Story
1972 Chrysler Valiant Charger
The Australian-built VH Valiant Charger combined a short 105-inch wheelbase with a five-seat fastback body. In 1972 it was not one fixed specification. Base, XL, 770, R/T, and 770 SE trim levels shared the body while engine, transmission, axle, brake, suspension, paint, stripe, wheel, and cabin choices created materially different configurations. They belong together on this family page because those choices do not create separate bodies or unrelated models.
From 215 Hemi Six to 340 V8
The regular range began with the 215-cubic-inch Hemi Six and extended through 245 and 265 versions. The 318-cubic-inch V8 was available in selected 770 configurations. Late in the VH run, E55 paired a 340-cubic-inch four-barrel V8 with an A727 TorqueFlite and a 2.92 four-pinion rear axle in the Charger 770 SE. Engine size alone does not establish trim or package identity; the plate, engine number, transmission, axle, dates, equipment, and records must agree.
Four Six Pack paths
Chrysler's Six Pack name referred to three Weber 45 DCOE dual-throat carburetors on the 265 Hemi Six. E37 was the 248-hp street-oriented three-speed configuration, while E38 used the more aggressive 280-hp competition tune. The arrival of the four-speed created the late-VH E48 street path and E49 competition path. E49 was rated at 302 gross horsepower and used a D364 engine prefix, special camshaft and engine preparation, twin-plate clutch, tuned exhaust, and package-specific springs, shocks, axle, steering, brakes, wheels, and fuel capacity.
Manual, automatic, or four-speed
Regular Chargers used three-speed manual or TorqueFlite automatic transmissions according to engine and trim. D20 identified the four-speed floor-shift path used by E48 and E49. Rear-axle choices included open and Sure-Grip configurations with ratios such as 2.92, 3.23, and 3.50. A current four-speed, differential tag, or limited-slip carrier can be added later, so the gearbox, controls, clutch, driveshaft, axle, ratios, dates, plate, and paperwork should be checked as one system.
Torsion bars, leaf springs, and brakes
Independent front suspension used longitudinal torsion bars, control arms, and telescopic shocks, while the live rear axle rode on semi-elliptic leaf springs. The low-line base car used four-wheel drums in the reviewed literature; XL, 770, and R/T descriptions specify front discs with rear drums. A84 and A87 Track Packs brought quick steering, alloy wheels, and heavy-duty brake and chassis content, with A84 adding the 35-gallon tank. E49 also used special rear springs and shocks. Current hardware must be separated from delivered equipment.
Five-seat cabin and visible configurations
Every VH Charger body provided rear seating rather than becoming a two-seat sports car. High-backed front buckets were common, but upholstery, carpet, dash, instruments, console, controls, steering wheel, and convenience equipment varied. The R/T added performance instruments and graphic treatment, while the 770 emphasized luxury and the 770 SE identified the E55 path. Outside, R/T stripes, black grille treatment, driving lamps, hood blackout, 4 or 6 Pack graphics, and alloy wheels all require configuration-specific evidence.
Paint and production
The reviewed 1972 color table contains 22 rows, including Alpine White, Hemi Orange, Mercury Silver, Vitamin C, Bahama Yellow, Regency Blue, Magenta, several greens and blues, and metallic finishes. Swatches on this page are approximate identification aids; the compliance plate and protected paint control an individual car. Public references report 17,918 VH Chargers across July 1971 through March 1973, 149 E49s, and 125 E55s. One reusable E55 photo description reports 124, and no audited 1972-only split was found, so those scope limits remain visible.
Identifying one car
Start with a VH Charger body and 29 body code, then reconcile the compliance plate, chassis, title, build and ownership records. Match the claimed model and options to the engine prefix and assembly, induction, exhaust, transmission, axle, brakes, steering, suspension, wheels, tank, paint, stripe, trim, cabin, dates, and protected original evidence. Badges, a black bonnet, triple Webers, alloy wheels, or a transplanted 340 can make a convincing replica without establishing factory identity.
Native Australian pricing
Reviewed new prices, a documented-car asking record, and current guide ranges are denominated in Australian dollars. The current structured price and valuation contract supports USD and CAD but not AUD. Those records remain cited typed gaps rather than being mislabeled as US dollars, converted without a dated exchange-rate contract, or presented as directly comparable transactions.