The iconic Dodge Charger, with its powerful V8 engine and muscular design, has long been a symbol of American automotive prowess.
However, the Charger name has taken on different meanings across the globe. In 1970s Australia, Chrysler introduced a two-door coupe called the Valiant Charger, built on the same platform as the Plymouth Duster and Dodge Demon.
This model also found its way to South Africa, but with a crucial difference: it was equipped with slant-six engines instead of V8s.
South African auto enthusiasts, craving more power, began to envision a V8-powered version of their Charger.
Keith Anderson, owner of the Anderson Brooker Motor Enterprise Chrysler dealership, took the initiative to bring this dream to life.
He modified a first-generation VH Valiant Charger by replacing its original 225ci engine with a formidable 383ci V8, mated to a TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission.
Anderson’s creation was intended to serve as a prototype, potentially convincing Chrysler to produce V8 Valiants in South Africa, even in limited numbers.
To showcase the car’s capabilities and generate interest, he allowed the local automotive magazine Technicar to test and review the modified Charger.