The original Dodge Demon was a fastback compact sold in 1971 and 1972. It was a derivation of the highly popular Plymouth Duster and was rebranded as the Dart Sport in 1973. The Demon 340 was the performance model with a 275 hp V8. This seller has a 1972 Demon 340, but it’s 90% disassembled and only 80% complete, per the seller. Located in a storage unit in Crystal Lake, Illinois, this Mopar DIY is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $8,500.
Dodge lobbied for and got their version of the Duster in 1971. As the story goes, for the next two years, they caught flak from the clergy about the name and the evils it implied, so the car was reborn under a new and less controversial name in 1973. Demon sales played second fiddle to the Duster in most instances, and 8,800 Demon 340s were produced in 1972 compared to 15,700 Duster 340s. The engine was retired after 1973, so the car became the Demon 360 going forward.
We assume this ’72 Dodge was once a real Demon 340. Perhaps the seller took it apart for a restoration and never got around to starting to put the pieces back together. Rust seems to be limited to the rear quarter panels and trunk extensions. According to our count, the sale comes with three engines and two transmissions. That stock includes a 340 T/A small block from 1970, a regular 340 from 1968, and a 360 from 1980. Add to that one A99 automatic transmission and an A833 4-speed manual. So, you should have plenty of firepower to choose from.
The problem with buying a car like this is figuring out what’s missing. The seller estimates 1/5 is no longer there, so what does that include besides glass and probably interior components? You’re behind the 8-ball from the get-go as opposed to if you had taken the car apart yourself and inventoried everything for the future. Is this an $8,500 project? And thanks for the tip, Hans H.
Deconstructed Demon 😈
Even comes with the kitchen sink!
Yet another dreamer….
The thing most sellers take a while to understand about project cars, especially one that’s disassembled, is that most potential buyers aren’t interested in taking on the downside risks associated with missing parts, hidden damage or sub assemblies not being functional. That’s something the buyer needs to shoulder. Often times sellers look at the money they spent and think they should be able to recoupe that expenditure, but the real world rarely works that way. The seller for whatever reason gave up, the financial loss should fall on them, not the person taking on the unfinished project. Potential buyers also need a realistic perspective, they shouldn’t expect to get something for 5 or 10 cents on the dollar.
Steve R
This Demon has been exorcized.
This is a Demon? Who could tell?