CL Chrysler marked begining of the end

Another milestone to ponder.

The CL Chrysler Valiant hits 50 in November, 2026.

It is the big car that Chrysler Australia should have released in 1973 to resurrect a decline in sales caused by the styling of the 1971 VH.

The CL’s big bold grille, re-designed rear end and luxe looking interiors might just have done it.

But Chrysler was strapped for cash, locally and globally.

Trying to do more with so much less, the company held off major panel re-designs until it was too late.

A recently uncovered tranche of photos reveal that the CL’s styling themes were being sketched by designers in 1971.

The images also show mock ups of the 1973 VJ and 1975 VK models, with all the styling features of the CL.

With the CL came the dropping of the Valiant name.

It was a marketing idea to give the range more prestige.

The public was not fooled.

The CL was a Valiant.

Meanwhile, as Ford and GMH were discovering, the Australian public’s affection for big two-door coupes was fading fast.

So too was Chrysler noticing the slide.

Where once the Charger had made a significant contrition to the company’s production output, by 1976 it was hardly breaking even.

Everyone who wanted a Charger had bought one, and cheap used ones were now five years old.

And so, the CL was the last of the Chargers.

Less than a year after the release of the CL, Chrysler announced the four-cylinder Sigma.

It foretold the future.

What we see here is the beginning of the end for Valiant in Australia.

David Burrell is the editor of retroautos

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