• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Plymouth dusters ?

Purepony

Well-Known Member
Local time
4:40 AM
Joined
Feb 18, 2021
Messages
929
Reaction score
706
Location
SFV
How do you guys feel about the 73-74 duster ? I’m thinking of getting a nova but then I realized the 73-74 is similar to the novas I like

what is your opinion? And how much can I expect to pay for a running project with minimal if any rust? Keep in mind I’m in ca so I don’t see a lot of rust


Thanks all
 
Last edited:
If I bought a ‘73-‘76 Duster, I’d probably back date it with ‘70-‘72 tail and front sheet metal. Heck, I’d probably put the Demon back panel on and look for a ‘70-‘71 Dart front clip.
 
Dusters are cool
My middle son has one. Pulled the 6 and put a stroked 360 in itwith a 727 and strange axle. Left the body all primers. Its a real sleeper.
Tied the body all together with connectors and a roll cage.
Fun to drive
 
I picked up my 73 as an Ex drag car roller cheap. Now a 470 auto with 3.90s. Fast and fun. Got it out of Portland for $1800. Got some dents and a little rust in the rear quarters. Has frame tied in and came with a motor plate. These cars come with disc brakes and large bolt pattern wheels.
IMG_1024.JPG
 
Last edited:
My Grandma bought a new Duster back in 1970. There were 8 cousins in our generation, 7 of us were males who argued for YEARS about who was going to get Granny's car when she could no longer drive it (225, m/s, m/b ... tough old lady). Well I'm happy to say the joke was on all of us because she stayed around long enough to assure she was the only owner of that car. It rusted away just about the time she became unable to drive it. She got the last laugh. We lost her in the late 90's when she was in HER 90's. RIP Grandma!
 
I had a '71 340 Duster absolutely loved that car. I don't care much for the front of the '73 and up. But they are still really nice car's. I would want to change the the front, but it's getting hard to find all those pieces.
 
They look pretty good with the grille blacked out. More balanced design than the Nova, plus it's a Mopar.
1974-plymouth-duster-415-magnum-for-sale-2019-11-10-1.jpg
 
Honestly out of our stable I would pick the daughters Duster every time to drive on a daily basis. It is a nicely balanced car that still feels great on today's roads and parking lots.

164094241_3883072975061924_1198940183160332162_n.jpeg
C8252C02-EB5B-44B8-8F50-E28F06F62C50.jpg
197567121_4103423476360205_7885257083697556651_n.jpeg
198166537_4103423576360195_6962770466762558281_n.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Our Duster is the Most Fun of ours to drive, 340, 4-spd, 3:73s. Been wanting to take it locally for Nostalgia Nights at our local strip, maybe this year ?
100_2820.JPG
100_2824.JPG
 
Fun little cars. My 76 I did a few years ago. 318 4-speed 3.55 gears, fun car.

Duster4.jpg
Engine.jpg
 
What no one is saying though is how many times they have banged their damn heads on the roof getting in the front seat :)..... What the Uncle Tony's episode on them.
 
Don’t forget the Dart Sport and the Demon, same basic car as a Duster with different fenders and grills. 73 to 76 are pretty much the same car.

Generally speaking the A bodies seem like they are cheaper to buy versus the B and E bodies. Not sure what sales are like in CA but the rest of the country 7k to about 18k can by a pretty decent A body. A decent 73 to 74 fall in that range most of the time.

I think an A body is smaller than a second generation nova, a body is more comparable 67 and earlier nova and chevy 2, closest to the 66-67s. 68 and later Nova is little wider and longer. Closer size wise to a later 70s Aspen or Volare.

We have pair of 65 dart GT’s, 67 valiant, a pair of factory 71 340 cars, one 4 speed and a base auto car, a 75 Dart sport 318 and a factory 76 360 Dart sport. I think 76 360 HP car is likely one of our rarest cars. An old car and driver back in 76 article showed it’s 121 top speed beat the 76 455 Trans am and only getting beat by the higher output vette. So they called the dart the second fastest car in America! :thumbsup:
Picture below is a shot of the dart sport speeding by the radar..

Our 65s have a lot of head room, bucket seats, and with the longer wheel base I like driving it better than anyone of the later A’s we have had. It had a 318 in it for years now has a big block. I really like the 71 340 duster body style and colors for 71 cars, over all I think our coolest A body our is that curious yellow duster with a 4 speed and 3.90s. It is a quick car, but I have never been able to get comfy driving our later A’s with bench seats. It has a bench with an fold down armrest, the rest are bench seat cars. Missing to much headroom for a 6’ 3” dude.

For the most part A’s make me appreciate our B bodies all the more!

663DEF3B-5483-4181-BE1B-182CC66950A0.jpeg 05DAAE1F-5DB3-4492-A7B3-1DF9E0126AF4.jpeg
 
Last edited:
I’m thinking of getting a nova but then I realized the 73-74 is similar to the novas

You do realize that "No va" is spanish for no go? Honestly, I never saw any an appeal in the Nova, but to each their own. I've had two dusters, a 74 and a 75... they're light, fun and in my opinion sweet looking cars.
 
Last edited:
Personally, I like the 70 & 71's the best. Mine has a 408 stroker, 4-speed, and 3.23 gears. It's a blast to drive around town and purrs right along at 70 on the highway.

20220531_190327.jpg


20220531_190405.jpg
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top