My First Convertible
By: Joseph B. Lewis
My 1964 Plymouth Valiant V200 Convertible was produced late in the 1964 model year. It was shipped to Advance Auto Sales, Inc., a dealership located in Auburn, Maine. The car was originally purchased on October 5, 1964 by a gentleman who lived in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. The car wasn't actually sold until after the 1965 models were being produced.
There were only 5,856 V200 Valiant Convertibles produced during the 1964 model year. My car was the 2,745 V200 convertible to roll off the Old Dodge Main Plant (which was located in Hamtramck, MI) assembly line. My car originally had a white body, a black convertible top and a red interior with a red top boot. It was also ordered with power steering, power brakes, an AM radio, power convertible top, windshield washer unit, back-up lights, and white sidewall tires.
I'm not sure of the details, but the Valiant was brought to Michigan and ended up on the used car sales lot of Albro Chrysler Plymouth, Inc. in Mt. Clemens, MI.
The car was then purchased by a relative of the first owner on March 6, 1966. The car at that time, had only 4,400 miles on the odometer. This family drove the Valiant from 1966 through the Spring of 1981. During that period, the car was driven approximately 2,900 miles per year.
They continued to drive the car until the Spring of 1983 when a gentleman who was the third owner purchased the car. He drove the car about one year and then decided to sell it because of financial reasons.
In March of 1984, he ran an ad in the Sunday Detroit News in the Antique Autos for Sale section. I saw the ad and called him to get more details about the car. He told me that everything on the car was original, but there was some frame damage on the left side of the car. I went over to look at the car a few days later. At first I was not very impressed with the car. It had also been hit on the right rear quarter panel. The front bumper was also damaged to the point it had an inverted 'v' shape in the middle of it that would have to be straightened. I told him I couldn't pay his asking price because of the body damage which would have to be repaired. I gave him a counter offer. He thought it over and called me several days later stating that if I would give him $25.00 more than what I offered, the car was mine. I agreed and purchased the car on April 1, 1984. I actually got the car for $125.00 less than his original asking price.
I would like to thank a fellow Plymouth Owners Club, Inc. member who made me aware of Plymouth Valiant Convertibles. I spoke with him at one of our general membership meetings about the fact that I was looking for at that time a 1967 through 1969 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible, but could not find a decent one for sale in the Metropolitan Detroit area. He stated that a Plymouth Valiant Convertible was a great alternative. This is when I took his advice and the rest is history.
I decided to change the exterior color of the car when I saw a 1964 Plymouth Valiant showroom brochure which had a picture of a convertible with a red body, red interior and a red top boot. I was immediately sold on that color combination, since the exterior color was all I had to change.
At present the Valiant has been repaired and repainted red. It now has over 81,000 original miles on the 225 Slant Six cylinder engine which puts out 145 horsepower. It has been a very reliable car which we have enjoyed driving in and out of the State of Michigan. I would recommend the Valiant model to anyone looking for a dependable and durable Plymouth. I'm also very pleased to tell anyone that' YES, THIS IS MY FIRST CONVERTIBLE'.
Special thanks to Joseph B. Lewis for donating his story to the MotorCities Story of the Week program. If you have a story that you would like to donate to be featured as a MotorCiteis Story of the Week, email Lisa Ambriez at lambriez@motorcities.org.