1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 Plymouth Valiant Signet

Plymouth would likely benefit from a vehicle like the 1963-1966 Plymouth Valiant Signet in today's market. Launched as part of the Big Three's compact lineup in 1960, the Valiant enjoyed consistent success until its discontinuation in 1976. Without it, Plymouth's performance in certain years, especially 1962, would have been significantly weaker.

1962 marked a challenging year for Plymouth, with a sharp decline in sales due to standard models resembling Valiants but lacking size. However, it was also the year Plymouth introduced the Signet, a Valiant hardtop coupe equipped with bucket seats.

Chevy's Corvair Monza, which pioneered the sporty-compact segment, and Ford's Falcon lacked a comparable offering, yet annual sales remained modest at around 25,600 units.

Sporty compacts were rapidly gaining popularity, and the 1963 Plymouth Valiant Signet stayed competitive. In some aspects, it even led the way. While the Corvair and Falcon received minor updates, the Valiant debuted a completely fresh design — sleeker, though slightly less unique than its predecessor.

Due to the lengthy lead times of that era, the 1963 Valiant's design was credited to Virgil Exner, not his successor, Elwood Engel, who didn't significantly impact Chrysler's styling until 1965. Exner may have been influenced by critiques or sluggish sales of his recent projects, as the 1963 Valiant adopted a surprisingly traditional approach in both form and detailing.

Despite a two-inch increase in overall length while retaining the same wheelbase, the 1963 Plymouth Valiant appeared more compact than earlier models. This was achieved through balanced hood and deck proportions and softer, rounded contours. The design emphasized simplicity, featuring a new dual-headlamp front and a clean rear with subtle fin accents.

The Signet added a "200" suffix, and the classic hardtop coupe was complemented by a stylish new convertible, mirroring a 1962 Corvair option. The convertible also included a bench seat in the mid-range V200 series, which, along with the base V100 line, offered two- and four-door sedans and a four-door wagon. This lineup remained consistent for the Valiant through 1966.

The successful Valiant chassis required no alterations, so the 1963 models kept Chrysler's renowned torsion-bar front suspension, the standard 101-horsepower 170-cid Slant Six engine, the optional 145-horsepower "Super 225" six, and the choice between a three-speed manual transmission or the pushbutton TorqueFlite automatic.

Signets continued to stand out as the most vibrant and sporty Valiants, featuring extra chrome details both inside and out, along with distinctive wheel covers and all-vinyl bucket-seat interiors. The convertible offered an optional power top instead of the standard manual version.

While perhaps not thrilling, the Valiant's primary goal was to provide dependable and economical transportation, which it achieved. The 1963 models were priced slightly lower than their 1962 counterparts and benefited from Chrysler's new 5-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty, an industry-first initiative aimed at regaining customers dissatisfied with the mediocre craftsmanship of recent Highland Park vehicles.

This, combined with the fresh design, helped increase Valiant sales by over two-thirds, surpassing 225,000 units. Signets made up roughly 18 percent of sales — a respectable figure, though not outstanding, especially with new competitors like Dodge's stylish Dart GT entering the market in 1963.

Discover how the Plymouth Valiant story unfolds with the 1964 model year and beyond in the next section.

Explore additional details about automobiles by visiting:

Continued

The 1964 Plymouth Valiant Signet introduced two major highlights. One was the debut of Valiant's first V-8 engine, a robust 180-horsepower 273 derived from Chrysler's next-generation 318, also available in the Dart.

Midway through the year, the 273 engine became an option for the fastback Valiant variant, the Barracuda. While Signet hardtop sales remained steady initially, the Barracuda achieved about two-thirds of its sales despite a shorter selling period, hinting at future trends.

For 1965, the Valiant received a subtle redesign, replacing the previous year's full-width horizontal grille with a more intricate three-section design. The V-8 was upgraded to 235 horsepower as a new option, but Valiant lacked a performance package like the Formula S offered for the Barracuda, which had by then diverged from the Valiant line and outsold the Signet hardtop by more than five to one.

Signets accounted for only eight percent of Valiant's reduced annual production of 167,000 units in 1965.

In 1966, the Valiant featured a boxier front end with a split grille, marking the final year of the original 1963 design. A more formal hardtop roofline was introduced, optionally topped with a vinyl cover. While Signet sales saw a slight increase, overall Valiant production dropped to 138,000 units, the lowest since 1961 and a significant decline from the over 250,000 units produced just two years earlier.

The 1967 models introduced a more conservative, all-new design, shifting the Valiant back to its original role as an economy compact. Wagons were discontinued, hardtops and convertibles transitioned to the Barracuda line, and the Signet became a higher-trim version of the sedan, positioned above the V100 series. The Signet name was retired after 1969, marking the end of Valiant's brief venture into sportier offerings.

Discover detailed specifications for the 1963-1966 Plymouth Valiant Signet in our concluding section.

For additional insights into automobiles, explore:

1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 Plymouth Valiant Signet Specifications

The 1963-1966 Plymouth Valiant Signet emerged as one of the Big Three's innovative compact models, playing a crucial role in sustaining the automaker's sales during potentially challenging years. Below, you'll find detailed specifications for the 1963-1966 Plymouth Valiant Signet.

Specifications

Engines: ohv I-6, 170 cid (3.40 x 3.13), 101 horsepower; 225 cid (3.40 x 4.13), 145 horsepower; ohv V-8, 273 cid (3.63 x 3.31), 180/235 horsepower (1964-1966)

Transmissions: 3-speed manual, 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic

Suspension front: upper and lower A-arms, longitudinal torsion bars, anti-roll bar

Suspension rear: live axle supported by semi-elliptic leaf springs

Brakes: drum brakes on both front and rear

Wheelbase (in.): 106.0

Weight (lbs.): 2,570-2,830

Top speed (mph): 90-105

0-60 mph (sec): 10.0-20.0

Explore additional details about automobiles by visiting: