Three-Pedal Project: 1970 Plymouth Duster

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This 1970 Duster has already exchanged hands twice recently, with the seller telling us the guy he acquired it from bought it in Montana two years ago.  The Plymouth went to Maine, where the present owner purchased it then transferred it to Bloomfield, Michigan, where the Mopar is currently residing.  This one’s gotten passed around twice in a short amount of time and it’s still not running, so hopefully, the next holder will be ready to give this car the attention it needs to be back on the road.  If you’ve been searching for a first-year model example, this 1970 Plymouth Duster can be found here on eBay, where the bidding is currently at $3,550.  There’s no reserve, so the most optimistic contender has bought themselves a winter project.

One of the first choices the future owner will have to make regards the drivetrain, which is a Slant Six mated to a 3-speed manual transmission.  Plymouth offered two different variants of its inline 6 engine, with the fender tag confirming this one came with the 225 cubic-inch variety, which received a horsepower rating of 145.  Unfortunately, it’s not running, with the seller thinking a faulty starter might be the problem.  It’ll be up to the next caretaker to decide whether to keep the displacement as it was from the factory, or maybe axe this motor and put something more potent under the hood.

Outside, there’s both good and bad news, with the positive being that the Duster seems almost complete.  However, some rust is present, with the lower quarter panels appearing to be the most affected areas.  There’s a bit more on the passenger side fender plus a few scrapes and small dents to be smoothed out, but I’ve seen far worse starting points, so hopefully no more corrosion is hiding inside any other panels.  It’s not specified if the paint is original, but with all the patina on top, it wouldn’t surprise me if that’s still the same finish this one left the Hamtramck assembly plant wearing.

Decades of baking have reduced the dash to near rubble status, but all of the gauges appear to be present along with an aftermarket Stereo and cassette player.  It’s not possible to judge the condition of the front bench underneath the covering, but I’m guessing there’s a reason it was put on, although the back seat could possibly be salvageable after a good cleaning.  In my younger days, I was more of a Road Runner and Barracuda guy, but Dusters have really grown on me and I’m hoping somebody will restore this one.  Is this 1970 Plymouth Duster decent project material?

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Comments

  1. Harry in Ct.

    Yep a project, would be worried motor is locked rather than bad starter. Looks like about a striped as u could get power nothing and steering by arm strong.
    I f you got a garage and tools it has potential but a pass for me.
    Good luck to the buyer.

    Like 3
  2. XMA0891

    Maybe I don’t get out enough, but I have never seen a Duster with a manual transmission. The floor shifter looks almost like an afterthought.

    Like 1
    • gary

      I’ve owned two 71 349 Dusters with four speeds, not uncommon

      Like 2
    • Mike

      I owned a 70 Duster 340 with a 4 speed back in 1970-71.

      Like 1
    • Marty

      I owned a Duster and I ordered it with a floor shift.

      Like 1
    • Rick

      A neighbor bought a ’72 Duster with the Slant Six and a three on the floor new off the dealership lot.

      Like 1
    • Harry

      So many manual transmission Dusters built. It was in reality a forethought.

      Like 1
  3. Jim Helmer

    Yes Duster had 6 cylinder 3 on the floor as a factory option in 1970 .
    My auto mechanics instructor had one brand new and believe it or not he used to let me and a friend of mine drive it to get parts.
    It was a fun car to drive.

    Like 2
    • MrBZ

      Yep, specially if you’re a teenager!

      Like 2
  4. Lance

    Call me a skeptic but I was not aware of Montana cars having that much corrosion. The one I have come across have rubber and upholstery issues but corrosion is not generally one of them.

    Like 1
  5. Charles Herwig

    Those were Rust atracters , had a 74 Dart Sport , once the sheet metal started crumbling the frame was already done . Unless it got the Ziebart !!

    Like 1
  6. Joe T

    Bought a 76 Duster in 1978, 225 slant 6 and a833 4 speed (o/d). Great car. Would cruise at 65 and get 30mpg. Which I still had it.

    Like 1
  7. Robert Atkinson, Jr.

    The motor test is easy. Pull the plugs and try to turn the crankshaft by hand with a socket and a breaker bar. If it won’t turn (and I’m guessing it won’t, based on condition), swap in a 340 or 360 Mopar mill, and let the restomodding commence! The good news is than many of the panels for these are available from factory licensed suppliers in the aftermarket, like Auto Metal Direct or Dynacorn. The bad news is that with rust this bad, there may be lots more rust you can’t see under the carpets and fender wells! Anyone who takes this on better be a skilled auto body technician, with a place to do the work, because it’s the rust you can’t see that costs the big dollars, LOL!

    Like 3
  8. Bone1492

    My father had one, I learned to drive with it… 225 three speed column shift/ A Green on green 1970

    Like 0

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