Vehicle Description
1971 Plymouth Duster
There are some cars that are easy to underestimate, and this 1971
Plymouth Duster is definitely one of them. Mopar's compacts were
far more famous for being grocery-getter basic, but that isn't to
say that the company didn't slip a few screamers out the door. Put
a V8 in a lightweight car like this, and the performance is going
to be impressive. So, forget what you think you know about
garden-variety Dusters and have another look at this beautifully
restored Sassy Grass 340 Duster.
For consignment an original Duster that has one crucial swap out.
The original 318 was swapped for a 340. The 340 is a factory 340,
but it is not numbers matching. So, there you have it, almost all
original, however more power, performance and ability to dust
competitors.
Exterior
A photo documentation shows all areas of the original car were
fixed of any rust that may have invaded the steel panels. The
panels were stripped down, any fixes performed, and sanded then
primed, and sprayed with Sassy Grass Green. Like the bodywork,
someone spent a lot of time and money on the trim, too. The chrome
bumpers are recently re-plated, the stainless has been straightened
and polished, and even things like the grille and rear valence
panel are superb. You'll note that this car features fender-mounted
turn signal indicators, and a cool Go-Wing out back. The dual hood
scoops in black as well as the variegated black stripe down the
center of the hood keeps you from going into Sassy Grass overload.
The black belt line stripes and some painted badging takes care of
that on the sides.
Interior
Inside, the original black bucket seat interior has been restored
to stock specifications, with a few upgrades. Everything looks so
good, I have to believe most of it has been replaced, from the firm
bucket seats to the unfaded dash pad, it's all nice workmanship and
top-quality materials. Matching Duster-logo floor mats protect new
carpets, and all the woodgrain decals have been replaced. The
center console is a rare option on Dusters and looks right at home
in this sporty compact's interior. The Rallye gauges look original,
and everything works properly. An auxiliary tachometer hangs below
the dash and has been installed to keep an eye on the ever present
redline. Otherwise the dashboard is as it was in 1971. Oh, and the
original 2-watt Music Master AM radio has been chucked in favor of
a more powerful, upgraded AM/FM/CD unit that makes this car such an
easy cruiser.
Drivetrain
Although it says 340 all over the body, a 318 was the original mill
that came with the car. 318 was a pretty potent small block, who
can argue with an extra 22 cubic inches? Appropriately vintage, and
the machined striped Edelbrock valve covers give it a bit of eye
candy for showing off at the local cruise nights. Up top, there's a
correct air cleaner with a 340 decal. Aside from the Accel ignition
box mounted safely on the inner fender, everything else is
appropriate to the car. Up front, a correct radiator and fan keep
it cool, and you'll note that there are no performance-sapping
accessories like power steering or A/C...that's pretty butch. You
may also have noticed that the hood scoops are functional, thanks
to vents in the hood feeding cold air to the engine bay. Again,
it's not exactly a sleeper, but it doesn't look nearly as potent as
it is.
Undercarriage
Some surface rust, and rust through only on the floor pan on the
upward sweep can be seen... otherwise its black and fairly clean.
Very much vintage 1971.
Restored in 2009, this Duster still maintains its shine, and
muscle. A nice job on the restore, and a consigner that has garaged
and pampered the car much like their favorite toy, this car is
looking good, and is ready to turn some heads, or just be a one car
parade when you go get the groceries.
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 300 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania,
conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76
Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and
our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for
more information or to come see the vehicle in person.