1966 Plymouth Valiant Base review from Iceland

Frame broke (rusted through)

Master cylinder blew

Each wheel cylinder blew (!!)

throwout bearing on clutch seized up

radiator rotted out

alternator

starter motor

paint virtually all worn away by the time I got it - LOTS of rust

seats were pretty much trashed

terminal "chrysler-itis" (i.e., front end about six inches off the deck because of torsion bar wear).

Lousy tires (bias ply retreads) blew out on occasion -- I always carried TWO spares in the trunk.

This car was apparently badly abused by the time I got my hands on it for $200 in the Summer of 1982. I kept it a little over a year and only threw in the sponge when its endemic rust got the better of it and the frame itself actually broke.

Although I have reason to believe that the car was an instrument of evil and was, via strategically timed breakdowns, affirmatively trying to kill me (see brake failures above) I somehow survived and have to admit in retrospect that the car was interesting to own and not that unpleasant to drive.

Also, its diminutive slant six (almost NOBODY knows about the 170) was amazingly smooth and durable -- it outlasted the car itself by many years (it was swung into a later model Dart). The three speed manual (w/ goofy column shifter) was also faultless.

This car was SO ugly (inside and out) that it was comical -- it was always fun, when picking up a girl for a date, to watch her father's reaction.