[Robert Coats]

In 1969, my dad decided our family needed a second car; as an engineer, he 'slide ruled' all the numbers and narrowed it down to a brand-new Valiant or Falcon. He went with the Plymouth, even though my mom hated to Coppertone bronze paint and its lack of power steering and A/C.

Seven years later, I got the keys and found out why you avoid any sizable puddle fording, as the lousy drum brakes hated water more that the Wicked Witch of The East. So I'd strongly think about retrofitting at least the fronts to disc brakes...

But that slant six, 200 or so cu. in. of cast iron reliability. After 20+ years of service, the engine ticked a bit, and would only get the car up to what felt like a governed 65 mph.