...... that does look good

I am planning to re do all the interior because I don't have the original seats.
A guy from the depression era owned this car before and he brush painted it blue at some point in the 80s with house paint and did some whack stuff to the car

I an starting to not care about originality more and more with this car and I am wanting something that looks classy and fresh, however original may be the ticket.
 
I usually like the period correct colors for most older cars. However, when I go to car shows and see someone that has used a newer high impact color ( even from a different manufacturer); I think , wow ! Good for them for stepping outside the box! If you see a color that "grabs you" , go for it.
 
I think as we mature in this hobby, we more and more see the artist design applied to each model. Not everyone agrees with Mr. Exner's idea of design art! for example, we all have our own tastes. There s a definite relationship between color and model. Smaller cars tend to look better with certain colors, and bigger cars maybe with some different colors.
Wife claims the 62 Lancer alias TexasHornedRoadToad. I did the body a few years ago back in it original white, but she loves blue, so we think B3 (1969??) with its silvery shade will work.
Fireside chat! I admit I am old but I did come along before Pres. Roosevelt! ha Anyway, fireside chat and 10 degrees days!!!! ha.. Just funning. I understand the idea of meaningful opinions and comments!!
 
I like the White cars and it would go nice with this Valiant.

Just as important as color is selecting a wheel and tire package that brings out a nice compliment to the unique lines of the car.

Filing wheel wells with nice tires and wheels and getting the "Stance" just right.

Lots of these cars get to be tail draggers over time from the sagging springs. Get them up and let them stand proud.

The tire selection alone can give you a nice 1" rake from back to front. A little Monroe Air shock at the rear gives you the easy ability to dial it right in with a touch from an air hose. Add a little weight in that big back end on a trip, just give it another shot of air to keep your Stance nice and headights shinning straight and level.

One turn up on the front sway bars brings it up nice for a fresh, not overloaded look.

Chrome all shined up, add a nice chrome roof rack for accent. Nice color coordinated tan interior.

Oh Yeah . . .

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I like the colors the Valiant came in...even plain tan looks sharp...kinda plain, but they were plain cars that got the job done!

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