When Plymouth introduced the Duster, its vision was to produce a sporty but affordable variant of its Valiant range. The options list included some motors that endowed the car with respectable performance at a bargain-basement price. The range first broke cover for the 1970 model year, and our feature car is one of the offerings that brought muscle credentials to the table. This Duster 340 presents well for its age, and it wouldn’t take a lot of money or effort to lift it to the next level. Located in Molino, Florida, you will find the 340 listed for sale here on eBay. It seems to have hit the spot with the buying public because twenty-seven bids have pushed the price beyond the reserve to $11,100.

The exterior presentation of this Duster is difficult to fault. Its Lime Light paint shines impressively, with no significant flaws or issues. The panels are as straight as an arrow, and with crisp stripes and “340” decals, it suggests that the car may have been the recent recipient of some restoration work. The owner doesn’t mention it in the listing, so we must judge the Duster at face value. I can’t spot any exterior rust in the supplied photos, with prone areas like the rear window surround and filler looking clean. The owner doesn’t mention any problems with the floors or frame, which could mean that this classic is rust-free. The trim and glass helps maintain a consistently high presentation theme, and while the wheels aren’t original, they suit this Plymouth’s muscular character perfectly.

When a vehicle carries a model designation like “Duster 340,” it is no surprise to lift the hood and find a 340ci V8 occupying the engine bay. Bolted to this V8 is a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission, while the drivetrain is rounded out by power steering and power brakes. In original form, the driver would have had a healthy 275hp available under their right foot. That power was sufficient to launch the Duster through the ¼ mile in 15.1 seconds. The owner doesn’t supply mountains of information on this classic, although he uses the word “original” in the listing and says it drives well. I’m not sure that the car is exactly as it rolled off the production line. It appears that the motor may sport an upgraded aluminum intake, and the Edelbrock air cleaner could be indicative of an upgraded carburetor. Therefore, we’re flying in the dark on this one when it comes to the question of originality.

The interior photos leave a lot to be desired and tell us little about its overall condition. The Black upholstery on the front bucket seats is badly ripped, and I believe it is beyond salvation. The back seat and other upholstered surfaces look like they may be okay, but I think that the carpet is faded. Provided the rest of the trim, the dash, and the headliner are alright, this interior may not cost a fortune to return to a healthy state. A new set of covers for the front seats will lighten the buyer’s wallet by around $520, while a carpet set adds $240 to the total. Provide nothing else is required that represents a relatively affordable refurbishment.

Like so many other areas, the classic car market has taken a financial hit over the past two years. However, the signs are that it is bouncing back strongly. This recovery is reflected in the rising values of vehicles like this 1970 Duster 340. As buyer confidence has increased, values have climbed substantially in the past twelve months. Although this Duster needs a spot of TLC to lift its overall presentation to a higher level, it appears that most of the work will be confined to an interior refresh. The strong interest to date suggests that bidding may top $20,000 before the hammer falls. If it does stall at around that level, the buyer could find themselves the owner of a tidy classic that offers decent performance for a relatively affordable price. If you crave a Mopar product in your garage, the auction could be worth watching closely.