Plymouth needed more youthful buyers to express interest in their compact Valiant, which had been redesigned in 1967. Enter the Duster in 1970, a fastback version of the car that had all-new sheet metal from the cowl back. The Duster would prove quite popular and spawned Dodge’s version of the sporty car in 1971, the Demon. This ’72 Duster looks faster than it is – pop the hood and you’ll find Chrysler’s 225 cubic inch Slant-Six lurking there, complete with some bling and recent mechanical updates.
Plymouth built 228,000 Dusters in 1972 and 92% of them were the “standard” Duster, i.e., not the performance Duster 340. Although a 318 cubic inch V8 was available, we suspect the lion’s share of 1972 Dusters had the Slant Six whose design dated back to the late 1950s. Without modifications, these engines were rated at 110 hp vs. 145 the year before, but the measurement stick had changed from gross to net horsepower.
With just 60,000 miles, we’re told this Duster is a survivor car. Everything looks original except for the aftermarket wheels (they add 10 mph, right?) and some chrome on the novel six-banger. Some money has just been invested in ensuring the car is roadworthy, including new tires, alternator, carburetor, distributor, radiator, and more. Perhaps the Plymouth had been living in the storage units where it was photographed, hence the need for new things like a gas tank.
The paint may be original, and there are a couple of scrapes in the fenders you could probably live with. We’re told the Mopar runs great, and it will skip more gas stations than the Duster 340 it looks like. The interior appears to be original and quite tidy, and the car has factory A/C, though no mention is made of it working. The only other major factory option may have been the automatic transmission. Located in Mooresville, North Carolina, this nifty Mopar is available here on craigslist for $12,500. Kudos to T.J. for another nice Mopar tip!
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My first car was a ‘72 Duster with the slant 6. It was a “Gold Duster” so it was painted gold and had a simulated lizard skin vinyl roof. I remember the steering was really loose but a great dependable first car.
My first car was a 72 Duster with a 318 and three on the tree.
Sadly having spent its entire life in New England the rust took out the rear ends of the frame rails and the leaf springs poked through the trunk. Some air shocks and old street signs got me through the winter but it went on to greener pastures or became a refrigerator or rebar who knows.
I had one of these when I lived in Vermont, in a different color combo. A guy gave it to me in exchange for painting his house, I think it was in 1979. It was dependable and easy to work on. Eventually, the tin worm brought it down.
+ 3
Nice little parts snagger. About $4k too high, but what the heck. Appears to need a little dry ice on the under side but still pretty clean.
Thought I was seeing a ghost for a minute. I had one of these back in the day. Same year, color, engine, also an automatic. Traded it in on a new Mustang in 1979. Never saw it again. Seats are different on this one, so most likely not it.
The A/C definitely doesn’t work, because it’s been removed from the engine bay. Probably at the same time as they painted the engine bay black.
at least the compressor is still there , if you wanted to redo the AC
Yeah, I actually noticed that later, I was looking at it wrong. So distracted by the horrible black engine bay. Pretty nice car overall though.
The wheels have more horsepower than the engine!
I had a 72 Gold Duster in this same color “Honeydew” . Being a higher line model it had the 318, side moldings and of course the snakeskin vinyl half top . The 72s are the only year to have the long tail lights , they are prone to collecting water in the corners and the panel will rust out there – this one has a tinge of rust there and should be addressed ; otherwise this looks like a solid little car , but a bit overpriced
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+ 5
Please explain what all your progressive increases mean.
Thanks, Billy
Number of times the thumbs up feature doesn’t work in a row?
Yeah, I know yur right. This forum is sometimes questionable.
Seems like everyone had these in the 70s, kinda like Volkswagen bugs and Rabbits. Had a friend who had one, his parents bought it for him. It was green with a green interior. Pretty basic car. About 6 months after he got it he got drunk and wrapped it around a telephone pole. He parents replaced it with another ’72 Duster only this time it was a very upscale model, in brown, beige interior and top, white walls, full disk hubcaps, V-8 really nice little car. Yeah, I hung around with a lot of spoiled rich kids.
This is it just right in all its beige splendor. These have just the right right balance and look as good in street screamer or grocery getter guise.
First wife had the Dodge Demon version of this when I met her. Sort of a cross between Earl Scheib blue and faded Ford Grabber Blue. Dog dish hubcaps and “leaning tower of power” under the hood. Wish we’d kept it then I would have asked for it in the divorce. Would have made a nice sleeper with some go-fast items and manual transmission. FYI, the thumbs up feature of Barn Finds is working flawlessly for me today. Not always the case.
Clean looking duster