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| CL Drifter... | |
| The CL series introduced the first Valiant
"Panel Van" model, which it was claimed was the result of
intense market research by Chrysler Australia (GM Holden and Ford had been offering panel van derivatives since the 1960s). No-one was surprised when this panel van turned out looking like a Utility with a roof. In the CL series sports versions of the Panel Van and Utility were offered during the panel van craze of the late 1970s (to compete with Holden's "Sandman" and Ford's "Sundowner") and these were known as the "Drifter" (a critic apparently claimed the name described the torsion bar/leaf spring handling). |
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Drifters were fitted with a Charger honeycomb grille, wide side stripes, blackout treatment around the side windows, and styled steel wheels, the panel vans have a huge black triangular plastic fitting behind the front door window that resembles an air vent but does not have any function. Drifters also were probably fitted with upgraded suspension, and any number of other options. Drifter Panel Vans are fairly common, but apparently less than ten Drifter Utilities were actually produced, and are now quite rare. |
| The Drifter came out standard with a 318ci V8, and 4 speed box. Apparently only 1959 CL Panelvans were ever made and only a limited number were released as Drifters. |
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