Plymouth Duster Twister — say that three times fast! What a name! This largely original project car is listed for sale here on craigslist in Winchendon, Massachusetts. The seller has completed some work but due to “time and circumstances it must go.” The asking price is $3,900 and we appreciate Barn Finds reader AMXBrian sending in this cool Mopar find!
As best as I can tell from the ad, this picture depicts how the car exists today. The seller has the fenders and hood stored as well as “too many parts to list.” That hood with the scoops was Chrysler-Plymouth trying to get as much usage out of the tooling they had created for the Duster 340 high-performance variant as they could. Interestingly enough, I found at least one reference that stated the twin-scoop hood wasn’t available for the 1972 Twister and another that said it was optional (the Twister package was first available in 1971).
The rallye wheels on the front were part of the Twister package, along with striping, emblems, bucket seats and the grille from the 340, although again I found a reference stating that the grille wasn’t available in 1972. Since we don’t see the grille in any of the pictures, who knows what this car actually has? Sounds like a question for the seller.
A pretty high standard of work under here! It’s a shame the rest of the car isn’t finished like this — of course, then it wouldn’t be a barn (garage) find, right? The front suspension and brakes have already been rebuilt.
As best as I can tell, the rear spoiler was not original, although the great metallic green color was. The striping is as it left the factory. Ok, not condition-wise, but original.
Pretty darned solid floors here! Some cleaning and a coat of paint for preservation purposes?
The small holes visible on the right hand side of the trunk floor can be patched fairly easily. While the Twister was largely a cosmetic package, the Duster itself was a competent car for the time period and sold very well, making this car a good memory for many people.
This is not the original engine; this is a 360 previously rebuilt by a well-known supplier attached to a 727 transmission. However, the original 318 engine and its automatic are included as well; I can’t say I’d put them back in, but that’s a personal decision. It’s at least nice to have the original components. While I’m not 100% sure what most of you would do with this car to finish it off, I’d really like to hear the options!
This car is a good find. If I made the time to get it running I’d leave it stock.
Put it back together and leave it absolutely as-is, except detail the engine to the point where you have the best engine bay of any Mopar in history. Then watch people’s faces when you open the hood at cars and coffee.
Was the Duster Twister like the 69/70 Mustang Twisters and built strictly for the Kansas City market, done so because of being in Tornado Alley.
It was an appearance package to dress slant-six and 318 cars like the 340 cars. Muscle-car looks with lower insurance rates.
I believe the Twister was a ‘70 only option on the Sportsroof, as I’ve never seen reference to OR pictures of a ‘69.
Jett… you may be right, my memory is fading quickly.
My 1972 Twister had the twin hood scoops. I had the 318 3 speed on the floor. I had not learned about the sure grip rear axle at that point or I would have specified that too. As it was, it had the white letter tires and the trim rings. In B5 blue with white stripes and white interior, it was a good looking car. Sticker was $3218.00
Finally A car here that is a good value, although I’m sure there isa rust in the rear quarters. This shouldn’t last long. I always thought these were curious back in the day, all show and no go. But they did have the nice exterior visual items of a 340. Time to drop in a modern hemi and fix that situation.
Build it like an early NHRA Pro Stock car . M0TOWN MISSLE, CALIFORNIA FLASH ETC ETC ETC.
Comp. Style cross ram HEMI.
With the hood scoops brought back toward the center of the hood (why would you need scoops that far from the carb anyway) and a repaint these Dusters can begin to approach the hallowed ground of the now astronomically priced Challengers and Chargers… https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Plymouth_Duster_%28Orange_Julep%29.jpg/800px-Plymouth_Duster_%28Orange_Julep%29.jpg
No longer the ugly step sister, this project is worth taking on. Might even be a money maker.
Have a ’69 Valiant V-100 2-door (2-door sedan, if you like a la Chevy Nova debate the other day). Here are it’s options- automatic trans, rear window defog, 225 slant six, driver’s side remote mirror. That’s it. Bought it with 87, 002 miles on it for $150. Still have it…nobody wanted it when I bought it. Chrysler A-bodies make great all-around performers. Light, easy to upgrade with stock parts, not too big, and pretty “Cockroach tough.”
I’ve had a white 72 Twister since 1987 and can clear up a few things. The Twister was an appearance package designed to give go-fast 340 appearance with lower insurance rates. The 225 slant 6 was standard and the 318 was optional. The 340 was not available. The performance hood paint treatment and the twin scoops were separate options and neither of these was available on the Duster 340. Bucket seats were not standard on the Twister. My car had the base cloth/vinyl houndstooth pattern bench seat. While 1971 Twisters had the 340 “sharkstooth” grill the 1972 did not. And it was not optional either. The rallye wheels were standard Twister equipment and trim rings were optional. My Twister has the 318 and a floor shifted 3-speed trans. V8 cars with manual transmissions got the 8.75″ rear!
Make a driver out of it, leave the 360 for a good romp, decent tires with a set of old cragars, and just enjoy the ride, no show car either…a runner.
This car is the equivalent of the Demon Sizzler. Pretty much all show, no go in stock configuration. I’ve had two Demons; a 340 car in high school, and a Demon with a 360 crate engine in my thirties. Regretted letting them both go. I’ll never have one again, if the current market is any indication.
My second Demon. Picture taken in 2000.
Hood scoops were just for looks, this car came with the sharktooth grille but it was broken and I couldn’t get a sticker so I replaced it with a valiant grille as I was 17 years old and it was all I could afford, I sold this for 1000$ to the guy that was selling it in 2018 and have regretted it ever since if anyone knows where it is let me know.