Is this 1970 Plymouth Duster a candidate for a restoration, or would you find some other purpose for the car? Apart from a few rust issues, it seems to be quite a solid car. It wears its original paint, and while it doesn’t sport its original engine, what is under the hood sounds pretty decent. The Duster is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and is listed for sale here on eBay.
The owner says that apart from the paint on the scoops, the Duster wears its original paint, which appears to be Blue Fire Metallic. There is some rust to address in the car, the worst of appearing to be in the driver’s side quarter panel. However, the owner has a new quarter that will go with the car. There are no photos of the underside of the car, but the shots of the trunk show a relatively and solid floor with only a couple of very minor rust issues. There is also a really weird bubble near the front of the fender on the passenger side, which seems to indicate a repair with Bondo that has deteriorated quite badly.
With no engine photos, we can only rely on the text in the advertisement for details. The engine is a 360ci V8, which is backed by a 727 transmission. This engine has been given a bit of a performance boost and is said to run really strong. It looks like the owner has tried to extract every ounce of performance from the car, because apart from a line lock, the car has dispensed with the power-sapping water pump and fan, and runs an electric water pump, electric fan, and electric fuel pump. If the new owner doesn’t fancy this engine, the owner can include, at extra cost, a strong 340 to put in place of the 360. This is not a cheap option though, as it will add $3,500 to the asking price.
Apart from needing new carpet, the interior of the Duster actually isn’t too bad. What is visible of the seat and door trims look quite good, but there have been a number of modifications performed, and some of them will have caused some damage that will take a bit of work to repair. If you are seeking originality, the aftermarket tachometer that has been screwed to the dash pad will be an issue, as the pad would probably need replacing. There are also some aftermarket gauges hanging under the dash, but these shouldn’t be a problem.
This Duster is a car that appears to have been built by its current owner for a pretty specific purpose, and that is to get down the ¼ mile as fast as possible. It isn’t original, and there are a few rust issues to be sorted on the car, as well as potentially some interior trim work as well. The owner has set a BIN price of $12,000 for the vehicle, although the option is there to make an offer. It could really be a nice looking car, but would you take it on?
That’s pretty cool. I like the rough look of it. If you prefer a “finished” one here ya go:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1970-Plymouth-Duster/163504225058?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D55991%26meid%3D09de11634fc7491397632db40906a5e1%26pid%3D100008%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D323669489707%26itm%3D163504225058&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219
Back in high school we used to call Dusters “rusters”. Good to see that they are still living up to their nickname.
I too like the look of it, buy the 340 from the guy and install, leave the outside as is. install 4 speed maybe. if that 340 is a 70 that’s the only year that had 10 1/2 compression. Good luck to the new owner.
Cheers
GPC
Seems like a decent car for a young person looking for a project….
I like GPC’s suggestion, especially putting the 340 back in it. These cars were quick, way back when, and this one is worthy of restoration.
Is there any indication what engine the car had originally?
Had one of these in high school in the late 90’s
340 with 727 on the tree with a bench just like this but fc7 purple.
Used to nose out all the kids with Fox body’s and chevys.
At that price and condition he can pull the 360 and install the 340 for any buyer.
Buy it along with the 340, drive as is until the 360 gives out then install the 340. Love the looks of these cars, inlaws had a 6 banger one I tried to buy off them but they wouldn’t sell to me because they knew I would yank the 6 for a v8 and beat the tar out of it.
I would build an old school street machine out of it. Lots of muscle and big tires.
1/4 mile it like it was set up for ! Drive it like ya stole it !
340’s had 10.5 to 1 compression, from 68′ thru early 71′, later in 71 some lower compression ones(I believe were 8.5 compression) were found. Just look for the X, O, or U heads. Some “J” heads also. Most J’s had 1.88 intake valves and 1.60 exhaust valves which were also the lower compression motors. Could easy be transform into 2.02’s intakes.
I had a ’71 Demon 340 in high school (1980-81). A buddy of mine had a ’70 Duster 340. People liked my car better. Dusters were everywhere back then, but Demons were seldom seen. That’s understandable, considering that Plymouth made a million Dusters, but Dodge only sold 100,000 Demons before the religious nuts forced a name change. Dart Sport just sounded so wimpy. I had another ’71 Demon from 1999 to 2005. It was a 318 car with a 360 crate engine.
This car isn’t worth $12k. The seller is dreaming.
Your right Ken,I had a 340 duster in 79 black on black automatic,car had a bad ball joint to the point the tire squealed,but still.took it 117 mph until I ran out of room. Those were the days lol
I never was a fan of adding aftermarket stuff to the interiors of any Duster I’ve owned. A Sun tach under dash was as far as I went. Then again, none of them would be considered a race car. My last one was a ’71 with a later 340. About 20+ years ago, before I grew up whatever that means. I do miss it sometimes…
What Terry said Gaspumpchaz…….I own a 68 and a 69 340 – but should have owned that 70 red Duster 340 my dad bought home and flipped when I was 16….but I did rebuild the Holley and got to take it down the street…….he was the check the mileage kinda guy……there’s that picture somewhere.
The guys a little high but it’s hard to find nice early ones.
Seeing so many 1970 Plymouths here lately made me remember the “Rapid Transit System” ads that ran in the car mags. My dad has a subscription to Car & Driver and never threw them away, so I loved looking through them.
The logo looked great to a kid.
PRA4SNW,thumbs up to the Rapid Transit System! I never tossed out many magazines with good articles and nice rides,have a few to this day,they would set the mood to add some go-fast goodies on my Mopars!
I have a 2012 5.7 gen 3 Hemi that would really work nice in this Duster.
Back in 77 had Dart Sport “Convertriple” Maroon white stripe over top down side with factory sun roof and foldable back seat. Had a 318 that I put a 4 bbl on and duels. Added factory scoops. Just for fun. Ah the fun we used to have. Along with my buddy’s 74 Cuda. Can we go back to those days??