In the late 1960s, Plymouth decided they needed to add some spice to the styling of their somewhat stodgy Valiant so it would appeal to a younger audience. As a result, the Duster was born for 1970 and it looked a bit like a Ford Maverick with its fastback styling but using Valiant sheet metal. The idea worked well as the Duster would go on to spawn a Dodge derivative and sell more than 1.3 million units in seven years. Located in New London, Wisconsin, this non-running 1973 Duster with a 318 V-8 was donated to charity and is available here on eBay where the no reserve auction has reached $2,340.      

We don’t know the history of this 1973 Duster, which would have been one of about 265,000 built that year. The owner (or perhaps their family) donated it so that the proceeds of the auction would go to benefit a Wisconsin-based non-profit focused on helping at-risk youth. Occasionally you’ll see a vehicle on eBay that has am eBay Inspection report like this one. Unfortunately, it confirms most of what we can see. That it’s in non-running condition and has a fair amount of corrosion to be dealt with. The Duster has just shy of 72,000 miles on it and – while it could it have flipped over – more than likely it has been out of commission for an extended period of time.

The sheet metal on the car doesn’t look bad and most of the surface rust may be on chrome pieces. The paint is pretty faded, especially on the roof. However, the undercarriage is where most of the trouble lies, with rust holes in important things like the frame rails. Likely for this reason, the inspection report says the condition of the body is poor. So, this car has deteriorated from the inside out, rather than the typical other way around. Wisconsin and New York (the prior title state) both have harsh winters that can do that to a car.

Things get a little better, but not much once inside the car. The seat covers are largely okay, although they look like they could have been replacements. The rear seat has one split seam, which suggests that others are not far behind. The dash pad is cracked, the carpeting worn out and the door panels in need of being redone. Fortunately, there are kits out there for these items, thanks to the continuing popularity of the Duster 340.

A 318 V-8 sits under the hood and it looks as though the water pump has been replaced recently. But the inspection report says the car does not run and faults the fuel system in terms of old gas, zero coolant, a transmission that does not engage, brakes that are worn out, and shock absorbers that need a swap. There is also a list of non-working electrical and safety items checked on the report, which includes the tires. While they look to have decent tread, they’re probably past the usual seven years that are recommended for changes.

The successful bidder will end up with an uphill restoration project or perhaps an expensive donor car. There are nicer Dusters out there that would cost less to buy compared to an extensive rebirth. An average Duster will run about $10,000, according to Hagerty.