Super Rare, Unrestored 1972 Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 ‘Big Tank’ Is An Aussie Muscle Car Icon

The Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T E49 is one of the most iconic and rare muscle cars made in Australia, and there’s an unmodified example up for sale right now.

Built in a run of only 149 units at Chrysler’s Tonsley Park plant in South Australia, the Valiant Charger R/T featured a 4.3-liter straight-six engine with triple Weber carburetors that delivered 302 horsepower to the rear wheels via a BorgWarner four-speed manual transmission.

The performance was unprecedented for a six-cylinder, with Wheels Magazine proclaiming the Valiant Charger R/T E49 “the fastest accelerating Australian muscle car of all, capable of turning the standing quarter mile in 14.1 seconds and clocking 0-60 mph in just 6.1 seconds – no mean feat for a six.” Needless to say, the E49 achieved cult status among Aussie muscle car enthusiasts due to its performance and rarity.

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While it’s a rare occurrence to find a Charger R/T E49 for sale, it’s even more unusual to see an ad for an E49 with the A84 Track Pack option, which Chrysler Australia fitted to just 21 cars out of the 149 it made. This package included a massive 35-gallon (132.5-liter) fuel tank, 16:1 steering box, 14×7-inch alloys and heavy-duty discs and hubs. Known colloquially as the E49 Big Tank, this Charger is the holy grail among Chrysler aficionados and Aussie muscle car collectors.

The 1972 Valiant Charger R/T featured in these photos has the A84 Track Pack option, has never been restored and is believed to be one of only three Big Tank E49s still in original condition. Featuring the signature Hemi Orange paint with black decals, it runs on the original W35 alloy wheels. Moreover, it has had only three owners from new, with the current one being a serious Chrysler collector.

Naturally, the car’s totally original condition means it comes with all the patina that goes with a 48-year-old car, including some rust in the usual areas. The black interior is all original as well and in excellent condition. Open the trunk and you’re greeted by the huge fuel tank which, together with the spare wheel, takes up almost the entire the cargo space.

The car comes with a full verification report from Chrysler expert George Rallis, confirmation of matching VIN and engine numbers from Chrysler, and a Hemi/Weber Six Pack engine tuning manual. You can see the rare vehicle at Australian Muscle Car Sales’ showroom in Kingsgrove, Sydney; as for the asking price, that’ll be a quite steep AU$395,000 (US$285,000).