The Scamp was a new model for the Plymouth Valiant line beginning in 1971 and they were basically a Dodge Dart Swinger body with a Plymouth Valiant front end and grille. The seller has this 1973 Plymouth Valiant Scamp posted here on craigslist in Olalla, Washington, about 23 miles southwest of Seattle but be prepared to cross some water unless you want to go around the horn. The seller is asking $5,500 for this one. Here is a copy of the ad in case someone grabs it in the next few days.
Being a first cousin to the Dodge Dart Swinger, the Plymouth Valiant Scamp was introduced five years into the third-generation Valiant, in 1971. This example looks great other than a couple of spots that I can see, the left front fender and under the vinyl top. I know that vehicles rust in the Seattle area but, in general, the Pacific Northwest is one of the best areas of the US to buy a vehicle from because they aren’t usually rusty and the rubber parts aren’t burnt from the desert sun.
There’s the right side C-pillar with something going on there and it appears that the other side has the same issue. Here’s a closeup view of the vinyl top from the first photo and there appears to be some damage there. Sadly, one of the great features of past generations of vehicles went away on the Valiant Scamp in 1973: wing windows or vent windows.
The interior looks great from what we see of it but with only five photos, it’s hard to really tell. I don’t see any cracks in the dash or in the steering wheel, a distinct benefit of buying vehicles from the Pacific Northwest. I wish we had more photos but the seller says that it’s all original and other than some exterior issues, it looks good to me.
The seller has owned this Scamp for 30 years and they don’t drive it much at all. In fact, it hasn’t been licensed since 2004 but they say that it runs and drives great and could be driven home. It has the famous 225 slant-six which would have had 105 horsepower and this one has a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic. Any thoughts on this Scamp?
That roof is in terrible shape. To buy the car at asking price & then to replace the roof, the buyer would be upside down with this one. You would almost have to get it for free to justify repairing the roof. What a shame because it sure looks like a sweet car otherwise.
These are going for 10-12k nowadays for examples that don’t need any bodywork. If you can repair the roof and that front fender for 5 grand, you’ll probably be about where you should be.
Hopefully whoever buys this brings it to a state where you can rip out all that emissions crap and maybe do a two-barrel Super Six setup.
Sweet car. It’s Scamp-erific 😎
Pre 1975 smog exempt in California
This car really doesn’t have much emissions stuff. Just EGR and a spark delay valve, both of which can easily be bypassed.
My dad had one of these brand new back in 74. Same car, only tan and with a 318. Sloppy steering, sloppy suspension, uncomfortable seats, lousy brakes and a mass of rattles.
One step up from public transportation, IMO. Didn’t make it 4 years without visible body rot. And in the weirdest places, too!
A rust hole in the center of the drivers door? It’s true.
Had one with the 318, automatic, and HD suspension. Great driving car. Handled well and was plenty quick enough for it’s day. Drove it 45K miles without turning a screw.
Certainly not a bucket list car for me but these days if your determined to get some old metal to drive and enjoy, then you start compromising. I do like the box look but I have to admit I’d stuff a V8 in it. Fix the roof, nix the vinyl and repaint it.
To be filed under “useless trivia”:
Dodge and Plymouth were both allotted funds to update the Dart and Valiant for 1970. Dodge spent its budget updating the existing Dart. Plymouth essentially left the Valiant alone and spent its budget creating the Duster. Dodge called foul, and demanded a version of the Duster. In return, Plymouth got a version of the Dart Swinger, on the Darts longer 111″ wheelbase. Valiant used flared wheel openings, Darts used flat openings, so front and rear wheel openings do.not match on Plymouth Scamps and Dodge Demons.
Another odd thing is the 71 – 73 Scamp used the 1970 Dart’s rear bumper, while the Dart got a new rear bumper for use in 71 – 73.
I had a 72 Scamp many moons ago but mine had a 318 in it
This car is in great shape for the asking price. Slant six’s are easy to maintain and the body looks rust-free and doesn’t have the headaches of power everything. Simple, efficient grocery-getter. I’d pull the vinyl top, repair any rust-through with fiberglass, paint it and leave the body alone. Too bad it’s 2200 miles away!
My Dad had a 73 Scamp, bought new. Had a slant six, ps, ac and that was about it.
Was a very basic car but underpowered especially if the ac was on. No power brakes was also fun wuth 4 wheel drum brakes.
Considering that in thise days a car never lasted 10 years ours was going strong after a decade.
I also recall it beinf very noisy especially at 60mph
I owned one of these for many years, though mine also had air conditioning and power disk brakes. It was also in a lot better shape than this. I loved the car. It wasn’t powerful but it had acceptable get up and go. It rode very well and was comfortable on long trips. On this one, I’d be concerned about the rusting fender, but even more concerned about the rusting roof! Water has gotten under that vinyl top and rusted out the areas on the C pillars where they weld the roof to the body. You have to get that off of there and see how far gone it is. Hope it’s not too bad.
I had a ’71 Duster I bought brand new, the color was “True Blue.” Had the indestructible slant six a three speed on the floor-the option I got, cost $13.00 to get the shift on the floor. Drove until,the fall of ’75, had to sell it because our first was due and my % foot wife, even with the set up all the way, could push the clutch in far enough to shift. in the spring of ’76 I bought a ’74 Duster, slant six, auto, PS, PB, and A/C. Drove it until, January ’77 when my wife pulled away from a stop into the path of a squad car. The squad was from the dept. I worked for driven by one of co-workers while I was on duty. Duster was totaled and I never had another one-figured the Duster was not a car my should be driving.
Auto shop kids from the public schools and Jr. College would participate in the, “Plymouth Trouble Shooting Contest,” using models like this car. About 50 cars were hauled to a football field and,”Bugged,” by Chrysler. They all had slant sixes. About four or five identical problems per car, with a written test. The winners were able to go to the Nationals. It was a very worthy program by Chrysler. Now many high school have closed in California.
BTW, someone sold me one just like the one for sale for $1. Put a short block and a valve grind to it with a detail. Sold it in the Thousands. The new owner had it for a decade before the rear end went out.