CAB CHARGE

WHEN IS AN EX-TAXI NOT AN EX-TAXI? WHEN IT'S A FORMER WEDDING-CAR. THIS RARE EBONY BLACK VG VALIANT WAS FOUND BY SHEER LUCK

- SHAN AND EDDIE WITH ROB BLACKBOURN

By the time the VG Valiant arrived in 1970, the brand was well accepted, giving Chrysler Australia a healthy 15 per cent market share. Since the heady days of the introduction of the exotic, sold-out-in-no-time, R-Series Valiant in 1962 there had been three distinct generations of Valiants with the VG model completing the third generation. The VH model that followed in 1971 marked the start of the fourth and final generation of Valiants that would continue with numerous model updates until Valiant's demise in 1981 under Mitsubishi ownership.

At first-glance the VG's arrival was an anticlimax judging by the very similar overall appearance to its VF predecessor. However, once you popped the bonnet it was obvious that there was way more to the VG than just new rectangular headlights. Gone was the venerable 'Slant-6' engine - in its place, the new highly efficient 'Hemi-6. If there were a Hall of Fame for Australian straight-sixes, the Hemi-6 would be right up there with Ford's now legendary 'Barra'.

This stunning Ebony Black VG sedan is the result of a 'team effort' by Central Victorian couple Shan and Eddie. Shan smiled mischievously as she explained the team thing, saying, "This lovely Valiant is my car and Eddie looks after it for me. That's how the team works."

Given that 'ex-taxi' is part of the car's provenance we might have expected to see a million-mile survivor on its third motor, saved from the crusher by the efforts of this pair of Mopar enthusiasts. The 'Mopar enthusiasts' bit is right at least, but not the rest. Shan explained how this VG avoided being driven into the ground like most taxis.