Dodge has produced a number of top-end muscle cars throughout the years, and they have always seemed to dominate the competition with the over-the-top Hemi engines that they slid under the hoods. That is why finding a good classic muscle car that does not break the bank is so hard. Luckily, there is still one that has been left alone by collectors because it is not one of the biggest or one of the fastest Dodge muscle cars. But, it is a viable option for those wanting a budget-friendly classic that can rumble its way down the road as is. Of course, the Plymouth Duster is definitely the way to go if a project car is wanted. Let's take a little deeper look into this amazing car that has been left for dead by so many muscle car enthusiasts.
10 The Duster Was A Reincarnated Plymouth Valiant
In the '70s, one of the most popular compact cars created by the Dodge Corporation was the Plymouth Valiant. The problem was that it looked like an everyday sedan that a family would drive around in when going to the mall. The Plymouth Duster was created by using the Valiant, making it better, more sporty, and extremely appealing. In the first year of the Duster, in 1970, the Valiant name can be found stamped on the car and inserted into the name on the car's title.
9 It Cost $15 Million To Improve The Plymouth Valiant
The Dodge Duster differed from the Valiant from the cowl back, but the platform and the front sheet metal were the same. It would not be thought that much of a difference would be made so the cost could be kept down, but that is not the case. The transformation of the Plymouth Duster from the Valiant cost the company $15 million. This is not an uncommon number when talking about a brand-new car platform and design, but when using a pre-existing vehicle, the cost should have been much lower.
8 The Plymouth Duster 340 Was All About Power
The Plymouth Duster 340 was all about power, which is why it is one of the most remembered Dusters from the '70s. The Duster 340 did have some options for smaller engines, but the one to have was the 340 V8, which could push out around 275 horsepower and had a ground-pounding torque of 340 foot-pounds. It could scoot down the quarter-mile track in under 15 seconds and accelerate from 0 to 60 in around 6 seconds. Plus, a 340 is easy to build up to increase horsepower, which makes the Plymouth Duster 340 one of the best compact muscle cars around.
7 The Fuel-Efficient Plymouth Feather Duster
By the latter part of the '70s, consumers wanted more fuel economy because of the gas prices that continued to surge upwards. The fuel-efficient Plymouth Feather Duster was the Dodge Corporation's answer to the trend. It was produced with aluminum parts such as the intake manifold, the transmission housing, bumper brackets, and the hinges on the hood and trunk. This saved about 187 lbs in weight, so along with the 225 Slant Six engine designed for fuel efficiency, the Feather Duster could reach up to 36 mpg on the highway and 24 mpg in town.
6 The Eye-Catching Plymouth Duster Twister
After the Valiant name was dropped and the Duster became its own model, many variations were put on the market to help sales. One of those cars was the eye-catching Plymouth Duster Twister. It came out first as a trim level with more eye appeal than the base-level ones. By the time the 1972 model year rolled out, the Twister had become the most aggressive, muscle car-styled Dodge vehicle built from the A-frame platform.
5 1976 And Still No Catalytic Converter
Even though most of the muscle cars on the roads had to have a catalytic converter installed, Dodge pushed the limits on the Plymouth Duster. The power pushed out of the 360 V-8 was down to a low 225 horses, but it could still accelerate from 0 to 60 in a matter of 7.9 seconds which is not bad for a smaller muscle car. The last year of production, 1976, and still no catalytic converter, made the Plymouth Duster one of the go-to cars to buy because it was not hampered by the catalytic converter, which is known to rob the car of power.
4 The Sparkling Plymouth Gold Duster
The sparkling Plymouth Gold Duster was a car designed to catch the eye of consumers that loved to stand out. A flashy gold paint job was sprayed onto the base level car, and gold badging and stripes were added to show that the Duster was a special model. The interior was full of carpet from one end to the other, and it had extensive sound-deadening material to offer a quiet ride. The one thing that makes this car stand out, however, is the snakeskin patterned vinyl top which was a one-of-a-kind design that showed consumers that Dodge was a car manufacturer that truly moved to the beat of its own drum.
3 Famous Drag Racers Promoted The Plymouth Duster
During the era of the muscle car, a common mantra spoken by gearheads and power-hungry consumers was, "there is no replacement for displacement." That means they felt that only the muscle cars with big block motors and deafening roars when stomped on could be worth having. The proof was given by famous drag racers that promoted the Plymouth Duster which shows differently. Such people as Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen and the Sox & Martin duo racers helped campaign to improve the Duster's image, which of course, helped to sell cars to young people that wanted affordable power options.
2 1974 Was The Best Sales Year
Like all the competition, the 1974 emissions regulations spelled disaster for the muscle car. All the engines were detuned to meet the rules, which meant they were all detuned to produce less power. This was an after-effect of meeting the regulations, but for the Plymouth Duster, 1974 was the best sales year they had ever had. There were a total of 281,378 produced, with most of them being the fuel-economical six-cylinder or the dependable 318 V-8 that gave the car some power while still giving decent fuel economy.
1 The Duster Is An Affordable Muscle Car
All this information boils down to the fact that the Duster is an affordable muscle car for those who want a car ready to race straight off the lot or for those who want a project car to build up into a beast. The other Dodge cars, such as the Plymouth Barracuda and the Dodge Challenger, are classic cars that are hard to find, and when they are, they can be sold off for up to six figures. The Plymouth Duster is easier to find and has an average sale of just over $18,000, but they have been known to sell for under $3,000 when the right conditions occur.