Finally, a relative bargain! That’s what might go through your mind looking at the ad for this 1974 Plymouth Duster, at an asking price that seems like it came to us from the 2010s: $5000. And it’s not just any old Duster. Rather, it’s a Special Edition, resplendent with stripe accents and Special Edition badging. This one sits at present in Lakewood. No, not California, or I would already have it in my driveway. This Lakewood is in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. It was spotted for us by Gunter Kramer, to whom we say, Keep ‘em coming!
The Duster was the Plymouth version of the Dodge Demon, until the latter had to change to the more friendly sounding “Dart Sport.” These cars were the semi-fastback variant of Dodge and Plymouth offerings of two-door and four-door sedans such as the Valiant, which was almost a perfect rectangle in shape. It’s a shame the photos of this particular car are taken so close, with the car garaged, since that both takes away a full view that would let you appreciate the styling of the body and also make an informed judgement as to condition. What we can see looks pretty good. Is there rust repair, since these cars were notorious for even the fender tops rusting out, and this one comes from a snowy climate? Hard to tell. Better bring a magnet along on your inspection.
The engine in use here is the uber-reliable 225-CID “Slant Six,” which lived from 1960 until the cusp of the new century. If you’ve never seen one installed in a chassis, it’s fun the first time as you immediately notice the lean of the valve cover (and hence the whole engine). This inline six may not be the 318-cubic-inch V8 or the 340 that made a Demon truly possessed, but it gets the job done and is easy and inexpensive to rebuild. That’s something you likely won’t have to do on this one, as it’s registered only 73,000 miles (by the ad; the odo seems to read 71,000 plus). But it is said to have last run three years ago. No word on any attempt to start in of late, so you’re a bit on your own there.
The potential in this car is clear, and it looks like it already has Ohio Historical Vehicle tags, so it’s used to the Cars and Coffee scene. For my money, at five grand you can’t go wrong, if it’ll run around the block even. See for yourself here on craigslist, and then get to Cleveland, cash in hand. It’s easy to say this, but for once, this does look like a rare opportunity, especially if the paint is original and there are no old sins being covered up.
Somebody had fun building this car. Seems to be a Dart Sport (check the taillights and trim panel that says Dodge), with a 73/4 Plymouth front clip (doesn’t have the Dodge fender and nose extensions). Original ad is gone, so can’t see it for more pics or information.
It’s more accurate to say that the Demon is Dodge’s version of the Duster. Plymouth and Dodge were allocated a modest budget to facelift the Valiant and Dart for 1970. Plymouth took that budget and created the Duster, while Dodge followed through on a facelift for the Dart. When it became clear that Plymouth had a hit on its hands, Dodge dealers demanded a version of the car for Dodge. In return, Plymouth was granted a version of the Dart Swinger, the Scamp. The mix-and-match approach to the Demon and Scamp is evident in their mismatched wheel openings. Both makes also swapped taillights – the Scamp used 1970 Dart taillights, and the Demon used taillights originally planned for the 1971 Duster.
These A bodies were not ” notorious for even to tops of the fenders to rot out” , speaking for someone on the East Coast that managed a salvage yard, I can tell you these A bodies had the usual rust belt issues of rust in the rear quarters ,floors and most anything under a car, but from the doors forward they were pretty solid. The 76-77 Volare Aspens had major fender rot issues and Chrysler replaced thousand of fenders on those.
This car is a hodge podge of parts; the front end is all Valiant Duster , but from the back it is a Dodge Dart Sport . the aluminum tail trim was on the 75-76 Darts. It has 1971 Plymouth hubcaps. There were no “Special Edition” ” Dusters , and the stripes are no where near factory . The fact that its either a Dodge or a Plymouth tells me one of two things. Either it was a Dart Sport that got hit hard in the front ( and it must have been very hard as those bumpers are very solid) or more than likely as its VIN would state its a Plymouth, is that it was hit in the rear and the rear panel was replaced from a Dodge . Either way, its been in an accident ,and the price reflects that.
Pretty ritzy for a Duster. At first I thought it would be a Hang Ten by the rear shot. Special Edition (SE) was a common trim for Dodge. Nice and easy car to drive. Many people ran them until they’d go no more.
It clearly says Plymouth on the front and Dodge on the rear , but you’re right I have seen Canadian Mopars that were odd combos. I think by the 70s that had all changed though
Don is spot on. There was no such thing as a Duster “Special Edition”. There was a Valiant Brougham that was introduced in 1974, available as a four door sedan or a two door hardtop (was not called a Scamp Brougham) and a Dart Special Edition, similarly available as a four door or a two door hardtop. The Special Edition nomenclature was used on Dodges, not Plymouths.
The tape stripes were factory, but as another commenter has pointed out, usually seen on the Dart Spott Hang 10 or the Convertriple. Similar stripes were used on the Space Duster, so that’s probably the inspiration for these.
The interior is definitely not highline…the steering wheel is for a base model.
Kind of makes you wonder what else they modified to get this car on the road..
One possibility: it might be from Canada or Mexico. Chrysler seemed to mix and match parts for non-US distribution. The M-body Caravelle was a good example of a Dodge rear with w Chrysler front if I remember correctly.
I’d like to run the VIN on that one.
I used to own a 1974 gold duster.
The back panel on this vehicle is a dart not a duster.
The darton duster may look similar but there are a lot of differences and I can tell you this is not a duster.
That “Special Edition” badge is off a later Dodge Aspen, or something like that. My friend had two Aspen SE’s with those same badges. Both rusty as he!!.