1965 Chrysler Valiant AP6 Wayfarer

The 1965 Chrysler Valiant AP6 Wayfarer was the first Valiant-based coupe utility, or "ute", built by Chrysler Australia. Even though it was based on the American Plymouth Valiant, the Wayfarer was a uniquely Australian vehicle. It shared very little bodywork with its U.S. counterpart, and there was no pickup version of the Plymouth Valiant in America.

The Wayfarer combined the cabin of a car with the rear tray of a utility vehicle, making it popular with Australian drivers who needed a practical vehicle for work but also wanted car-like comfort. It used a simple rear-wheel-drive layout and came with Chrysler’s well-known Slant-6 engine. Later models could also be ordered with a 273-cubic-inch V8 engine, which was rare for utes at the time.

The front of the Wayfarer looked similar to other AP6 models like the sedan and wagon, but the rear was redesigned to fit a cargo tray. Its styling was clean and simple, in line with the design trends of the 1960s.

This ute showed that Chrysler Australia could create vehicles suited to local needs. The AP6 Wayfarer started a line of Valiant-based utilities that would continue for years, and today it is considered a classic piece of Australian automotive history.