The 245ci Hemi-6 engine replaced the 225ci slant-6 for Australian-market cars starting with the '70 VGs, and was the same length as the prior engine. (Slant-to-Hemi conversions on pre-'70 cars are common in Australia. Note that Australian-built export cars, primarily exported to South America, mostly got the 225ci slant-6 even after '70, not the Hemi-6.) In the Pacer the 245 Hemi-6 engine produced 213 bhp and mountains of torque; the 318ci LA V8 was an option as well. (Later, a 265ci version of this engine would produce in excess of 330 bhp, sporting triple side-draft DCOE45 Webers from the factory; this was fitted to an 'A' body Charger {local version} and in showroom trim was considered to be the fastest-accelerating production car in 1972--standing quarter-mile of 14.1 secs.)
I have digressed, and I apologise to any readers as we are after all talking about Dodge Darts. I currently own four of these cars: a convertible 1971 372ci V8 5-speed (obviously non-stock), a Pacer 245ci 6-cylinder automatic, and 2 Regals as junkers, both accident-damaged. I personally have always owned an assortment of locally-produced Chryslers and have found them to be honest, reliable, and powerful cars. My family always owned local GM cars and have never understood my passion for Valiants, but my father and brothers have always respected the reliability and power of these cars.
The weather in Australia is agreeable, and rust is not a serious problem except in later-model Chryslers because of poor build quality (yes, here too). Unfortunately for us Aussie diehards, local Chrysler Valiant production ended in 1981 at the same time the parent company was in serious 'doggy dodo' so the parts situation is not improving. Some gear is avaliable as local reproduction and some parts come from the US.
Design work on the Hemi six engine as a slant replacement began in 1966 at Chrysler in the States but the project became stillborn. The partial design plans were given to Chrysler Australia, completed, and put into production here. It turned out to be the best 6 cylinder available in the country. It produced more grunt than a yard full of pigs and outperformed the small V8's of both the blue and red teams. Ironically, its longevity is legendary and many examples are still running with in excess of 500,000 kms in original condition; the engine regularly outlives the body. Finally, I am always on the lookout for tips, tricks, and parts to improve the daily-driven Chrysler Valiant 2 door coupes {local version of the Dodge Dart} that I own. I'm particularly interested in making the small block a little more exciting but then again, "Ain't we all." I am happy to exchange mail with any interested parties.
[Editor's note: Daniel Stern provided additional information about age correspondence between U.S. and Australian Dodge Darts.]
Early production (model RV1) Australian 1962 Valiants were RHD North American '61 Valiants, late production (model SV1) Australian 1962 Valiants were RHD North American '62 Valiants. Australian 1963-4 Valiants, model AP5, were Australian built, but used US '63 Valiant doors, front fenders and hoods. The trunk was longer and differently shaped, taillamps and bumpers and quarter panels and grille and turn signals and roofline and backlight were all different. Ditto Australian 1965 Valiants, model AP6, using US '65 Valiant doors, front fenders and hoods. Australian 1966 Valiants, model VC, used US '66 Valiant doors and fenders, but had a different/longer trunk, different taillamps, bumpers, grill, turn signals, roofline, quarter panels.
The Dart equivalency began in '67, with the VE model, sold through mid-to-late- '68, which except for the VIP model, used a US '67 Dart front clip with a differently-painted grill and differently-located turn signals. From the cowl rearward, the car was all Australian-designed, with doors, roofline, quarter panels, backlight, trunk lid, bumpers, etc. all being different though obviously related to the US Mopars by design cues. The '67 VIP used the same front fenders, but the rest of the front clip was different, using quad 5.75" round headlamps instead of dual 7" rounds. The VIP also had a 1.5" longer wheelbase than the other models, whose wheelbase matched those in the US. For VF and VG info see above. The 4-doors were all Aussie, the 2-doors were mostly Dart.
The Australian Chryslers Webring has many other sites relating to these vehicles.
