Many people view the grille and headlamps as the “face” of any vehicle. That means the lack of those items on this 1971 Plymouth Duster leaves it looking like a faceless classic. Don’t be fooled because this is a rock-solid vehicle that needs little to return to active service. It would suit an enthusiast seeking a first or hands-on project that can be undertaken in a home workshop with basic tools. The Duster is listed here on Craigslist in Chino, California. It could be yours for $7,200, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Tony P for spotting this beauty.
So, let’s tackle the blindingly obvious first. This Duster is missing its grille and headlamps, and this fact fails to rate a mention in the seller’s listing. New headlamps wouldn’t represent a significant outlay, but the grille is another matter. Unless the new owner strikes gold on one of the online auction sites, a complete assembly will lighten their wallet by a cool $800. However, that is one of the few expenses they will incur returning this Plymouth to a highly presentable state. Its Amber Sherwood Metallic paint looks impressive, but there is no word on whether the car has undergone a cosmetic refresh. It is consistent across the entire vehicle, with no signs of patchiness or significant defects. It is a similar story with the panels, and the underside shots confirm this classic is rock-solid. That doesn’t mean it is entirely rust-free because one of the close-up shots reveals a small but patchable area of rust on top of the passenger side quarter panel bordering the edge of the trunk opening. If that proves the extent of the dreaded tin worm, this Duster could be a winner. The glass is in good order for a survivor, as is most of the existing trim. This gem rolls on Rally wheels, although they are missing their center caps. With the missing trim and caps replaced, this Duster could turn heads on the street or at a Cars & Coffee.
The Duster’s interior reveals its working-class roots, with the floors wearing vinyl mats rather than carpet. They are in good condition, and I wouldn’t see the point of spending money on a carpet set. The green upholstered surfaces are excellent, with the front and back seats free from significant wear or physical damage. The dash and pad continue the positive trend, with only the faux timber on the gauge fascia spoiling the party. However, this isn’t the end of the world because a brief online search uncovered replacement timber kits for under $90. With that installed, the inside of this classic would look like a million dollars. An aftermarket radio/cassette player appears to be the only modification, but buyers in warm climates can rejoice that the original owner ordered this Plymouth with air conditioning.
Plymouth built some potent versions of the Duster. It’s just that this car isn’t one of them. The engine bay houses the legendary 225ci slant-six that sends 145hp and 215 ft/lbs of torque to the road via a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission. The new owner misses out on power brakes, but the inclusion of power steering should make life in tight spaces effortless. This Duster is close to being a turnkey proposition because it runs and drives well. Stopping is another matter, with the brakes requiring attention before the car could be genuinely considered roadworthy. It is unclear what tasks await the new owner, but the ready availability and affordability of parts mean it shouldn’t cost a fortune to return this classic to active service. That brings us to a point to ponder. Plymouth offered Duster buyers a range of motors to power their new purchase in 1971, including the 340ci V8 that produced 275hp off the showroom floor. Performing a transplant on this car would be straightforward, and we will have readers who will provide sound reasons why the buyer should pursue that path. However, this car would have enough get-up-and-go to cope with almost anything thrown at it under normal circumstances. It could cruise comfortably at freeway speeds, and its fuel consumption would help justify its role as a daily driver. I would probably leave it largely untouched…at least in the short term.
You have probably deduced that I quite like this 1971 Plymouth Duster, and I can see the potential locked away in this classic. Any car of this vintage that is as solid as this classic and presents so well but has a four-figure asking price must rate serious consideration. Addressing the brake issues and the lack of a grille and headlamps could see it return to our roads quickly, and that is where it belongs. If you have been searching for an affordable project, this Plymouth is worth more than a passing glance.
This could be a nice entry point for someone venturing into old car ownership. Personally, I’d install carpet to remove some of the basic taxicab vibe, and source a new instrument cluster, as the gauge faces look cloudy, (along w/ the aforementioned shabby fake wood). I find it cool that they’ve installed a dual exhaust w/ what appear to be OEM tips! If this /6 was backed by a factory 4 speed, it would be more interesting! GLWTS!! :-)
Entry point? Too expensive. We all know how this will go. Someone wants to put a powerful small block in it. That gets the bidding going crazy. A 1960 four door ramble is what you say. These are no longer give away cars, even with a reliable little slanty in them. Too bad, I miss the days when what you said was correct. Great car otherwise, love the color. I would replace the wheels with Magnums, though, or even some steel wheels with nice full covers with some spinners, though they may be harder to find these days. I remember going to wrecking yards and there would be a whole shed of wheel covers for the taking a a buck a pop.
Hod rodders will want to get a K-frame along with that V-8. They are not a drop-in car.
Man, this car has SO much potential!
