Looking almost like it just rolled out of the factory, this 1972 Plymouth Duster looks outstanding in the four photos that the seller has provided. Maybe they would send more photos to a serious buyer, one with $20,000 to spend, which is what they’re asking for this one. No, really. They have it posted here on craigslist in Eastlake, Ohio, just northeast of Cleveland on the shores of Lake Erie. Here is the original listing, and thanks to T.J. for sending in this tip!
The Duster was made from 1969 for the 1970 model year up until 1976, the same year that its predecessor, the Plymouth Volare (and Dodge Aspen), came out. Unlike the Volare and Aspen, the Duster came in just one body style, this sleek fastback design. I’ve always wondered what a Plymouth Duster four-door hardtop may have looked like, thanks to the magic of Photoshop, and about an hour of time. I like it, but I like four-door vehicles. I don’t see a cosmetic flaw in this beautiful Amber Sherwood Poly green Duster anywhere inside or out so far, do you? Maybe a missing antenna?
The time-capsule’ness continues inside. It’s hard to not notice those fantastic plaid-pattern cloth and green vinyl seats. Sadly, there is only one interior photo and we don’t see the back seat, trunk, underside, or any detailed photos of this car. The steering wheel looks almost perfect and the seller says that this car has 50,000 miles on it, so I’m assuming it hasn’t been driven in the snowy Ohio winters or it’s been restored. They do say that the underside is perfect with no rust, so that’s great to hear. Is that the missing antenna lying on the passenger floor? This car has the famous three-on-the-tree column-shifted three-speed manual transmission.
Another strong point for this car – for me, maybe not for most of you – is that 225-cu.in. slant-six tower-of-power engine with 110 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. It looks almost like a brand-new car under the hood. Amazing! The seller says “drive it anywhere” so we have to assume that it runs and drives as well as this whole car looks. For the record, Hagerty lists a #1 Concours-quality Duster with a 318 V8 as being worth less than the seller’s asking price for this car. Any thoughts on this time capsule Duster?
Certainly not a lot of options on this one, but hey, it is clean.
Well it’s a clean example for sure, but sure didn’t check a lot of boxes on the order form. It’s and auto but a slant six doesn’t get me excited either. Makes getting on the on ramp a challenge. Reliable yes, exciting not so much.
Just an off the lot purchase , no one would special order one of these and wait for it to be built when the dealerships had plenty of slant six cars on the lot. I bought a Basin ST. Blue 72 Duster , pretty much the same options except mine had vinyl seats. There were plenty on the lot to choose from !
Lovely looking thing.
Hey Scotty – your four-door version is pretty slick! You had me at plaid upholstery. Nice find, and I hope it goes to a good home.
Thanks, Todd! I don’t think too many folks click on those links, I could probably skip those in the future. Although, you did so maybe I’ll keep doing them.
It even looks like there’s room for all four windows to roll down to enjoy the hardtop-ness!
Scotty, I’m sure that more than a few of us click on your artistic impressions. Keep them coming, please!
Thanks, PRA4SNW, and nlpnt! I shouldn’t have assumed that nobody clicked on them just because they rarely get mentioned in the comments. Sorry about that, I’ll keep doing them. I wonder what a Duster’chero may have looked like… hmmm… (ha)
LOL! Show us Scotty!
What an awesome car!. I f I were a younger man I might bid on this, for sure.
I had two of these. A 1970 & a 1972. Both were equipped just like the feature car. They were both great cars for me. When it was time to move on from the 1970 it was purchased by a fellow who had just wrecked a 340/ 4 speed Dart Swinger. My car was to become the new home for his salvaged tire shredding drive train.
I traded the ’72 for a ’66 Nova 2dr. Ht. also with an in line 6 cyl backed up with a power glide.
Beautiful looking car. I’ve always loved the 1970-72 Plymouth Duster. Who needs a tyre burning V8 engine, when a 225 Slant six engine? If you’re towing a trailer, you might need a V8 engine, or if you’re in a drag race, a V8 would be perfect. But for every day driving, a 225 Slant six is all you need.
The slant six was used in trucks, farm machinery and a variety of other uses. It’ll pull a 2,000 lb. trailer with no problem. Had one in a ’65 Barracuda and it was actually a pretty quick little car! My ’71 Challenger with a 318 really wasn’t that much faster. Looked at an identical car to this one when I turned 16 in 1972, they wanted $2,000 back then.
Technically , the Duster was an offshoot of the Valiant , so it did come in different body styles , although no wagons like the Volare /Aspens did. The first year they were called Valiant Dusters and actually had Valiant emblems on the fenders
And no Dusters were made for the 1969 model year , early 1970 Dusters would have been built in the fall of 1969, but all would be 1970 cars . My 1973 340 was built in Oct 1972
You are correct, sir, I mentioned that in the article: “ The Duster was made from 1969 for the 1970 model year…”
A couple of thoughts. My wife and I drove with another couple non-stop to Las Vegas from Denver in a car just like this. We called it the DUST PAN and we never stropped and back then there was no speed limit in Nevada. We took advantage of that even when we weren’t in Nevada. We were going to Vegas to see Sonny & Cher, the little Dust Pan never slowed down. I honestly don’t know if it was a V-8 or not, we never opened the hood. A number of years later I bought a little old ladies Dodge Dart with a slant six, What a great engine, made me think maybe that Duster was a 6. I think 20 K is a bit steep, but I would love to have it.
