Chrysler to build 50 300 SRT Pacers
THE Pacer nameplate has returned to the Chrysler stable in Australia, marking the 50th anniversary of the Chrysler Valiant Pacer in 1969.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Australia will serve up a limited run of 50 Pacer-flavoured Chrysler 300 SRTs in a largely cosmetic exercise to stir some sales for one of the few big rear-wheel-drive V8 sedans left on the market.
Priced at $69,950 plus on-road costs, the Chrysler 300 SRT Pacer slots into the 300 range between the $65,950 SRT Core and $74,950 SRT.
The Pacer is powered by the same 6.4-litre Hemi V8 as the other SRTs, with the same 350kW of power – 220kW more than the original 130kW six-cylinder Valiant Pacer – and 637Nm of torque.
The most obvious addition to the new variant are the red and black stripes down the shoulders of the vehicle, mimicking the stripes on the original VF Valiant Pacer that was Chrysler Australia’s answer to the Holden Monaro and Ford Falcon GT.
The side stripes finish with the Hemi logo.
The stripes are repeated across the boot, which is also emblazoned with a Pacer 392 badge – a nod to the 392-cubic inch engine (the original Pacer was 225 cubic inches).
That badge is repeated on both sides, just behind the front wheels, and again on the door sill trims.
A red stripe incorporating the Pacer logo across the lower grille apparently pays homage to the original Pacer’s black and red horizontal grille.
Like the original Pacer, the new version comes in three colour choices, this time white, black and grey.
Each comes with a numbered build plate on the centre console.
This build number is also repeated on a framed tribute print featuring photographs of the Valiant Pacer and the Chrysler 300 SRT Pacer tribute concept in front of the defunct Chrysler factory in Adelaide.
The Chrysler 300 – the sole Chrysler model on the Australian market now – has a small but steady sales flow.
To the end of October, 258 Chrysler 300s have been sold, up 13.7 per cent on the same time last year.
Chrysler 300 pricing*
| 300C Luxury (a) | $59,950 |
| SRT Core (a) | $65,950 |
| SRT Pacer (a) | $69,950 |
| SRT (a) | $74,950 |
*Excludes on-road costs
