Vehicle Description
Clean mostly original V8 Gold Duster. Upgraded 318 cubic inch V8,
automatic transmission, Rallye wheels. Nice interior, vinyl roof in
excellent shape. Fast, fun, affordable '70s muscle that doesn't
break the bank to buy or own.In the mid-70s, a well-driven Duster
with a V8 was probably one of the hottest cars on the road. Not a
lot of weight with plenty of reliable Mopar torque made for a car
that could chase the legends of the '60s without really breaking a
sweat. Chrysler was always famous for delivering models with
playful names and interesting decal packages, and the Gold Duster
is no different, offering a black body stripe and cartoony 'Gold
Duster' name plates. Most of these cars were painted as this one
is: Sunfire Yellow with black details, and we have to admit the
combination works rather well. It's obviously not a bright yellow,
but the more muted tone is certainly appropriate for the era. And
with straight bodywork underneath, it looks quite good for a car
approaching its 50th birthday. The vinyl top is in great condition
with no signs of problems underneath and those big chrome bumpers,
an artifact of the period, polish up nicely. It's a tidy-looking
car.Thanks to NOS material from Legendary, the seats are beautiful
and correct. Sure, the head rests are slightly faded (likely due to
being made of a slightly different vinyl), but the dash pad isn't
cracked and baked by the sun and that's the original headliner
overhead. The carpets have likely been replaced and they're in
excellent condition and the three-spoke steering wheel looks sporty
enough in the otherwise no-nonsense interior. The only real demerit
is the missing A-pillar trim, but we searched in vain for a few
weeks trying to find replacements-perhaps the new owner will have
better luck. On the other hand, the gauges are in great shape and
are joined by an auxiliary ammeter under the dash, there's an
upgraded Sony AM/FM/CD stereo in the center of the dash, and this
was a factory A/C car, although most of the underhood components
have been removed. The Duster, despite being a compact, also offers
a spacious rear seat, making this a good car for families, and
there's a massive trunk that still carries its original mat with
spare tire stowed underneath. Peek under the hood and you'll see
why we like this car so much: a nicely built 318 cubic inch V8 with
a few smart upgrades. There's a 4-barrel carburetor on top of an
aluminum Weiand intake manifold, an upgraded camshaft inside, and
beautifully finished long-tube headers feeding a rumbling dual
exhaust system. It's nicely dressed in Hemi Orange engine enamel
with finned Mopar Performance dress-up parts, so opening the hood
is something to look forward to. Better yet, it starts easily,
idles nicely, and pulls the Duster around with genuine authority.
The 3-speed automatic transmission snaps off crisp shifts and with
3.21 gears out back, it's a comfortable all-around cruiser.
Underneath it's original, not restored, but there's a newer Dynomax
dual exhaust system, good floors, and front disc brakes that work
well with the Duster's modest weight. Air shocks in back help keep
it on an even keel and it sits on 205/70/14 whitewall radials and
factory Rallye wheels.Documentation includes the original owner's
manual, service and body manuals, and a neat color and trim booklet
used by salespeople in 1974. There's also a folder full of
maintenance receipts including details on the engine build.Today as
in 1974, the Duster offers a lot of performance per dollar. For
Mopar fans, the Dusters have always lived in a special place and
with a fairly potent V8 under the hood, this car is no slouch on
the roll. Clean, fun, and easy to live with, perhaps it's time to
put a Duster in your garage. Call today!Harwood Motors always
recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any
vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
