Our photoshoot of Roy Alati’s awesome S-Series Valiant from the Jan-Feb ’97 issue of Street Machine is a particularly memorable one. With its pastel paint scheme, silver bumpers and Dragway billet rollers, the car is oh-so-representative of its time, as are Roy’s fashion choices – you’ve gotta love the plaid happy pants paired with socks and sandals!

First published in the May 2024 issue of Street Machine

Paul Whillock is one of many SM readers the Valiant made a lasting impression on, and he’s now come to own the very car that he lusted over as a youngster. Despite already owning a few early Vals, Paul jumped at the chance to add PRO62S to his fleet when it popped up for sale a few years ago. We spotted the distinctive car at the Dubbo Motorfest last year, and caught up with Paul for a chat and a closer look at this memorable Mopar.

How’d you find the S-Series, Paul?

I spotted it on eBay for sale in 2014. The car had changed hands a few times, and when I came across it, Mick – the guy who originally helped Roy build it back in the 90s – was moving it on. I’ve always had a soft spot for S-Series Valiants; I have another one in the build that I started quite a while ago.

I’ve built a few other cars, including another S-Series and a short-wheelbase FJ LandCruiser; I just bought a VL with my son, too. I knew how special this one was and had to have it. I wanted it so much that I rang Mick and asked him how much he wanted for it, and bought it sight-unseen!

“It had no engine, and the rear wheels were sitting on the back seat. It had sat out in the weather, which was pretty hard on the interior”

How old were you when we featured it back in ’97?

Only 23. I was just out of doing a builder’s apprenticeship and was working in a tyre shop here in Dubbo.

What kind of shape was it in?

Quite rough, actually; it was pretty much just a roller. It had no engine, and the rear wheels were sitting on the back seat. It had sat out in the weather for a bit, which was pretty hard on the interior. The flat floors were all buckled up and had gone to shit.

It was all pulled up and just piled into the car. It had been chopped up to take a V8, plus someone had started to do some chassis work along the line. The gauges were all out of it and the dash had been chopped up a fair bit – it looked like they were fitting extra gauges.

“I rang Mick and asked him how much he wanted for it, and bought it sight-unseen!”

No more stonking slant-six?

Long gone! I bought an AP5 for its 318 and gearbox. Unfortunately, it was a bit fumey, so I bought another 318, which I rebuilt before throwing it in. It’s pretty stock but doesn’t go too bad. I also bought a brand-new Hughes TorqueFlite from Rocket Industries.

My original plan was to drop in a tough 408ci stroker that I’d previously built. However, I’ve decided to keep this one a family cruiser, with the hot 408 now earmarked for the other Val I’m building.

What did you do about the floors?

I just put normal carpet back into it. I also adapted a Wilwood brake master and small booster, as the original VH44 stuff was gone. Fortunately, the wheels and the original narrowed BorgWarner diff were still with the car, and still in good nick.

What was the timeframe in getting it back on the road?

I spent 12 months fixing it all up, which included tidying up the chassis and dash. I converted the rear to a four-link with airbags and added power steering to make it nicer to drive. I had to get it done for a mate’s wedding. We had three S-Series Valiants there – all local cars including my brother’s silver one that he’s had for decades. I’ve done a few weddings since then.

Not your typical wedding car!

No, but there’s actually a few [S-Series] up here in the Dubbo area.

Any future plans for it?

I don’t want to change it too much, but it needs a rebuild. It’s still the original paint, which is just about buggered, and there’s a bit of rust starting to come through, but I don’t have $30k to throw at it at right now. Besides, I can still drive it the way it is, and still really enjoy the car.

I know I’ll have to eventually pull it off the road, and when I do, I’d like to add Vintage Air a/c. Regardless, the colour, painted trim and the wheels are all staying – they make the car. And once it’s all finished, I’ll definitely be taking back down to Summernats.

Just enjoying it as-is?

Yes! We don’t get it out as much as we should. [My wife] Eva has enjoyed driving it a few times, plus the kids, Charlie and Jessica love it whenever we get it out. They’re both always asking when they can drive it!

I guess it will be part of the Whillock family into the next generation, which I’m pretty happy about.

PAUL WHILLOCK
1962 VALIANT S-SERIES