Chrysler brought out the sporty Pacer in 1969. Powered
by a high-performance slant six, it featured a beefed
up suspension, floor-mounted four-speed, snarly exhaust,
and built-in tachometer.
The slant six put out about 170-180 hp, and the quarter
mile was about 17.8 seconds. The VF model Pacer was only
available as a 4 door sedan coupled to a 3 speed manual
floor shift.
The VG Pacer (1970) was the first model to offer a Pacer
2 door coupe (as pictured). The VG Pacer sedans were available
as the standard Pacer (245 Hemi, 185 hp with 2 bbl), E31
Pacer (High Performance 250 version of the 245, with a
2 bbl carb, about 195 hp)and the E34 Pacer (Even higher
ouput version of the 250 E31 engine with a 4 bbl carb,
wilder camshaft, etc, around 235 hp).
Due to Chrysler Australia's policy of using only locally
produced components, and the fact that no local manufacturer
was producing a 4 speed gearbox, the Pacer was limited
to a 3 speed floor shift manual gearbox.
The Pacer got new power in 1970. Its new, Australian engine used
hemispherical ("hemi") heads in a 245 cubic inch in-line
six, a two-barrel carburetor, and a higher lift cam.
The Pacer, with a four-barrel carb, could do the quarter
mile in under 16 seconds. A 1972 VH Pacer Sedan, with
a manual 265 two barrel, originally sold for $3235.
The engine ran 218 hp (163 kW) @ 4800 rpm, 273 lb-ft
(370 Nm) @ 3000 rpm. Top speed 112mph (179km/h), 0-60
mph 7.6 sec, standing quarter 15.9 sec, weighing in
at 3120 lb (1415 kg). The next year, the VH models
came out.
The VH Pacer had a higher performance 265, and it set
a record for being the fastest mass-produced four-door
sedan with a six cylinder engine produced in Australia
(the record was undisputed until 1988).
The relatively inexpensive Pacer's 265 had 218 hp and 273 lb-ft, leading
to a 15.9 second quarter mile, 8 second 0-100 km/h, and
top speed of 185 km/h (with a three-speed).
