Dusters are some of the most...
Dusters are some of the most desirable A-Bodies built by Mopar, especially the early versions. Paul Smith of DeKalb, Illinois, found this 1970 model on an Internet classified site, proving there are still deals out there.
We often hear from our readers that there just aren't any cars out there left to find, or that the cars they do find aren't worth repairing. Fortunately, the submissions to our Hidden Treasures column contradict those statements, proving that there are still good Mopars just waiting to be discovered and restored. Paul Smith of DeKalb, Illinois, is the owner of a '71 Dodge Challenger, and is always looking for a deal on another Mopar to restore. Searching the Craigslist website for cars in his area, he came across an ad for an "old Dodge," stating that the owner would consider trades. Curious, Paul called the owner to see what the car really was.
Upon contacting the owner, Paul learned that the car wasn't a Dodge at all, but rather a '70 Plymouth Duster. Liking the body style, he asked the owner about the price and if a trade was an option, and the owner told him he would trade for a car of equal value. Since Paul had a brand X Monte Carlo that needed a little work, he offered the car in trade and the two agreed to meet. Upon seeing Paul's trade, the owner agreed to make the deal, so Paul went to look at the Duster a couple of days later. Arriving to find the Plymouth covered in six inches of snow, Paul was skeptical at first, but then looked the car over and found it to be solid and pretty much rust free.
Agreeing to trade cars after Paul made a few repairs to his, Paul went to work making the repairs, but was interrupted by the owner of the Duster before he could finish them. Instead of trading, the owner needed the cash, so he offered the car to Paul for sale outright. After a little negotiation, the two agreed on a sale price of $2,000 and Paul went right over to seal the deal and pick up his Plymouth. Upon arriving home with his Duster, Paul inspected it and was pleasantly surprised with the condition.
Though Paul found it in Illinois, the Plymouth was originally from North Carolina, explaining its rust-free condition. Showing just over 79,000 miles, the car's 318 engine fired up and ran great, and after washing the car, the original Burnt Orange paint actually shined. The car has a bench seat interior and has an aftermarket shifter installed on the floor. There's also a clutch pedal, however, leading us to believe that this car might have come with either a three- or four-speed manual transmission from the factory. Fortunately, the fender tag and buildsheet are both still intact, so Paul won't have any trouble finding out what original equipment this Duster came with. We look forward to seeing the Duster when it's finished, and we thank Paul for sharing his hidden treasure with our readers.
When Paul first went to inspect...
When Paul first went to inspect this car, he found it in a parking lot covered with six inches of snow. Fearing the car was originally from the Midwest and rusty, he looked it over and found it to be in great shape for its age.
Though not a rare 340 model,...
Though not a rare 340 model, this Plymouth is equipped with a 318, making a 340 swap easy. Paul is unsure of how he'll build this car but plans a full restoration either back to original or as a clone.
Though discovered in Illinois,...
Though discovered in Illinois, this Plymouth spent most of its life in North Carolina, explaining the rust-free panels and floors. Even better, the car runs great and is wearing its original Rallye Wheels.
1970 was the first year for...
1970 was the first year for the Duster, and the car was still considered part of the Valiant line. The Duster looked nothing like the Plymouth Valiant, however, and ended up being one of the Chrysler Corporation's biggest sellers.
It's always a bonus to find...
It's always a bonus to find the fender tag and buildsheet for a Mopar, and Paul found the buildsheet under the backseat right next to a mouse nest.
We suspect a previous owner...
We suspect a previous owner converted this car to an automatic transmission, since the clutch pedal is under the dash. We thank Paul for sharing his hidden treasure with us and look forward to seeing the car once it's finished.