History of this
Unique Charger R/T

Timeline

Prior to Sep 1971: Chrysler accepts a “special order” (#301) for a Valiant VH Charger R/T model with an automatic transmission and power steering for a UK customer or (possibly) UK Chrysler employee

Chrysler takes a semi-complete 1971 VH 770 Charger on the production line and modifies it to be an R/T

Sep 1971: The car’s production is completed at Tonsley Park, Adelaide SA, and ready for export to UK

Mid 1972: Car arrives at South London UK Rootes/ Chrysler dealership and is registered for first time as a 1972 model

1972 – c. 1988: The car passes through 10 different owners and ends up in a scrap yard in Wales, UK. Some owners’ names and prior addresses have been identified

1989: The car is spotted in the scrap yard in Wales, UK and purchased by Tony John, a Welsh car enthusiast, with the intention of restoring it

1990 – 2001: Tony keeps the car stored in a garage in Wales, but is unable to complete the restoration

Dec 2001: Stephen Harrison tracks down the owner of the R/T and purchases the car with a view to making it drivable

2002: Stephen Harrison researches the VIN numbers of the car and discovers the rarity and uniqueness of this Australian classic

2003: Stephen Harrison notifies Gary Bridger, notable NZ motoring journalist & Charger R/T enthusiast, and shares photos of the car for inclusion in the book “Hey Charger”, published in 2003

2004 – 2008: Stephen Harrison has mechanical and panel repairs done to the car during his ownership, but the eventual body and paintwork “done by a friend” prove to be substandard, disappointing and heartbreaking

Mar 2009: Stephen Harrison lists the car for sale on eBay UK, and it is inspected and purchased by the current owner, Stephen Gay, who then ships it from the UK back to Australia

Jun 2009: Car arrives in Port Melbourne, Victoria and is held up by customs due to condition and inability to inspect trunk and contents. Car is cleared in six weeks after specialist cleaning/fumigating and fines paid

Dec 2009: Car delivered to Valiant Spares and Repairs (Croydon Victoria) and is stripped down to the bare body shell & sub frame for assessment. The official restoration begins.

May 2010: The sub frame / body shell is transported to Black Edge Autobody (Bayswater Victoria) and the rust repairs and panel replacements begin

2011 – 2015: Rebuilding of the body continues

Apr 2015: The body and frame works are complete, and the car body is painted factory-correct Hemi Orange

Jul 2015: The R/T stripes are measured and masked-up by R/T expert Paul Norris using a survivor E38 Charger R/T as the guide. The stripes are painted in factory-correct satin black

Aug 2015 – Feb 2016: The car returns to Valiant Spares and Repairs, where it is reunited with its rebuilt factory drivetrain, a new interior and all other refurbished or new parts needed for reassembly and factory-correct fittings and markings

Mar 2016: The car’s complete concours restoration is officially complete and the car passes a VIC Roads roadworthy inspection

Mar 17, 2016: The car is inspected by VIC Roads and fully registered with the license plate “RT AUTO”

Mar 19/20, 2016: The car is driven to Albury NSW for its inaugural unveiling at the annual “Chryslers on the Murray” car show, where it wins two trophies, including a coveted “Top Five Australian” award

Mid to late 2016: Gary Bridger, NZ motoring Journalist and author, researches the car and interviews its previous owners to write an in-depth story for Australian Muscle Car Magazine

Jun 2016: The car is photographed in an old warehouse in greater Melbourne for Australian Muscle Car Magazine

Sep 2016: The car is photographed & videoed in Oakleigh VIC by Street Machine Magazine

Australian Muscle Car Magazine publishes the photos and Gary Bridger’s story of the car and owner

19 Apr 2017: Street Machine release the magazine article and online interview about the car and the current owner

2018 – 2024: The car sits in storage in Melbourne VIC while the owner is living abroad, and is only taken to occasional cruise nights and car shows around Victoria, winning various awards/ trophies

The car has only travelled c. 7,000 miles since completion of the restoration back in 2016 (some 8.5 years)

March 2025: Car wins 1st place for “Best Charger R/T” at Chryslers on the Murray car show.

Car is officially listed for sale by Stephen Gay, in the hope that a new Australian-based car collector/owner will continue to share and showcase this incredibly rare and interesting Valiant Charger R/T Automatic