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!
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!