It’s amazing how many awesome 4x4s emerge from the dry, arid landscape of Montana and the surrounding environs, looking like any other late-model used car. This final year 1981 Plymouth Trail Duster is a wonderful survivor that presents incredibly well for a vehicle that’s actually been used, and the seller has listed it here on eBay with no reserve and bidding just over $9,000. It’s powered by the venerable 318 paired with an NP435 four-speed manual.
The original Cashmere paint still looks quite good for a truck of this vintage, but the seller does acknowledge it’s a twenty-footer. There are some touch up spots applied with a brush, but that doesn’t matter much with those awesome original decal stripes still looking as fresh as ever. The wheel and tire package is clearly an upgrade over the stock rollers, and the original wheels with three matching hubcaps are included with the sale. There are some small rust spots, but nothing major (for now).
The interior is in very nice condition, and mileage is said to be just over 100,000. The flaws seem fairly minor, with an air conditioning system that doesn’t blow cold and likely needs to be updated to R134A, and a drooping headliner. The Dodge didn’t come with a center console from the factory, so this one was added later. The gauges work as does the heat and the radio, but the horn is silent for now. I love seeing this square body SUVs with a manual gearbox – this one has to be fun to drive down fire roads and other remote trails.
Of course, the 318 is one of those engines that is just notoriously long-lived; laughably, the seller refers to it as a “rolling anvil.” The listing reports no leaks or bad noises, and that the Dodge is equipped with a NP208 transfer case and heavy-duty 9 1/4 rear end with 3.21 gears. The truck does have some aftermarket touches beyond the wheels, including a Flowmaster exhaust. You’ll find factory skid plates underneath, and no evidence of rot on the frame or floors. This final year model looks like a real-deal survivor, and is bidding quite reasonably at the moment.
I had no idea Plymouth sold BOF SUVs!
It’s Canadian
Why are you calling it a dodge in the description? It’s a Plymouth!
I had a 1980 T duster. 318 auto. 2tone brown and tan. Loved it. But sadly Illinois Winters and salt was it’s killer. Rear body fell down over frame and doors quit opening or shutting. Thing was a beast.
I had one, the same model year. Two tone blue, 318, 4×4. Total beast.
With the asking prices of comparable Broncos and Blazers, this could end up being a bargain.
Amazing condition, compared to what we see on the east coast
Is that a Lone Wolf 🐺 McQuade rig ?
Complete with on/off supercharger!
My Dad was quite frugal….(cheap), he bought a 1976 I believe, it ran fair, didn’t miss or smoke but was quite a pig. I never checked it myself but he swore the drive wheel was the right front. It was 4WD….I don’t know.
A buddy of mine had a Ramcharger with a 440/auto. Sucked fuel but wasn’t really all that bad . Two tone light and dark blue with blue interior. Nice truck. I’ve had three Dodge 3/4 tons, two 77’s and a 79. Fantastic trucks that never let me down. My current Dodge has 267,000 miles and is still going.