AP5

The AP5 was the first fully Australian-manufactured Valiant, with the "AP" Standing for 'Australian Production'. Models built after 31 March 1964 were produced at the new Tonsley Park plant that would become synonymous with Valiant manufacture. Although some were disappointed that the AP5 did not share any design cues with the old S Series model, it was an attractive design in it's own right, and only the doors, windscreen and front guards shared with the US equivalent. The AP5 was notable for introducing the first Valiant Station Wagon; the Safari, and the first upmarket variant; the Regal. The AP5 was the last Valiant to feature a pushbutton automatic transmission; rumour has it the buttons were dropped as women found them hard to operate with long fingernails. When production ended, 49400 AP5s had been produced.