Clean and tidy survivors from the first half of the 1970s are really starting to come into their own in the classics market. Baby-boomers, in particular, are beginning to see these cars as a relatively affordable way to recapture their lost, or possibly misspent, youth. That is one of the factors that has seen cars like this 1974 Plymouth Duster begin to grow in both popularity and value in the past few years. I have to say thank you to Barn Finder Pat L for referring a Duster to us that appears to be in better than average condition. Located in El Paso, Texas, you can find the Plymouth listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set an asking price of $17,500 for this great vehicle.
The Rallye Red Duster certainly stands out. The paint is in great condition, while the same would appear to be true of the vinyl top. The owner states that a lot of time and effort has gone into detailing the vehicle so that it presents at its best. This process has included attacking virtually every painted surface, including the engine bay and door jambs, with rubbing compound and polish. The result of this effort is paint that really shines. When the paint has a shine like this, it makes it very easy to spot flaws or dings, but here the news is pretty good. The panels look straight and true, with no signs of any appreciable dings or ripples. The owner provides a number of photos of the Duster’s underside, and it is as clean and solid as you are ever likely to find. There is also a photo of the inside of the trunk, and the trunk pan looks to be solid and rust-free. The original Rally wheels have been refurbished, and the finishing touch for these was the fitment of new trim rings. The trim and chrome present well, and there are no signs of any problems with the glass.
If the Duster’s exterior looked good, then the interior would probably rate as even better. There is a radio/cassette player fitted to the dash, but otherwise, it is essentially unmodified. Having said that, the Plymouth has recently been treated to new covers on the seats and a new dash pad, and this helps to really make the interior shine. The rest of the trim looks like it is in good condition, and the only thing that I can be critical of is the fit of the rubber mat on the front floor. This detracts from the overall appearance of the interior and is something that I would be inclined to address in some way.
The Duster might not have a V8 under the hood, but the reality is that there really isn’t a lot wrong with the mighty 225ci slant-six engine. This one is backed by a 3-speed manual transmission, and in a car that weighs a mere 3,047lbs, the performance could be considered to be quite acceptable. The Duster is said to be in great mechanical health, and the Holley carburetor has just received a rebuild. Add in fresh oil, new filters, new plugs, and new tires, and this classic is ready to see some serious long-distance cruising.
For someone who is searching for a clean and practical classic from the 1970s, this ’74 Duster is a vehicle that would seem to be well worth a look. It appears to be a rust-free survivor that is ready to be driven and enjoyed immediately. I will admit that the asking price is right at the very top end of what you would expect to pay for a Duster equipped with a slant-six, so it would take a personal inspection to confirm whether the condition justifies the asking price. Still, a personal inspection isn’t going to cost potential buyers anything but their time, and you never know, that time might be an investment that is well worthwhile.
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