The Valiant was a steady performer for Plymouth, but exciting was not a word used to describe it. That changed in 1970 when the Duster was born, a fastback version that allowed it to go head-to-head with the Ford Maverick and Chevy Nova. It was successful, and the Duster would stick with the line-up through the retirement of the Valiant line in 1976. Here on eBay and currently at $1,250 is this 1973 edition which has the “Gold Duster” package, one of many creative ways that Plymouth would look for to attract buyers. However, this Duster has been sitting out in a field for who knows how long and has parted company with its engine and transmission. So, if you’ve got a 340 V-8 and a TorqueFlite looking for a new home, could this be it?

From the cowl forward, the Duster was all-Valiant. But from there back, it was a new car, with fastback styling to attract youthful buyers instead of senior citizens and stay-at-home moms. Because it was targeted at a younger audience, you could go from mild to semi-wild in terms of drivetrain choices. But the car didn’t have to have a big engine to be considered hip, as Plymouth was always coming up with “Special Editions” to bolster sales. In the case of the Duster, these trim and option packages came in the form of the Feather Duster, Silver Duster, Space Duster, Duster Twister and Gold Duster, like the seller’s car.

The Gold Duster came with special badging, gold stripes on the sides and rear (long gone on the seller’s car), carpeting, pleated or vinyl seats, additional insulation for sound deadening and a canopy vinyl roof (but apparently not on this car). There aren’t any records as to how many Gold Dusters Plymouth were made for 1973, but they sold 243,000 Dusters in total, with 46,000 having the 318 V-8. Production data provided by For Mopar Bodies Only.

The seller’s Gold Duster appears to have been working on a sunburn for quite some time out in New Mexico. The body in generally straight and rust does not appear to be a problem, although we have no idea what the car looks like underneath. Inside the trunk you’ll find a radiator, the front grille and some odds and ends that we assume go with the car. The back glass is missing, so add one of those to the shopping list. The interior is well baked, and the dash pad is as warped as I’ve ever seen. So, the buyer better plan on tearing it all out and start over.

We’re told this car had the common 318 V-8 and automatic transmission pairing before they parted ways. Which means you can do almost anything you want with it mechanically. A 340 would be a great addition and you could probably go bigger if the suspension would carry the load. But that shouldn’t be a concern as you’ll probably need to replace all that anyway. But if you’re looking for a maximum return on your investment, a stock 318 won’t help you much. A Duster 340 clone is your best bet.