As insurance premiums for muscle cars rose in the late 1960s, manufacturers started to shift consumers to smaller products with lower displacement engines. An automobile like the Plymouth Duster 340 could be as potent as a Chevelle 396 in many instances. This 1972 Duster 340 is both numbers-matching and sports its original Hemi Orange (aka Tor Red) paint. The former and its TorqueFlite automatic transmission have been rebuilt.
The Duster debuted in 1970 as a fastback version of the Plymouth Valiant compact. It was immediately successful and led to Dodge lobbying for and getting the rebadged Demon in 1971. The Duster 340 was the performance edition with its 275 hp small-block engine. For the entire run of the 340 cubic inch V8 (1968 to 1973), more copies of that motor went into Dusters than any other Chrysler product.
Plymouth built 15,681 Duster 340s in 1972. We don’t know how many of them were painted in the “Hi-Impact” Hemi Orange (also Tor Red) color, but if it was as high as 10%, think how few are likely to have survived. And in the kind of condition as this one. The V8 and tranny have been redone, while the paint and interior are said to be original and look quite tidy.
Though the seller doesn’t mention if this Mopar has had any special tuning work done, we’re told it will turn the quarter-mile in under 13 seconds. And that’s with a car carrying nearly 90,000 miles on its odometer. Located in Denver, Colorado, this sweet Mopar is available here on craigslist for a potent $35,000. Hats off to T.J. for this and other great tips!
I had one of these and would love to have one again. Great car. Fast car also but it doesn’t run 12 seconds quarter miles though.
Stock intake. Stock exhaust manifolds. Stock wheels and size rubber. Not a formula for 12s but that’s OK. Unless it’s modern 12 second engines are not great on the streets.
I personally don’t see 35K but someone might. Definitely a nice car.
Thanks for posting such a positive comment, much appreciated!
I agree, don’t see 35k, especially with an auto transmission.
At last year’s pure stock drags a stock 340 Duster ran 12.70s-12.80s on a 1/4 mile track with reproduction polyglas tires.
I had a new 70 Duster 240/4spd/3.91 SureGrip. Added cold air intake and headers. Couldn’t get it into the 12s, 13.21 was the best I ever saw.
I just found a youtube of Purestock drag race between a Duster 340 and 396/425 Vette. I would never expected it, but both ran 13.30s or so, and Duster won 2 out of 3!
Must have been a pathetic 396. I had an L78 396 with 4:11 4 speed and small blocks never even came close.
Another Craglist bucket of bolts…attention all so-called Baby Boomers, in my day back driving my AMX, I would eat these ugly dogs for breakfast. Now they make bad reality series (Graveyard Cars) about these and at circus like auctions sell for 100k. So what went wrong, or if you own one, what went right? Some guy that used to be president said once; If you keep telling them the same thing, they will eventually believe it! Well even in stolen hugger orange, you can never get me to understand this acute fascination of a car nobody wanted then but today its the gold standard in vintage muscle cars? I reject this whole heartingly and I continue to say, ifs its on Craiglist, nothing good happens.
jv smashpalace
I’ve bought and sold a lot of stuff on Craig’s. Met more nice people than, well, folks that sound like you.
i agree with you 4spd bernie. i have met good people on c list and made good sales as well
I agree, don’t see 35k, especially with an auto trans. Nothing special with this car.
There is a big difference between a “bucket of bolts” and something that might be overpriced. This car is really nice, if the condition matches the description and it runs what the seller claims, which isn’t the typical BS line you get from people making up performance numbers. This car isn’t far off, nice 340 cars aren’t inexpensive, especially if they are well restored and matching numbers, even if it’s a column shift automatic, just like nearly all automatic equipped Road Runners came.
Steve R
Actually the quote: “Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it.” is attributed to the nazi Joseph Goebbels. I don’t think any US President has said that publicly, though I think it gets said quite often behind closed doors.
If nobody wanted them then, why did they sell so many ? way more than any AMX
I gotta see that ” dog eating “AMX…
Tell us how you really feel.
OK(!) now THIS one Is worth considering!
Yea, It’s a bench/column automatic and a less desirable ‘72 BUT Great colors and original paint and interior that appear to be exceptional(?!)
If this very car runs mid 12s the drivetrain Is obviously set up very well and will absolutely destroy 98% of any “stock” muscle era cars you will see at any show.
THATS the $$ feature on this example….
This looks super clean. Great body lines and under the hood looks like you could eat off of it. Went to school with a guy who had a Dart Demon with a 340 6 pack. That was one quick car. Dont know what gears this has but if they have 410s or lower in it, it will definitely get down the 1520 in a hurry. Love the old school Goodyears too. I actually like the bench seat column shifter combo. I wouldnt change a thing.
