Retroautos recently revealed previously secret, styling proposals for the Valiant and Chrysler by Chrysler. This edition showcases many never-before-seen proposals for the iconic Charger.

How lucky we are that these sketches and photos have survived. For a number of years, it was believed they had been destroyed when Mitsubishi acquired a controlling interest in the company.

Thanks to a small group of design studio staff, these wonderful artefacts were saved. The photos you see here are from Paul Blatch’s extensive collection. Paul was a designer at Chrysler and Mitsubishi from the mid-1980s until the factory closure in 2008.

Although most of the proposals never made it beyond the design studio, they reveal the fascinating “what if” ideas for the Charger, including hatchbacks, fold down rear seats and complete re-stylings.

As you would expect, the photos and sketches vary in quality. When they were created none were ever expected to be more than visual reminders for the designers working in secrecy. But here they are, thanks to Paul.

American Design Studio

Chrysler Australia did not have the extensive design studio facilities in Adelaide that Ford and Holden had in Melbourne. Consequently, most of the design activities were shared between Adelaide and Chrysler’s American studios at Highland Park in Michigan. The photo above shows a 1971 Charger at Highland Park being used as the basis for the VJ/VK updates. On the back wall are large sketches for front end proposals.

VJ/VK Sketches

From sketches such as these come ideas that sometimes reach production. Pauls says that detail is not important with theses sketches. The main purpose is to visualise an idea as quickly possible, and move on to the next idea.

Small design team with big ideas

The overriding theme of the design history at Chrysler Australia is that there were never enough financial resources to develop proposals to their fullest. But that did not stop the talented design team, led by Bryan Smyth, from continuing to create appealing shapes. These three images capture variations to the Charger’s rear side window and centre pillar for the VJ and VK that were proposed by the design team. The changes shown are minimal, yet very effective.

Aero for Bathurst

These images demonstrate what engineers and designers were planning for a race winning Charger. To improve airflow over the back of the car, especially down Conrod Straight at Bathurst, the boot lid and rear window were raised so they were flush with the rear pillars. The Charger’s fake vent behind the rear side window was removed and the glass extended. Similar revisions were made on the Dodge Daytona/Plymouth Superbird for NASCAR racing.

Fold downs and hatchbacks

The interior layout of the Charger made it ideal for a fold down rear seat back. A prototype was constructed. And when combined with a hatchback, it would have given Chrysler a model to compete against the LH/LX Torana hatchback. But it never made it onto the market.

Re-arranging the rear

The sketch above was created by Brian Smyth. It shows what a larger rear window would look like and how flow through ventilation exhausts might be located under the window. The Valiant and Charger never did have flow through ventilation, unlike the HQ Holden and XA Falcon.

Tail lights and paintwork

The two sketches below explore the themes for the tail lights of the VJ/VK

Pictured below are proposed changes to the rear end paintwork and trim for the VK. The black and white photo was taken in the USA.

The “Fuselage” look

One of the VH-CM Valiant’s drawbacks was that it was designed to look big. Chrysler called this the “fuselage” design theme. It was a favourite of the company’s global design boss, Elwood Engel.

The design theme was well executed on American models, but the American designers, who had a significant input to the VH Valiant, went one step too far, as the comparison with a Plymouth Satellite of the same era, below, demonstrates.

The majority of the Australian car buying public did not find the VH’s fuselage body shape all that appealing. Sales were lower than the VG by 20%. Mind you, I admired the look back in the day, and still do. I can appreciate, however, why the large and dominant crease along the side of the car, topped by a rising belt line, was criticised. It gave the Valiant a heavy, bulky appearance and a droopy tail. It also ensured any sheet metal changes would be expensive to implement because it involved significant re-shaping of the car.

Determined to fix this problem the Australian styling team created an impressive new side body shape for the VJ/VK sedan. They straightened and lowered the waistline, created an imposing squared-off grille (four headlights for the Regal) reshaped the roof line and doors and squared up the rear end, eliminating its droopy appearance. But, the company did not have the money to fund such major sheet metal changes and the idea had to be put on hold. There is a link to the Valiants That Never Were story at the end of this story.

Ironically, the fuselage design theme and the large side crease enhanced the Chargers’ visual appeal! Even so, to align with the proposed changes to the sedan, a two-sided Charger clay model was created in the USA in 1973

Common to both sides was the front and rear end styling and the long side rear window from previous proposals. The right side of the clay retained the VH’s body crease. The left side eliminated the crease and replaced it with a full-length accent line.

When it was completed, the clay model was displayed at Chrysler’s design studio viewing area. The shape is as striking as the colour. It is a tantalising insight into what might have been, if only Chrysler Australia had the financial resources to make the changes.

It is the stuff that dreams are made of.

National Motoring Museum’s Chrysler and Mitsubishi Collection

The National Motoring Museum in Adelaide has an extensive collection of Chrysler and Mitsubishi Australia history, including scale clay models, blueprints, sketches and photos.

Here’s the link to Valiants That Never Were.

Special thanks to Paul Blatch. Special thanks also to Dennis Nicolle, the retired design manager at Chrysler Australia and Mitsubishi Australia, and one of the featured designers on Shannons Design to Driveway video series.

Retroautos is written and published with passion and with pride by David Burrell. Retroautos stories and images are copyrighted. Reproducing them in any format is prohibited. Retroautos is a registered trademark. Reproducing it in any format is prohibited.