Vehicle Description
1970 Plymouth Duster 340
The Plymouth Duster debuted in late 1969 as a 1970 model and was a
sporty version of the Plymouth Valiant. The Duster featured curvy
exterior styling and a rounded fastback look for the rear. The
front end was the same as the Valiant. The interior was pure
Valiant. The Duster was available with a variety of engines,
ranging from two slant six-cylinder engines to either a 318 V8 or a
high performance 340 V8 rated at 275 bhp. It was the 340 V8,
coupled with the Duster's extremely low price, that made it a hit.
The base price was a mere $2,172 (only a little more than the 1960
Valiant) and included just the 198 Slant Six, a column mounted
three speed manual transmission, and manual brakes and steering.
However, any performance buyer would go straight to the 340 V8
option. For a mere $400, this option added the 340 V8 with
four-barrel carb, dual exhausts, floor mounted three-speed manual
transmission, a 3.23:1 rear axle, a heavy-duty suspension with
larger diameter torsion bars, extra leaf springs, front stabilizer
bar, front disc brakes, and a unique instrument panel that included
a tachometer and 150 mph speedometer. At a total price of just
$2,547, the Plymouth Duster 340 was much cheaper than either a
Plymouth Road Runner ($2,900) or Mustang Mach I ($3,300).
For consignment a fully restored Duster 340 right out of 1970. This
is a turnkey, mildly upgraded car for a Mopar fanatic who wants to
get into the muscle car game for a very reasonable price. B5 blue
paint will attract lots of eyeballs, and the combination of the
numbers matching 340ci V8 and the 3.91 Suregrip rear axle will keep
you ahead of the competition.
Exterior
This car bathed in Bright Blue Metallic for the Plymouth, (B5 Blue
for the numbers gurus out there), appears in overall very nice
condition with only very minor rust bubbling on the lower rockers
and driver's rear lower quarter panel. Sculpted body panels, which
add an unmistakable 70s flavor to the car's vintage design, are
detailed with an upgrade from 1971/72 in the form of a non
functional twin scooped hood and shark's tooth grille. Correct
flush mount marker lights are on the front fenders and rear quarter
panels and just above those marker lights, bold twin black stripes
combine with slick fender mounted turn signal indicators to
perfectly complement the traditional chrome door handles and a
stylish driver's mirror. And at the back of the car, a B5 Blue
valence hangs a right offset "DUSTER 340" script between broad oval
taillights, a second original bumper and traditional stainless
exhaust tips are down below. 15" Mopar Rallye wheels with polished
trim rings are seen all around and are wrapped in staggered width
blackwall rubber.
Interior
A swing of the doors reveals simple horizontally stitched black
vinyl door panels topped with black steel frames, Duster badging
and chrome for the cranks and releases. A luxury vinyl split bench
seat with fully separate backs emulating high back buckets
stretches from paneled door to door and has a fold down center
armrest. A rear bench is seen behind, and all seats are firm to the
touch and show very little wear. True black carpeting floods the
floors and shows slight fading, particularly on the hump. The
factory 3 spoke black plastic steering wheel front the silver
insert and wood veneer dash and houses near perfect circular rally
gauges with a factory tachometer in the center, the original AM
radio and temperature controls. This veneer stretches to the
glovebox, and down below is deep dark black steel with an auxiliary
tachometer and oil pressure gauges below. The upper padded dash is
very clean, and no cracks are seen. Lastly the headliner is pretty
much showroom condition with only a few wrinkles and the trunk
presents with a very nice liner, and black paint for the steel, all
rust free.
Drivetrain
A number matching 340ci V8 sits in a beautiful engine bay, and
sports ribbed and polished Mopar Performance valve covers and a
Mopar Performance air cleaner with a black wrinkle paint finish.
Correct Hemi Orange paint covers the block which has been fitted
with a mild performance camshaft and for you numbers guys and gals
this a casting number 2780930-340-2, (1968-1973 340ci V8 non
AAR/TA), and a stamping date of 3120, (Wednesday, February 11th
1970), which coincides with the February 19th, 1970 build date on
the fender tag. A 4bbl carburetor feeds air and fossils to the
mills and on the back is a numbers matching A727 Torqueflite
3-speed automatic with a consignor-stated 3600rpm stall converter.
Bringing up the tail end is an 8 1/4" rear axle with a 3.91
SureGrip gearset.
Undercarriage
Very clean, rust proofed and rust free with what appears to be a
new fuel tank and upgraded dual Turbo muffler exhaust. Manual disc
brakes are reserved for the front end as is an independent torsion
bar suspension and in the back are manual drum brakes with a leaf
spring suspension. And a thorough examination of all the car's
bushings, lines and hoses ensures it has road going reliability to
match its eyeball-popping curb appeal.
Drive-Ability
A nice smooth driver with easy manual steering, great acceleration,
and bias free panic stopping. The AM radio does work, but I like
the sound of the engine pumping out that HP! Ripped it...
As charming as it is cool, this clean classic wraps an original
340ci V8 drivetrain in Bright Blue Metallic aesthetics that are
guaranteed to turn heads. It's the perfect way for any enthusiast
to grab a neat old car and enjoy every aspect of the hobby!
VIN DECODE
VS29H0R217999
V-Plymouth Valiant/Duster
S-Special Price Class
29-2 Door Sports Hardtop
H-340ci V8 4bbl 275hp
0-1970
R-Windsor, Ontario, Canada Assy Plant
217999-Sequential Unit Number
FENDER TAG
E55-340 4 Barrel
D32-HD A727 TorqueFlite
VS29
V-Plymouth Valiant / Duster
S-Special
29-2 Door Sports Hardtop
H0R
H-340 275hp 4bbl V8
0-1970
R-Windsor, ONT, CAN
217999-Sequence Number '217999'
EB5
Paint Code-Bright Blue Metallic
D2X9
Trim Grade/Style/Color
D-Deluxe
2-Vinyl Bench
X9-Black
TX9-Upper Door Frame: Black / Black Velvet
21-Date Built: 2 / 19 / 1970
095054-Order Number: 095054
EB5-Roof Type OR Color: Bright Blue Metallic
M21-Roof Drip Rail Moldings
N41-Dual Exhaust w/o Tips
R11-Music Master Radio AM
V5X-Black - Moldings - Protective Insert Body Side
V8X-Transverse Stripe - Black
Y05-Built to U.S. Specifications
END-End of Codes
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 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 located 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.