A quarter mile has 1,320 feet, not 1,520.
I’ve owned a bunch of Dusters, the best of them 340’s. It wasn’t that long ago that if someone posted that their granny appearing 340 ran 12’s I would be calling BS and lining up with my Turbo ST. But no more. The F.A.S.T. crowd has these running in the 9’s!! On itty bitty bias ply Goodyears!
Back in my time, a good one with low gears and headers would be in the 13’s. I have no idea how they have these so fast now, even on a prepped track. A 10 second Duster would have been a hero car back then, outperforming most hemis and big blocks. And with a bench seat and dog dish’s, show me the money!!
I am really tempted on this one. Great stock condition, great color, an excellent tune with proven sub 13 time slips. Must be wound up on the highway, perhaps 3.91’s? Drum brakes? Wish I could decode ( or they did it for me) the build sheet, but it is too light for me to read.
It pushes all the right buttons. Unfortunately high prices for old cars is hard to justify for me now. But this one is SWEET!
You could pay a lot more for a lot less.
Just because I doubt the 12s doesn’t mean I don’t like the car. I like it a lot. Had one some time ago and in most aspects it was a better driving car than the 69 Charger I had before it.
This car is really nice. One of the nicer I’ve seen. Just because I can’t see 35K is irrelevant if at least one other person does.
The only thing I’d change on this car is put the Rallye rims back on it ; all Duster 340s came with those wheels as standard equipment
Soooo….
Back in 82 when I was looking for my first car – one just like this was for sale in my town.
I had saved up enough to buy it – but – when I took my father to see it – he said it was too expensive – and it didn’t even have AC or a radio!
Looking back – I think he was just trying to talk me out of it because he was afraid I would kill myself in it as a new driver.
Ended up buying a much tamer (and cheaper) 74 Ford Gran Torino.
That would be really hard to forgive your dad over.
Your dad may have saved your life…
My Dad did the same thing for me.
I had my eye on a ’70 Barracuda 340, built. My Dad said that when he took it to his mechanic to have it looked at, he said that the front end was all “messed up”.
In hindsight, Dad probably made all that up because he knew it was a lot of car for a 16 year old.
I ended up with a ’73 318 auto on the column – had a lot of fun and lived through it.
I had a nice, fast 69 440 sixpack Superbee for a while. When I sold it, my 12 y.o. son was irate because he assumed he’d get it when he turned 16. He’s an MD in his 30s now, and still brings it up from time to time. I still laugh when he does.
Probably because of your help he’s an MD and can afford to buy one now and he should thank you for that!
1st car Hemi Orange ’71 Duster Twister. Looked fast with 2 hood scoops and flat black hood graphics.
318 2bbl automatic with the benchseat. Still a blast!
1972 340 was not 275 hp . IIRC it was down to 240 . Ish .
This car has the “feel” of an original – something that hasn’t been messed with.
As far as price is concerned, they are only original once.
I had a new 70 Duster 240/4spd/3.91 SureGrip. Added cold air intake and headers. Couldn’t get it into the 12s, 13.21 was the best I ever saw.
I just found a youtube of Purestock drag race between a Duster 340 and 396/425 Vette. I would never expected it, but both ran 13.30s or so, and Duster won 2 out of 3!
340, 340!!!!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOonwztXUL8
I bought one of these brand new in 1970. 340/4spd/3.91 SureGrip. Darn near every option available…PS/PB/AC/AM-FM/Buckets w console. Added cold air intake and headers. Best et I ever remember was 13.21. I just found a Youtube video of pure stock drags between Duster 340 and 65 396/425 Vette. Both ran low 13s, surprised with Duster winning 2 out of 3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOonwztXUL8
The 340 was a great engine that really pulled. I enjoyed it as much if not more than the 440 in the Charger I had previously owned
Russ, Didn’t you get the memo? You can’t say tyranny anymore
I traded my 1967 442 for a 340 Duster in 1972.
That car will not pull a greasy string out of a cat hole !
Yeah, 442s be like that!
Yes in the 12 second quarter mile times the car was a little un-streetable.
Remember sitting in class,looked out the window,and it was SNOWING !
Learned a lot about car controle that day,learning is what school is about.
I gotta see that ” dog eating “AMX…
I checked on this and was told it is sold. Someone may have a really good car as this one has been featured multiple times in Hemmings Muscle Machines as a F.A.S.T. prepped car.