Sadly, the Feds destroyed the slant six with the advent of strict smog regulations…my folks had a 1975 Duster with the 225 and torqueflyte and it was absolutely the most gutless thing I have ever driven…compared to the 1960 Dodge Dart Pioneer I had with the pre-smogged 225….day and night performance difference.
Just like everything else the government touches, our government couldn’t fix a sandwich
Jay, your right, the government regulations hurt the slanty badly, but did we have any other option? Are you old enough to remember the air quality in those days? Those regulations forced companies to invent new ways of doing things so today we have engines that get quadruple the HP and MPG, plus are cleaner to boot. I say it is a win win win. Of course, I can’t fix my new cars like I did my old ones, need a degree in electrical engineering, but I still think it is worth it.
Very true Greg! I had a ’76 Volare with the 225 in it and you are correct, that motor was worse than gutless. I removed the original motor and put a slant 6 in it from a 1964 Valiant, it was little better. I think the gearing may have been different on the later cars. I also remember removing the restriction for the gas nozzle- probably a “25 to life” offense today, so that I could use leaded gas after the engine swap. Those were the days…
Really in the case of ANY car that is that complete and anywhere near that appearance they need to remain as they are. Despite how they came equipped they represent the varied originality of the cars.
Now that is what a Duster should look like! No need for fake scoops, wings decals and wild colors.
Dare to be different and drive it as is.
GLWTS.
First new car I ever had was a 70 Duster 340. Ordered it sight unseen when the salesman told me that the bucket seats that came with the 340 had 1.5″ more headroom than the bench seat models. (I’m 6’5″ and my head hit the headliner on the bench seat model). Blue Fire Poly, black bucket seat interior w/console, 340/4speed, power steering, power brakes and A/C. Best car I ever had! Hurricane Celia ruined it in Corpus Christi TX. Had it fixed, then got sideswiped by a city bus in Norfolk VA that ruined it for good. Been looking for a duplicate for the last 40 yrs, no luck yet.
The first 1970 Dusters were built at the Hamtrmck Assembly Plant. Plant Code 04030 Street address: 7900 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck, Mi. Production started in August of 1069. My father worked at Hamtramck in the Trim Department department number 9150 on the fifth floor. hamtramck Assembly plant had EIGHT Floors and the Body Shop started on the eighth floor with the floor pan being set on the line on the eighth floor . The paint shop was on the sixth floor and the trim line started on the fifth floor. The chassis line started on the first floor with the engine “K” frame being set on the line, and the engine dropped on to the k frame. The dressed engine and transmission , along with the drive shaft and rear axle and leaf springs were all assembled and sent up to the second floor wher they would meet the trimmed out body and be mated in an operation called : Body Drop. This is where the trimmed out body was dropped thru a hole in the floor and mated to the chassis drive line. Tires and wheels, fuel fill and battery were added to vehicles after the body drop area. Vehicles were then on the final leg of the assembly process called the “Final Line. Cars were and either passed Q C testing or were sent to the repair area if this was required. Cars were driven out the building from the second floor to the ground level for either repair or shipping of vehicle to dealers called “KZ STATUS ” which means it was shipped. I saw my first new for 1970 Plymouth Duster, which was a Tan color unit on a Sunday in Late August 1969 in the repair lot at Hamtramck on the Dunn road side of the plant. My father had taken me down to the plant so that I could see the new cars that Hamtramck was building for the 1970 model year, also new for 1970 was the Dodge Challenger and new Plymouth Barracuda. They also had revised the Dodge Dart Swinger models with new front and rear sheet metal and interior trims.
It would make a wonderful starting point for a hemi equipped 6 speed manual pro tour car.
What would be cool would be to take a slant six from 1977 and up model year and put fuel injection to it, possibly the multi point. Using a 1977 and up engine eliminates the manual valve lash adjustment that was required on earlier engines.
There’s a Swinger for sale on BAT that has an engine combo you might like. Supercharged, fuel injected slant six. Has a couple of videos. Looks and sounds really cool!
Wheel center caps are not correct for 1972 Model Year Vehicle. Ones shown in theses pictures are from 1971 and earlier vehicle. for 20 large I would expect an OEM positive battery cable and not one with “COBBLED” battery terminal end.
Those are the correct ones for a small bolt pattern car such as this one . Its a six cylinder car .
I’m sure you could chew him down the $25.00 bucks it would cost to replace it
Gents! My name is Greg and I bought this car. Straightest car I have ever seen. It is just a beautiful example of a showroom ’72 Duster that isn’t trying to be anything other than what it was born to be. The wheels are not stock but the owner had the original hub caps. Also, he was quite flexible on the price!
Good for you Greg I hope you have many years of enjoying your Duster! It’s does look very clean and straight plus the green is a plus for me.
That’s fantatsic, Greg! Please keep us up to date on how you like the car, it sure looked like a gem, congratulations!
If you want $20,000 for your Duster, at least have a V8 in it. This is like finding a nice Maverick Grabber only to pop the hood and be disappointed with a 6 cylinder.
This is the spitting image of the one my parents purchased in 1972. Exact same green paint job and green and gold plaid upholstery. Really takes me back. They also purchased a Plymouth fury station wagon at the same time. As I recall, both had to be ordered and we waited several weeks for delivery. When I learned to drive, it was given to me to commute to college. Unfortunately, in a matter of months, I managed to total it when I smashed in to the back of another vehicle.
So, does anyone know what happened to this car ?