Of course it’s green inside & out, but nice shades of green.
I would like to see how those exh pipes are hooked up to the motor(or is 1 side phony waiting for a v8?). A single turbo muffler & taller air filter would probably have been just as good & quieter – with the 6.
I would pull out the heavy rubber floormat(surprised it isn’t green too) just to make sure there isn’t moisture trapped underneath. A new dark green carpet would help the interior immeasurably & could easily be cked periodically, reaching underneath, for moisture, not having to be removed.
I didn’t know you could get those stripes/decals on the side & back with the 6 cyl – i thought they were only on 340 v8 cars.
The wear on the dash woodgrain tells me this car was used(mostly?) at night – good for the paint & other materials inside.
Must have been lot of damage to the grill, but why remove & not replace <$10 headlights?
Did some early '71's get leftover '70 instrument panels with the circular gauges? I'm guessing tho, with the 6 cyls, a tach was not available even in '70.
Do the 6 cyls get the same trans & differential as the 318's, or are they less durable?
Knowing the mileage on this car & if the a/c works would be helpful.
I see a new grill avail on ebay for $487 delivered – item # 374839425769.
The transmission and differential are definitely lighter duty from the 6 cylinder to 8 cylinder. The car is over 50 years old, a lot of things can change on a vehicle. I very much doubt that it left the factory with those stripes.
What did they cover up in the trunk looks kind of lumpy nice basic car otherwise
Wow. This looks very much like the green Duster I took my driving test in back in the 1970s.
The stripes were a factory option on early (pre 1973) Dusters.
Good thing that car is in California…….any closer and I’d be obligated to go look at it and buy it……..
Chrysler provided a modest budget to facelift the Dart and Valiant for 1970. Dodge spent its share on a facelift. Plymouth spent its share on the Duster, leaving the Valiant alone. Hard to imagine a time when divisions had that much autonomy.
The rubber floor covering was fairly common in these cars. Most Dusters were very basic transportation in a moderately sporty wrapper.
My ’74 Dart SE had that same dash with the woodgrain and the rectangle speedo. The big circular dash pods (like the one used in the 67-69 Barracuda) were only available on the Dodge Demon, and only for 70 and 71 models with the 340 engine, as far as I know (the so called “Rallye” dash). Saw one in a 340 Demon at a car show last year. Even those did not always contain a tach. If so equipped, the tach gauge would be in a smaller, round pod between the two larger pods. Some Barracudas came with a “performance indicator” vacuum gauge rather than a tach.
There was no ’70 Demon – only a ’71 & ’72 – later, church groups complained
about the name & it was changed in ’73.
Googling “1970 duster interior”, & clicking “pictures”, i see several 340’s with the circular gages too.
Same circular gages googlin “1971 duster interior”.
So, not just in Demons.
That seems like a very good price for a clean, solid Duster. Most of these rotted away, like the 74 Silver Duster my parents had, with leaf springs popping through the trunk floor.
I have owned and restored a number of Dusters. So, to set the record straight, the circular gauges were only in 70 and 71 as standard equipment on 340 cars- that’s Duster and Demon 340”s You were NOT able to get this cluster from the factory with either of the slant 6’s or a 318. This round gauge package was taken from the late 60’s Baracudas’ The street slang the gauge package was known as the “Duster Cluster.” There are so many Stealers – oh-I mean dealers out there right now trying to sell “clones” and “tribute” 340 cars, it’s unreal. Authentic 70 and 71 340 cars will not have the standard gauge cluster. In 1972 and thereafter, all Dusters and Darts etc. had the same standard rectangular cluster regardless of engine.
The floors—all entry level A-Bodies got black rubber mats as standard equipment. Carpeting was for a step up in models. Example—Gold Duster package. This Duster seems like a really good one to start with as much of the hard work is done. You could make it very presentable and roadworthy for not much money. Whoever had it wanted to make it look like a Duster Twister or Duster 340. They had the unique shark tooth grille in 71 and 72. Finding a nice shark tooth grille now will be expensive. That’s probably why the grille is missing. The exhaust tips on this one appear to be correct 340 tips This could be a really good one for cruising around in. I hope that the buyer enjoys it. 😊👍
Last Duster I had I paid $300 for in 92. I rebuilt Trans & Carb and drove it. I had less than $400 in it. It had a 318 in it. I sold it for $800. I would not want a slant 6 no power!
A good, clean daily driver, if you fix the brakes and put some headlights in it. You can drive it without a grille, you don’t need a grille to get an inspection sticker here in MA. I like this one better than the 1976 example elsewhere on Barn Finds (no big Federal bumpers).
Agreed. 340 powertrain, attach that Torq-flite to a 3.91 SureGrip axle. And she’ll move out.