This photo of my father and I in 1967 shows a Valiant in the front and a Holden at the back. It was probably on a family Sunday drive.
The Valiant is an AP6 model (or maybe AP5), according to my study of photos on the web. They were introduced in March 1965.
Wikipedia says the Chrysler Valiant was introduced to Australia in 1962, with production ceasing in 1981.
Initially a rebadged import of the Plymouth Valiant from the United States, where production ceased in 1976, the Valiant range was sold throughout Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
On May 30, 1963, Chrysler Australia produced the first fully Australian manufactured Valiant, the AP5.
In March 1965, the AP5 was supplanted by the AP6. The body shell was the same, but there was a new grille on the theme of the US 1964 Plymouth Barracuda, and there was new trim inside and out.
The automatic transmission was no longer controlled by push buttons, but instead by a conventional shift lever. The AP6 also included other new features such as self-adjusting brakes and acrylic enamel paint, at the time the most advanced auto finish available.
Wikipedia claims the Valiant AP6 also offered the first Australian-built V8 car.
I had no trouble identifying the other vehicle in this photo as an EK Holden.
Wikipedia says the EK of 1961 was Holden’s response to the Ford Falcon, with the availability of automatic transmission.
Another enhancement was replacing the old “vacuum” wipers with electrically operated units.
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