Hiding in this garage is an unfinished project that could be ideal for Mopar enthusiasts. This 1971 Plymouth Duster 340 is in excellent mechanical health, and its interior is extremely tidy. The seller acknowledges that it has rust, but the photos suggest these problems are not extensive. If you have been searching for what seems like a straightforward build, the Duster could be ideal. The seller has listed it here on eBay in Roseville, California. Ten bids have pushed the price beyond the reserve to $10,000 with time remaining for interested parties to make a play for this classic.

Plymouth introduced the Duster for the 1970 model year, finding itself with an immediate sales success. This is easy to understand, because the styling was crisp and clean, and the Duster was a pretty affordable vehicle. It underwent some cosmetic changes in 1971, and with 186,478 cars rolling off the lot, it would have been smiles all around at Plymouth. This classic is an unfinished project that hasn’t seen much active service in the past few years. The seller believes it is a no-hits body, and you have to look long and hard to spot any traces of its factory Dark Gold paint. The panels are straight, meaning that they only require fairly rudimentary preparation before the buyer addresses its cosmetic needs. Rust can be a problem with Dusters, but the news is generally positive. The seller acknowledges the presence of a patch in the driver’s side lower rear quarter panel, and a developing hole in the drop-off behind it. There are also a couple of small patchable areas in the rear edge of the trunk pan. Otherwise, critical areas like the rails and floors are rock-solid. The trim is in good order, with the same true of the glass and Rally wheels.

The first thing to consider with this Duster is that it isn’t numbers-matching. It rolled off the line with a 340ci V8 under the hood, but the replacement of the same capacity is of 1970 vintage. The first owner teamed the 340 with a four-speed manual transmission, and with 275hp and 340 ft/lbs of torque on tap, it could comfortably return a 15-second ¼-mile ET. The engine isn’t the only non-original part, with the Duster receiving a new aluminum radiator, an upgraded distributor, and what appears to be a fairly new booster. The car hasn’t seen much recent activity, with the seller admitting that the motor sometimes hesitates. They are unsure whether this is due to old gas, or if the carburetor requires a rebuild. Neither problem is significant, and addressing them would make this a turnkey proposition. They supply this YouTube video as part of their listing. It’s pretty long, but it provides a comprehensive walk around and allows us to see and hear the Duster in action. I can’t spot anything that might cause the new owner concern.

The seller understates the condition of this Duster’s interior, describing it as ‘decent.” It looks nice, with the excellent Black carpet hiding a healthy layer of Kilmat to reduce interior noise.  The seats are free from significant wear, as are the remaining upholstered surfaces. The dash is missing a couple of small grilles and the new headliner needs stretching into shape. Otherwise, its remaining shortcomings are functional. The engine doesn’t start using the key, with a pushbutton to achieve that goal. The factory gauge cluster is inoperative, as is the radio. None of the issues are pressing and could be addressed at the buyer’s leisure.

Addressing the visible rust in this 1971 Plymouth Duster 340 would seem like a fairly easy task that a competent person could tackle in a home workshop. The healthy drivetrain means that the winning bidder could enjoy this classic immediately, tackling its cosmetic needs as time and circumstances allow. With values climbing steadily, this Plymouth could be a rewarding project that doubles as an excellent long-term investment. I can’t think of a downside to that scenario. Can you?