The Chrysler Valiant (CM) is an automobile that was produced in Australia by Chrysler Australia from 1978 to 1980 and subsequently by Mitsubishi Australia from 1980 to 1981. It was a facelifted and revised version of the Chrysler CL Valiant, which it replaced. It was the last Australian Chrysler Valiant.
Model range The CM Valiant was offered in 4 door sedan and 5 door station wagon body styles in the following models: Chrysler Valiant sedanRegal and Valiant (Chrysler CM Regal and Valiant sales brochure 5/2006261), Chrysler Australia Ltd., July 1980 Chrysler Valiant wagon Chrysler Regal sedan Chrysler Regal wagon Chrysler Regal SE sedanRegal and Valiant (Chrysler CM Regal and Valiant sales brochure), Chrysler Australia Ltd., date unknown, as reproduced in "Elisabeth Tuckey and Ewan Kennedy's Chrysler Valiant, 1996, pages 179 to 181"
Regal models were marketed as Chrysler Regals, without the Valiant name.
A GLX pack, option code A16,Gavin Farmer, Great Ideas in Motion, A History of Chrysler in Australia, 2010, page 421 was offered on the CM Valiant sedan.GLX Information, www.valiantglx.com Retrieved on 9 August 2013 It featured the 265 cubic inch (4.3 litre) engine, the four speed manual transmission, or 3 speed auto or the 318 v8 engine with an auto, “Hot Wire” cast alloy wheels, a tachometer, front grille paint treatment, tinted side glass, roof console with map light, rear seat armrest, floor console, body stripes and other embellishments.
Changes The CM models featured a new grille, revised tail lights plus new mouldings and badges. All body panels were carried over from the previous model.Tony Davis, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 155 The six cylinder engines were now fitted with Chrysler’s “Electronic Lean Burn System” which resulted in easier starting, better responsiveness, smoother running and improved fuel economy.
Utility, Panel Van and Charger coupe models were not carried over from the CL Valiant range.
Engines and transmissions Three engines were offered: I6 I6 V8
The V8 engine option was discontinued around August–September 1980.Gavin Farmer, Great Ideas in Motion, A History of Chrysler in Australia, 2010, page 204
Five transmissions were offered: 3 speed manual 4 speed manual 3 speed Torquflite automatic 3 speed TorqueFlite A904 automatic 3 speed Borg-Warner automatic
Production and replacement The CM Valiant was produced by Chrysler Australia from 1978 until the takeover of that company by Mitsubishi in 1980. Mitsubishi Australia continued production through to 28 August 1981. Although Mitsubishi did not want to continue the model it needed to produce cars to meet Australian local content requirements. 97% of the car was made in Australia and the tooling was well and truly paid for, so it was profitable for the company to produce even a small number of Valiants. Rather than badge it as a "Mitsubishi" the Valiant continued to be badged as "Chrysler."
By 1980, Japanese cars were the most popular cars in Australia and the Valiant had become dated. Ford Australia and Holden were building new cars based on European designs (the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore respectively) with modern styling and features that were absent from the 9-year-old Valiant platform. Chrysler's popularity in Australia had dropped from being one of the "Big Three" in the 1960s to 20th place by the end of the 1970s. The price of a CM Valiant was less than some small Japanese cars.'The last Valiant: Bulky, bloated, boring | Drive Flashback | URL: https://www.drive.com.au/caradvice/the-last-valiant-bulky-bloated-boring-drive-flashback/ | Drive
A total of 16,500 examples of the Chrysler CM were built with no immediate replacement model introduced. Eventually, the Mitsubishi Magna was developed to replace both the Valiant and smaller Sigma, and production started in 1985.
In the 21st Century, CM Valiants have become a collectible due to their final improvements and reliability of the then-praised Electronic Lean-Burn (ELB) system.'Chrysler Valiant CL-CM – Buyer’s Guide' (2022) | URL: https://www.tradeuniquecars.com.au/chrysler-valiant-cl-cm-buyers-guide/ | (accessed 25 April 2025) Well-maintained models can reach over AU$20,000.
See also Chrysler Valiant
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