Chryslers on the Murray, 2019 Show (Australia)

[Aidan1976]

Latest update on the Mad Max II car.

Photo taken after the jump, on site 1981. Stunt man was pulled from it with a broken leg.

A photo from a local car enthusiast mag that I purchased in early 2009:

Per Facebook page post from 2017, it's still resting there (I visited some of the filming locations over Christmas period 2009, but unfortunately ran out of time to hunt it down. It's basically out in no mans land lol):

 

[crv]

Regarding 'The Chrysler' 2-Door Hardtop, it does vary a lot what people call it, here are a few instances of models for sale where it is described as a 'Chrysler by Chrysler' Hardtop:

Australian Muscle Car Sales

Chrysler BY Chrysler CH Coupe

The 'by Chrysler' bit in fairness could be stated relating to many models, such as 'Charger by Chrysler' (per advert posted above), but of course that term never caught on/went into use by the public and car enthusiasts.

Lets just define it by what the makers Chrysler Australia designated it as, which is 'The Chrysler'. By all accounts the name caused confusion then, and look, here we are in 2019 and it's still causing dramas lol (add to this the fact that the 2nd add that I posted yesterday is missing 'The' from the models description. Perhaps the advert copywriter got his arse kicked for that). Why they didn't call it a distinctive name, such as Imperial say, is beyond me.

"Hey mate, I heard that you got a new car?"
"Yeah, it's a 'The Chrysler' "
Doesn't really roll off the tongue well. No wonder it's exact name got altered over time. Pink Floyd were initially known as 'The Pink Floyd', so go figure...

Another advert:

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The showroom catalogue for posterity, culled from the great website 'The Old Car Manual Project' (Classic car brochures and owners manuals - The Old Car Manual Project):

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Yeah, nah, I don't read that as 'The Chrysler' as being the model name, no 'The' anywhere on the car. But I agree Chrysler Australia could've chosen a better name, LeBaron or whatever.

 

[Wollfen]

There were approximately 73 "CJ" Chrylser hardtops built and very hard to find. I learned this back in the 80s when I owned three CH Hardtops. Unfortunately when Mitsubishi took over Chrysler Australia in 1981 they did a wonderful job of disposing of all records and files relating to not only the history of Chrysler Australia but also dumped anything still at the factory in the bay off the coast nearby too. What a mess.

 

[Aidan1976]

12k is probably ok for a fully sorted one, but not for this one yet. I wish the seller well as they'll be hanging onto it for a long time at this price.

Add to this the fact that it's bulkhead/firewall factory Compliance Plate was missing also...

 

[crv]

There were approximately 73 "CJ" Chrylser hardtops built and very hard to find. I learned this back in the 80s when I owned three CH Hardtops. Unfortunately when Mitsubishi took over Chrysler Australia in 1981 they did a wonderful job of disposing of all records and files relating to not only the history of Chrysler Australia but also dumped anything still at the factory in the bay off the coast nearby too. What a mess.

I'd love to see a compliance plate for one of those CJ Hardtops you blokes refer to.

 

[Aidan1976]

I'd love to see a compliance plate for one of those CJ Hardtops you blokes refer to.

How about adding value to this thread rather than being an antagonist mate.

 

[Aidan1976]

Yeah, nah, I don't read that as 'The Chrysler' as being the model name, no 'The' anywhere on the car. But I agree Chrysler Australia could've chosen a better name, LeBaron or whatever.

There are only Manufacturer name badges on the car (all in the same Chrysler script culled from the US), no Model name badges, which utilise a different distinguishing script. Same as the Valiant Utility models, no "Valiant Utility" or "Utility" Model badge on the vehicle. In a reversal of this, no "Chrysler" Manufacturers badging on the VH Series models, only the "Valiant" Model badging (my VH Valiant Ranger XL doesn't say Chrysler anywhere on it externally).

The Make being ‘Chrysler’ and the Model also being ‘Chrysler’? Doesn’t add up. ‘The Chrysler’ is definitive, just as ‘Charger’, ‘Regal’, ‘Ranger’ are defining names.

‘Hey, I bought a new Chrysler at the weekend’
‘Really? What model?’
‘Chrysler’
‘Yes, I realise that. What model though?’
‘Chrysler’
2nd person gets huffy, rolls eyes, and walks off. Lol.

The following makes more sense:

‘Hey, I bought a new Chrysler at the weekend’
‘Really? What model?’
‘The Chrysler’
‘The luxury car? Nice mate, nice’

Don’t forget, this car was marketed as a luxury, pseudo limousine model, thus ‘The’ strengthens this angle. Excerpts from the CL Series showroom brochure:

Again, per the CH Series showroom brochure:

‘By sheer weight of evidence, The Chrysler is Australia’s ultimate motor car’

 

[Aidan1976]

For those Mad Max fans, here is an interesting featurette about the 2nd film, "Mad Max 2, The Chase Continues". Includes the filming of the Hardtop jump/crash scene:

 

[crv]

How about adding value to this thread rather than being an antagonist mate.

