So, what exactly is a scamp? A dictionary (remember those?) defines a scamp as “a playful, mischievous person, especially a child, who causes lighthearted trouble; a term typically used with affectional humor rather than serious condemnation.” Within the hallways of Plymouth, a Valiant Scamp was an answer to the Swinger from their cousin, the Dodge Dart. I had to take this writing assignment because the very first car I bought and made payments on as a working adult was a two-year-old ’76 Scamp. It looked very similar to this one, except mine was finished in Cinnamon Metallic. Before you go judging, please keep in mind that I had been driving stripped-down econoboxes, so a Scamp was a luxury car to me. Plus, it had a Slant-Six 225 engine, so I knew it would be rather bulletproof. Here’s a rare sight: a surviving 1973 Plymouth Valiant Scamp that’s not perfect, but is in overall good condition. It’s located in Spokane, Washington, and is listed for sale here on eBay for $4,000.
The Scamp is wearing its original paint, which I believe is called Golden Haze Poly. It looks shiny and very presentable. The seller says there are no touch ups, no bodywork, no switched out pieces and parts, and is in very good survivor condition. There is one small ding on the bottom section on the passenger door and the seller says it has “a super small amount around the rear drivers side lower quarter.” The seller claims that the floors, frame and trunk are perfect and that he has cleaned the trunk floor and treated it with a textured bed liner and then matched the floor back to the factory color. The parchment-colored vinyl top will need some attention, though, as several bubble spots are visible on the B-pillars (my ’76 had the same issue). The Scamp has new whitewalls on it as well as a set of recently sourced NOS full wheel covers.
The Scamp’s gold-and-brown interior is similar to the outside: it’s in very good survivor condition and has a lot going for it, but it’s not perfect. The vinyl and cloth seats aren’t worn, tore, or stained, and look very good as do the door panels and carpet. On the imperfect list, the seller does a good job of detailing the Scamp’s warts. It has a cracked dash pad, the woodgrain insert on the instrument cluster bezel is worn (they sell those on eBay), the headliner, sail panels, and the package tray would need to be replaced if the next owner wants to take this Scamp to the next level. Also, the original radio was cut out for a Bluetooth stereo at one point and a Viper alarm has been installed.
Under the Scamp’s hood is the famously durable 225 “Slant Six” engine with 90,000 miles listed on the clock. It’s paired to a 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The Scamp has probably been sitting for some time since the seller says the next owner should have the original gas tank drained or replace it with a new one. The car does run off of a bottle. Overall, this Scamp would make a good vintage car that doesn’t need a lot of restoration. They’ll never be as collectible as their step-brother, the Plymouth Duster, but it’s still a nice-looking 2-door hardtop with a legendary engine under the hood.
Looks good at first. But…
-Holes in the back fenders
-Rust under the vinyl top
-Trashed rear parcel shelf
-Trashed carpeting
-Trashed rear arm rests
-Trashed dash board
-Trashed headliner
-Poorly reupholstered seats
….and what’s going on with the rear license plate?
The good thing? The traditional Valiant hub caps are present.
This car was rode hard and put away wet. One has to wonder what else an in person inspection would turn up. For a 6 cylinder, even $4k might be a bit much.
Well… for a 53 year old nothing special, run of the mill, grocery getter I’m kind of impressed with the condition… These things were typically used up and thrown away in a matter of a few years…
In 74 my sister got a Plymouth Duster. It was slow, sloppy handling and terrible drum brakes. In 75 I got an Old Cutlass. More money but a whole new world of driving. I can’t see spending $4K on a car and then likely thousands more with all the needs of this one. It doesn’t make sense
My ex-wife had a 74 Duster with white stripes along the side before we were married needless to say some drunk hit me and totaled it while I was driving it and she had to get another car which was a 73 Formula Firebird
not a fan of those seat covers. there is some really bad stuff going on under that roof. they are at bin for 6k. i bet you take of that roof, and you will find holes.pass
they did not come with cloth seats like that. The original vinyl must have cracked and they replaced it with cloth. Doesn’t look great to me.
Thanks for this write-up! I believe the “step-brother” of the Scamp was the Swinger, not the Duster, as stated. I had a ’74 Swinger back in the day (’82-86). Also had a ’70 Duster and a ’74 Duster.
The Duster was a Plymouth and the Scamp a Dodge. Same car with different name badges attachted.
Beg to differ, Robin. The Duster and Scamp were both Plymouths, while the Dart Sport (Demon) and Swinger were the sister Dodges. So, siblings were the Duster to the Dart Sport and the Scamp to the Swinger.
I agree, I wasn’t paying attention to the names. We had both in the family and they we so alike you couldn’t tell the difference. One came from the factory with two different names on the car. Dark days for Chrysler.
As a dead broke college student in 1980, driving around in a valve-tapping 65 Plymouth Valiant, I longed to upgrade to the Omnipresent Slant-6 “Scamp”. Alas, it never happened.
Lot’s of these and Duster’s growing up in the ’70s. Pretty lousy cars with a couple redeeming virtues; Simple as a rock, very rugged and dependable and light. Even the 318 cars were peppy tire burners, the early 340 cars were rockets in a straight line. Something like this, swap in a heated up 340 or 360 4 barrel, some air shocks and L60-15 Mastercraft’s on Cragar’s S/S’s and you’ll be styling. Pioneer Supertuner 8-track with the Mindblower amplified speakers and a Foghat tape and you’re in business!
Maybe that’s it. I’ve driven at least 50 of then but all 225 slant six. I need to try a 340
I beg to differ regarding the comment that they were lousy cars. True, you would never win a drag race with one of them, but they were solidly built, would run on anything that came out of a pump labeled “gasoline” were simple and easy to understand and work on and put up with a lot of abuse.
Like Ron, my first car was a Scamp….a ’74 in Golden Haze mettalic with a black roof. Had I not loaned the car to a friend and had that friend not run the engine out of oil, I probably would still have the car to-day.
I prefer earlier years but except for the rust on the roof, this is really clean. Someone should save it.
My ex-wife had a 74 Duster with white stripes along the side before we were married needless to say some drunk hit me and totaled it while I was driving it and she had to get another car which was a 73 Formula Firebird