Plymouth introduced a very popular car in 1970, the Duster. It was a fastback version of the Valiant, designed to appeal to younger buyers. The ploy worked, the car sold well, and Dodge quickly wanted a version of their own. So, the (Dart) Demon debuted the following year, and the name was a staple for just two years. The seller has a nice 1971 Demon that was built with a 318 cubic inch V8 and a factory 4-speed. With recent improvements, it’s a nice driver quality Mopar, at a minimum. Located in Deer Park, New York, this Dodge is available here on craigslist for $22,500.
The 1971-72 Demon was a Duster with a Dart front clip and different taillights. Lore has it that the Dodge Boys caught some grief from the clergy over the name, so the vehicles became the Dart Sport in 1973 (not as rebellious). Yet the name would reappear as a Dodge Challenger in 2018 (haven’t heard of any protests about that). While a good many Demons left the factory with a Slant-Six, this one was built with a 318, and the seller believes it may be the original engine. For those Demon buyers who wanted more, there was also the 340.
In the listing for this car, the seller makes a big deal out of it being a “real deal LL car.” Yet all that code does is to identify the car as an actual Demon 2-door sport coupe in the low-price class. Maybe I’m missing something, but why is that important? The car may already be trying to masquerade as a Demon 340, though the seller has a set of decals to be installed that would further that image.
We’re told that the paint job is about three years old and looks great sans a small ding or two. More recent work includes the brakes, distributor, tune-up, carburetor (rebuild?), and a headliner in the passenger compartment. It drives like it should, making for a solid 55-year-old Mopar. The seller has a video he/she can provide and will consider trades, but will only communicate via phone. No emails. Thanks for the tip, Tony Primo!
Deer Park LI, NY. I remember heading down to the Channel Home Improvement Store on Deer Park Ave (SR 231) in the early 1980’s, on Friday and Saturday nights. Every hot car on Long Island, would meet up there and hang out in the parking lot. There was always a race to be had and they would race up north at the corner of Vanderbilt Pkwy and 231. It was a 2 lane road in each direction and no side streets for over 1/2 a mile heading north. Someone painted a white line in the road indicating 1/4 mile. Fond memories…………
When I was there in the late 80s, the white line was “down south”, between John St and Sunrise Hwy, from the white line to the speed limit sign was 1/4 mile, so people could time their cars. If I remember correctly, a friend’s 69 442, all stock, did it in 14.3 seconds.
When I worked at my dad’s garage in the late 70s pumping gas a hot girl used to drive a gold painted duster it had a built 340 and the rallys with L-60s on the back ,auto she used to race it in New Hampshire at New England dragway and drive it home ! Her brother was the tuner it ran in the 12s . Then drive it daily .
Similar story in Des Moines, Ia mid 70s there was a girl that drove a hot GTO on Saturday nights on the loop in the summer and had a statement hand lettered on the trunk lid about what could happen if you could beat her but can’t repeat.
This is so cool, and for the record, it was more than “some grief” about the name. I remember, and I think Scotty mentioned it a while back, was a full blown assault against Chrysler by religious groups who thought the devil was a poor choice. Ironically, the same people that hated rock and roll, and under pressure, Dodge reluctantly changed the name. Funny, by 2018, nobody gave a hoot, and Chrysler brought back the name for the Challenger. Tells ya’ something, hey? We can thank a man named Bob McCurry, who was the general manager at Chrysler around this time. He knew not all Americans wanted Hemi Challengers he was responsible for, and these were good sellers, almost 80,000 Demons which included 10,000 Demon 340s. They were cheap, and a ’71 Demon cost about $2700 bucks( 340 a bit more) and even the gas station pump jockey could have one. Now THOSE were the days!
Great color. If this car is as nice as the photos, it should have no trouble selling at the ask. The hood scoop is ugly, (ironically I never saw a Duster or Demon with them from the factory BITD, now they are everywhere) but restraint was shown with no go-wing installation. But there are so many red flags regarding rust. Floor replaced, Undercoat everywhere even over peeling undercoat, painted trunk interior, overspray all over the engine compartment.
Sometimes buying a car by mail is ok, but I definitely would want to inspect this one in person. Since this one is still for sale after 9 days, perhaps others feel the same way.
bottom line is its a mess no heat, overspray, seat ripped. trunk paint. Battery hold down. And dont forget the windshield washer bottle and the list goes on!
Right… shoddy, amateur work. I’m sure there’s more you would see in person that isn’t obvious in the pics. Heavy buyer beware on this one.
Agreed, definitely some red flags in the presentation. If the work was done properly & sloppily finished, or, if they are trying to replicate assembly line conditions, maybe. Definitely worth a look.
Chassis subframe connectors? Old race car reborn as stock?
it’s never a good thing to start you listing off with all capital letters it makes you look like you’re yelling at people. from what i read this dude has a bit of a tude. this car looks to be hiding a world of sins. i really like the demon but not this 1
It’s from the rusty northeast, has a heavy layer of undercoating, and that hood scoop needs to be removed.
This one warrants a very close inspection.
These cars were very underrated. Sleepers in all reality, because you could get them plain jane looking and smoke a lot of cars!!
Love the 4 speed in this one!
Deer Park Long Island N.Y. is approximately 40 minutes to NYC. unfortunately, some, not all vintage car guys placing ads always cops an attitude in their ads. I understand there always going to be a tire kicker but somewhere there’s a serious buyer & somehow might turn them off before even making the phone call. few years back local car show / swap in Belmont L.I. a guy in big letters on cardboard ” set of 4- 67 regular Buick Hubcaps $200 FIRM or I WILL HANG IN MY WALL ” LOL probably still there.
Same scoop and color as my 1972 Demon 340/4sp – I should not have sold waaaay back. For theh area this might be a nice car – visual inspection is a must.