SOLD on Jun 15, 2026

Elite Dealer

1961 Plymouth Valiant

Michigan

$10,495

Vehicle Details

Make

Plymouth

Model

Valiant

Year

1961

Mileage

78,123 miles

Exterior Color

Blue

Transmission

Manual

Drivetrain

RWD

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

and factory 3-speed manual on the floor

Condition

Good

Description

1961 Plymouth Valiant Coupe – 3-Speed Manual | Slant-6 | Rare 2-Door | Clean Title A true early-‘60s classic! For sale is a 1961 Plymouth Valiant 2-Door Coupe – a rare and original survivor with its legendary 170 ci Slant Six engine and factory 3-speed manual on the floor. You don’t see many of these around, especially in this condition. Specs: Engine: 170 cid Slant-6 – smooth & reliable Transmission: 3-speed manual (on the floor – factory setup) Drive: RWD Mileage: 78,123 original miles Title: Clean – in hand Color: Blue Condition: Good overall Ownership: 2nd owner Highlights: Rare 2-door body style from the first-gen Valiant lineup Runs and drives well Solid mechanical condition Mostly original with classic early Mopar charm Great bones for a light restoration or enjoy as-is Please Note The Following **Vehicle Location is at our clients home and Not In Cadillac, Michigan. **We do have a showroom with about 25 cars that is by appointment only **Please Call First and talk to one of our reps at 231-468-2809 EXT 1 **

Classic Plymouth Valiant Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Mike Sullivan

Muscle Cars

1960–1976

~3 min read

Updated Apr 2026

Expert buyer's guide to the Plymouth Valiant 1960–1976. Slant Six durability, fender tag decoding, A-body rust inspection, Scamp and Duster variants, and current market pricing.

This guide covers

✓ 10-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 5 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Valiant Buyer's Guide

Plymouth Valiant Market Overview

Based on 9 Plymouth Valiant listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$17,564

Avg. Asking Price

1961–1972

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Average Range

This car: $10,495

Low: $2,500 High: $44,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 78%

Condition Distribution

Good 22% ◄

Fair 33%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 9 listings →

Classic Plymouth Valiant Buyer's Guide

The Plymouth Valiant was Chrysler's compact answer to the Falcon and Corvair — and it turned out to be the most durable of the three. Powered by the legendary Slant Six engine, the Valiant earned a reputation for reliability that bordered on the monotonous. These engines simply did not die. Today the Valiant is one of the most accessible classic Mopars on the market: inexpensive to buy, cheap to run, with a passionate community behind it. The Signet, Scamp, and Duster variants add variety; the V8-swapped cars offer real performance. What you need to watch for are the unibody rust patterns specific to the A-body Chrysler platform — because this is where Valiants die.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Fender Tag Decode — Locate and photograph the fender tag on the inner front fender. It lists the complete original build specification — body code, engine, transmission, color.

✓

K-Frame Inspection — Get underneath and inspect the torsion bar crossmember and lower K-frame for rust. Structural rot here is a serious and expensive repair.

✓

Lower Torque Box Rust — Check the lower torque boxes where the floor meets the front frame rails. Chrysler unibody rot at the torque boxes is common and requires welding.

✓

Floor Pan Probe — Probe the driver-side floor pan from underneath with a screwdriver. Heat and condensation cause floor rot at the driver footwell first.

✓

Rear Quarter Check — Run a magnet along the lower rear quarters and wheel well lips. Filler is non-magnetic. Rust here is cosmetic but needs addressing.

✓

Trunk Floor — Pull up the trunk mat and inspect the trunk floor and spare tire well for rust-through or prior patch work.

✓

Intake Manifold Gasket — On Slant Six cars, check for coolant staining around the intake manifold. Check the oil dipstick for milky residue indicating coolant intrusion.

✓

Engine Idle Quality — A healthy 225 Slant Six idles smoothly and quietly. Rough idle or vacuum leaks at the manifold are common on older gaskets.

✓

Torsion Bar Adjusters — Check torsion bar adjustment bolts at the front crossmember for corrosion and seizure. Seized adjusters complicate alignment work.

✓

Scamp Hardtop Seals — On Scamp hardtops, check the B-pillar area and rear window seals for water intrusion damage to the interior and floor.

Common Issues

Torsion bar K-frame rust is the most serious structural issue — a badly rotted K-frame requires replacement or major welding and is a four-figure repair. Floor pan rust from driver-side heat and condensation is universal on unprotected cars. Rear quarter and wheel well rust is common. Chrysler A-body lower torque box rot (where the floor pan meets the front frame rails) requires professional welding to repair properly. Slant Six intake manifold gasket failures cause coolant leaks and vacuum leaks — budget $300–$600 for a proper manifold reseal. Torsion bar adjustment bolts corrode — seized adjusters complicate front end alignment work.

What to Look For

Decode the fender tag on the inner front fender to confirm original build specification. Inspect the torsion bar crossmember (K-frame) and lower torque boxes from underneath — structural rust here is a serious problem unique to the Chrysler unibody. Probe the driver-side floor pan from underneath. Check the rear quarter wheel wells and lower quarter panels with a magnet for filler. Inspect the trunk floor and spare tire well for rust-through. On Slant Six cars, check the intake manifold gasket area for coolant leaks. Pull the dipstick and check for milky oil (coolant in oil). Look for cracked or missing torsion bar adjusters at the front crossmember.

Price Guide

Four-door Slant Six driver: $4,000–$10,000. Two-door coupe Slant Six: $7,000–$15,000. Signet and Scamp hardtops: $12,000–$22,000. V8-equipped two-door: $12,000–$20,000. Show-quality restored Scamp: $20,000–$32,000. First-gen 1960–1962 original condition: $12,000–$22,000. Values remain modest compared to Barracudas and Darts — the Valiant is the budget entry point into the Chrysler A-body collector market.

Did You Know?

The Valiant was the first unibody compact sold by any of the Big Three American manufacturers. It debuted at the British International Motor Show at Earls Court, London, in October 1959. The 225 Slant Six was known as the "leaning tower of power" and powered millions of American vehicles from 1960 through 1987. Chrysler taxicabs running the 225 Slant Six routinely exceeded 300,000 miles in fleet service.

Elite Dealer

$10,495