Antagonist?, what a joke. My question was legit, I am interested in this topic and would very much like to see pics. You can't make such a claim without backing it up, when someone shows proof that these cars were produced I'll believe it, until then it remains a myth.

 

[crv]

There are only Manufacturer name badges on the car (all in the same Chrysler script culled from the US), no Model name badges, which utilise a different distinguishing script. Same as the Valiant Utility models, no "Valiant Utility" or "Utility" Model badge on the vehicle. In a reversal of this, no "Chrysler" Manufacturers badging on the VH Series models, only the "Valiant" Model badging (my VH Valiant Ranger XL doesn't say Chrysler anywhere on it externally).

The Make being ‘Chrysler’ and the Model also being ‘Chrysler’? Doesn’t add up. ‘The Chrysler’ is definitive, just as ‘Charger’, ‘Regal’, ‘Ranger’ are defining names.

‘Hey, I bought a new Chrysler at the weekend’
‘Really? What model?’
‘Chrysler’
‘Yes, I realise that. What model though?’
‘Chrysler’
2nd person gets huffy, rolls eyes, and walks off. Lol.

The following makes more sense:

‘Hey, I bought a new Chrysler at the weekend’
‘Really? What model?’
‘The Chrysler’
‘The luxury car? Nice mate, nice’

Don’t forget, this car was marketed as a luxury, pseudo limousine model, thus ‘The’ strengthens this angle. Excerpts from the CL Series showroom brochure:

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Again, per the CH Series showroom brochure:

‘By sheer weight of evidence, The Chrysler is Australia’s ultimate motor car’

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We'll have to agree to disagree on this also.

 

[LeBaron1973]

If I recall correctly, instead of a special name like Fairlane, Chrysler's idea was the Chrysler by Chrysler implying a top line vehicle.

The only way to know how things were is to look at the factory literature, motoring magazines, print and cinema/TV and radio advertising.

In any case, who cares, we Aussies made a better product than our American friends,
.
Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi!!!

The above is a chant often used at sporting events.

With humble apologies to our American and Canadian and other friends, a little self indulgence.

 

[Aidan1976]

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Nice...how big are these …...like a duster or more like a 71 satellite ?

Apologies mate, forgot to respond to you.

Chrysler Australia cars were based on the A-Body, so yes this car is similar in size to a US model ('The Chrysler' model featured a lengthened wheelbase of 115”, the same for both the 4-Door Sedan and 2-Door Hardtop. The 'Valiant' Hardtop VH and VJ Series cars also featured this same wheelbase, however the rest of the Valiant line-up (including the wagon), plus the complete line-up of the following 'Valiant' VK, CL and CM Series cars, had the shorter length of 111”. This wheelbase being the same as the ’67-’76 Dart for example). According to internet information, the length of The Chrysler model is 4994 mm / 196.6”, a comparable US A-Body being the 1967 – 1969 Dodge Dart 2-Door Hardtop measuring 4963 mm / 195.4” in length.

This blood orange car is actually a creation by the owner, hence the “What If” and “Yes, I know its not original” lines stated on the placard resting on the dash. Looking at the car he combined The Chrysler 2-Door Hardtop (CH Series) with a Chrysler Valiant Regal SE (CL series) car. The Regal SE CL Series model took over after The Chrysler CJ series was laid to rest (CJ Series: 1973 – 1976, CL Series: 1976 – 1978). The owner may even have obtained a Chrysler Valiant 2-Door Hardtop (VH & VJ Series) then added the trim to the top of the guards/fenders, doors, and base of the rear quarter windows (that in itself would be a feat, obtaining that trim lol) - a la the US Chrysler models of the time:

 

[Aidan1976]

Here are some videos of the show that have been posted to YouTube:









Also on a related note. American principal exterior stylist for the Australian Chrysler Valiant Charger, Bob Hubbach, was kind enough to attend the 2006 Chryslers on the Murray show, and regale people with his stories and insight into how the car came to be:



The book that he refers to during his presentation is ‘Hey Charger’ by Gavin Farmer and Gary Bridger. Info about the book:

Blogs


Lastly, on a recent 8 week work stint to Adelaide in South Australia, got to visit the old Chrysler Australia Tonsley Park factory site (the last Chrysler produced there was in 1981. Local Mitsubishi manufacturing ended in the same factory in 2008). Also visited the nearby Tonsley Hotel, a main feature of which is the Chrysler Bar, where the local factory workers would visit for a drink after their shift. Lots of photos from the heyday of the plant, even the complete side of a Charger, adorn the walls: