Mid-1970s Dodge Darts and their Plymouth equivalents have long been affordable options for entering the classic car world, especially they pricey world of Mopar. Although 1970-72 Dusters are bringing well into the $10,000s in this condition, as seen here the 1973-76 Dusters and Dart Sports can be had for under $10,000. This 1974 Dart Sport has never been restored, and has no rust anywhere! With only 71,000 actual miles and two owners since new, there’s no surprise it is this nice. It is a prime example of what these cars were back when they were new, because although high-powered options were available, most people remember the less exciting six cylinder cars. Find this beautiful example here on Craigslist in California for $6,500 or best offer. Thanks to Rocco B. for this cool submission!
The engine is the tried and true 225 cubic inch Slant Six. Though it doesn’t produce much power, it will move a little car like this well enough to be a nice cruising vehicle. You won’t beat anyone off the line, but it will give plenty of reliability! Slant Sixes are one of those engines that many demolition derbiers will pull out of their wrecked car and save for the next one, simply because the engine will keep on going.
The interior is a testament to the care this car has received over its life. A plague many of this generation A-bodies faced was warped dashboards. The upper dash pad would wrinkle up in a wavy fashion after prolonged exposure to the sun, so to see one in such nice original condition is a surprise! Not only that, but the faux wood surrounding the gauge cluster is prone to cracking and flaking off, which this car is not doing. Lastly, the black paint on the radio knobs tends to flake off with wear and age. Yet again, this car shows no damage or wear in that department! The only included picture of the seats is of the rear, but if the rear says anything about the front then this car needs nothing.
Though the earlier cars are more popular, many people prefer the ’73-’76s for their slightly changed styling. In 1973 and 1974, as bumper safety laws changed so did bumpers and this is when large impact bumpers started to appear. By 1975, both bumpers were impact, but in 1973 and 1974 any combination of impact and non-impact can be seen. Though this Dart wears an impact front, the rear is not. In this condition, if kept nice a car like this is sure to appreciate in years to come. This looks like a great weekend driver that could even be enjoyed as a daily! I would use it every chance I got exactly as it is. What would you use it for?
One of the nicest cars ever. I drove a few six -3 speeds that were awesome. I feel that these contributed to the lower then expected sales of the E Bodies at the time. Sporty, yet much more affordable, not to mention 100 pounds lighter. Your insurance agent liked them better too. A 340 4 speed would take almost any car on the road at the time, even an E Body as they were lighter. These were a nice compromise in the day, and the reason they were around two years longer then the E Bodies. To go back and be able to order a new one, how awesome would that be, to sit down with a dealer and spec one out to your liking? I think a blue exterior, some Magnums, a white bucket seat interior. A 318 4 speed and air. Maybe an AM/FM radio, thats about it. Of course, the drive train also, maybe a 3.23 rear end, some beefy sway bars. Done. A car that would be fun to drive, easy on gas and insurance, reliable. What would you guys order?
I like the way you think! I have a 1975 Duster in metallic copper. Interior is parchment with brown carpet, black seat belts, and brown dash pad. 904 auto and a mild 318 built by yours truly. I love it, but if I could’ve ordered one new it would’ve been a little closer to what you described!
Yours sounds pretty fine. Good for you to still have one!
Sigh. I passed on a family hand me down Plymouth version of this. Really faded chalky yellow paint, black interior, 3 speed od manual transmission. 24000 miles. Hind sight right?
When was it and how much did they want at the time?
Back in 90, Grammy A had just given me her maverick. Then Grammy B got her license pulled. There was no cost involved. I was the only local grandchild. Sadly I was in an apartment near campus, no place to store. My uncle took it and did nothing but complain cause it was so plain and then the ac died and he drove it to the scrapper
Nigr8 Having a place to keep a car is always a bummer for a young person. Back in 1980 I had my 1970 black 2 door HT Plymouth (Pretty damn nice, too, let me tell ya) crushed because the second tranny went bad and I was in college and couldn’t afford to fix it at the time. It was my first car, I sure wish I had it today, not just because it is worth a fortune now, but because I loved it so. Back then, I didn’t realize that an almost 60 year old man with many more resources to care for it, would be so sad at its loss. My uncle offered to let me store it behind his barn until I could get it back running, but I didn’t want to be a bother. My folks at that time lived in an apartment too, so they had no place for it. I have had many fine cars since then (most actually much better cars) but that is the one I would trade any of them for. Of course, I think back then cars meant so much more to us then they do to most young people today. A Baby Boomer lament for sure. Will people in 40 years, who are young now, pine after their first cars?
2 years ago I bought All original 1980 Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Av with 15K original miles. Its the cream exterior with light beige leather interior. 360 2V , Factory AM/FM , Factory AC , dual power front seats , wire wheel caps . Asking price was 14K I got it for 13K
My parents bought an ’80 Fifth Avenue brand new in ’80. Black with gold metallic paint and Ivory leather interior. Had every available option except moon roof. It truly was a wonderful car. Very elegant and cozy to cruise in.
That’s a 75 or 76. The grille and back chrome panel id’s that. 73 and 74 had bezels aroud tail lights only not across the back.
You may be right. Hard to tell from the photos, but now that I look closer it looks like it has the later style 3-point belts that the ’73s and ’74s wouldn’t have had. That being said, there was lots of parts mismatching going on during year changes at this time!
My first car was a 1973 Dodge Dart like this one – mine was some strange pastel green color from the factory so we named it “the super slime”. top speed was maybe 70mph downhill with the wind and the handling of the car was so bad it was dangerous – those 25mph exit ramps? yeah take those at 20. Anytime you saw one of those signs for a curve with a recommended speed you reeeallly paid attention to that. But hey it lasted me and my twin sister all though high school and all the abuse of me loading up 6 or 7 friends in it every weekend in search of an empty field to drink some beer — good times lol
Sounds like the handling wasn’t necessarily the cars fault. I found that these handled superior to other cars of the day. Proper maintenance, properly inflated tires, and good driving habits and skills was all that was required. Forgive me, I have little tolerance for those who drink and drive.
And don’t forget about the torsion bar suspension which helped these cars handle much better than their counterparts.
nice…….
Had a chance to buy a 340 Demon back in the eighties for 1200 bucks, all stock which wasn’t all that common back then and it had the automatic. Strong performer without a doubt, but the non-functional hood scoop turned me off.
These cars with their torsion bar suspensions and V8s literally dominated short track stock car racing for several decades, Mopar had several factory racing books on how to affordably go racing.
My folks had a 74 Duster with the 225 six, automatic, p/s, a/c…it was a great little car but the California smog laws meant it simply didn’t have any power. I was driving my 1960 Dart Pioneer with the same engine at the time and itt would run away and hide from my folks car. The engine was designed pre-smog and it made decent horsepower for the first 12 years that Chrysler used it but it didn’t like the smog rules much after that.
I own this car now and dont believe the title ”rust free survivor”,its BS.Ive had her two years and just finished cutting rust out and replacing with steel.