20k Original Miles? 1972 Plymouth Duster
Sometimes, claims about a classic must be taken at face value. Such is the case with this 1972 Plymouth Duster. The odometer reading of 20,000 miles is extraordinarily low, but its history makes that plausible. It recently emerged from hiding and is a numbers-matching survivor needing a new home. The seller listed the Duster here on eBay in Fraser, Michigan. They set their BIN at $29,900, with the option to make an offer.
Plymouth introduced the Duster to its Valiant range in 1970, setting its sights on stealing sales from the similarly-sized Ford Maverick. The styling was considered crisp and clean, with many contemporary reports complementing its appearance. It remained on sale until 1976 before being replaced by the Volare. Our feature car left the showroom in 1972, finished in Honeydew with a Black vinyl top. The previous owner told the seller that most of the paint was original, with the car only receiving minor touch-ups. Its condition is noteworthy if that is true because it holds an impressive shine and few visible imperfections. The vinyl is excellent, and the panels are as straight as an arrow. The seller includes a wide array of photos attached to their listing, confirming that the underside is as solid as the day this Duster rolled off the line. The chrome and tinted glass are exceptional, but the new Rallye wheels and tires are a recent addition. That isn’t bad news because the seller includes the factory hub caps and steel wheels wrapped in their original tires from the factory.
Plymouth aimed the Duster at budget-conscious buyers, meaning interior trim was relatively “bare-bones” by most standards. This car retains its original vinyl-clad bench seats and rubber floor mats. Their condition is excellent, with no significant wear or damage. The remaining upholstered surfaces are equally impressive; the dash is spotless, and the pad is crack-free. The wheel wrap appears to be the only addition. However, the original owner splashed a few dollars by ordering this beauty with air conditioning, a remote driver’s mirror, a rear defogger, and an AM radio. The A/C compressor and other components are in the trunk, but the system appears complete.
This Duster retains its numbers-matching drivetrain, and although it wasn’t the most potent on the planet, it still provided respectable performance and a lovely V8 exhaust note. The engine bay houses a 318ci powerplant that sends 150hp and 260 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels via a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission. The driver doesn’t receive power brakes, but the power steering will lighten their load. That brings us to the question of the odometer reading and how a car with over five decades under its belt could only have 20,000 miles on the clock. It seems this is a “one owner, little old lady” proposition that recently emerged after thirty-five years in storage. That means the original owner parked it around 1988, and with only thirteen years of active service, the claim is plausible. However, evidence may exist amongst the documentation that includes the original Window Sticker, Dealer Delivery Forms, and other paperwork. This car’s revival included fitting a new radiator, battery, fuel tank, sender unit, battery, shocks, brakes, and brake lines. The seller describes the Duster as “turnkey,” allowing the buyer to fly in and drive it home.
This 1972 Plymouth Duster presents exceptionally well and appears to have no immediate needs. The odometer reading places it in elite company, but that depends on whether it can be confirmed. Most purists would probably reinstate its original wheels and tires, and I would inquire whether the original radiator is available to be reconditioned. That would be the final piece of the puzzle to return the car to its factory form. Those are genuine considerations for a classic with an asking price well above the market average. It must be as close as possible to its factory form to justify the price, or the seller may need to accept a lower figure. Do you agree, or is your view different from mine? It will be fascinating to gauge your feedback.
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Comments
This car poses a few questions; stated to be “mostly original” but according to the original window sticker and other documents some things aren’t adding up. It should have bumpers guards front/rear, vinyl body side molding, and no stripe package is listed. The under hood area has been painted black, and the A/C removed. It presents well, but it would seem that modifications have been done (i.e. uninstalled spoiler in trunk). Priced optimistically, GLWTA!! :-)
@Moparman – Plus, the radiator looks aftermarket and a total hack job on the blue engine paint.
All of this, and it’s original with 20k actual miles??
When the seller said, ‘the owner states’, that’s when I stopped believing anything else that I read.
‘ The owner states ‘ is a disclaimer!
Use caution!
Just my oponion!
I completely agree, to me it presents as a well cleaned up car but the under hood area at 20k would look just as nice if all was good in Kansas. 15k would be a stretch. Buyer beware.
I’m guessing that black under the hood might be from the Ziebart rustproofing. I see the telltail plugs all over
Actually, I think the black underhood is Ziebart coating, by the way it was sprayed. Ziebart also sprayed behind the fenders from inside the open door jams, as well as inside the trunk sides.
Bumper guards did not come out until 73. I had one and got them off as soon as I could. Some of this car may be a 72. Also some 70 and some 71. This is a Johnny Cash Duster , ONE PIECE AT A TIME.
And the stripes aren’t what a Duster would have come with anyway ;they look more like Demon 340 stripes.
Try maybe 120,000 miles. Look under the hood. Aluminum rad. Black scaly spray paint. That’s not 20K original.
Definitely a spray over looking at the door jams and truck jam areas. Black under the hood a is red flag for an A body, if original or mostly original the engine bay should be the body color.
Agreed. Things don’t add up. States original tires and wheels yet Ironman tires didn’t exist in 72. Rally wheels yet dog dish hubcaps in the trunk. Did Grandma have a Glow master muffler installed? Engine bay looks to have fresh paint covering rust including black over spray on valve covers.
Looks good in the picture but this is not worth half the asking price. Even with all my crappy old cars. The ac would work, suspension would be brand new throughout. Pass on this unit, way too much.
Check the rear panel around the tail lights and all across the panel for rust, they were notorious for rotting right through. That is a one year only panel. I know people who had them, one was done when the car was only a few years old, and garaged on Long Island, NY. The other was on a Florida car, but it was much older. Both were Gold Dusters, and the same cream/tan as this one.
Looks nice superficially. But I see a lot of things telling me this is a typical dealer car that has been made cosmetically attractive with things lurking beneath. Either way, it’s not a $30k car, even if mint.
When I look at this car I think of a salesman with a comb over, ill fitting leisure suit and the ability to look you right in the eye and lie his a__ off.
Yes a lot of issues. I agree with all comments. If you want to build one it would be close on the price but would be much nicer. Decal on fender totally wrong. I have pictures of unmolested examples.
I question the price myself. It’s a 318 2V A/C car but not all original. The under hood areas should not be painted black. This car isn’t from GM. It’s a Chrysler product, under the hood should be body color. Why was the A/C removed?
I don’t believe this is a $30K valued car. Closer to $20K might be more realistic. Still, I like this car and believe someone will be able to enjoy this car with some additional work. Be sure to check it for rust B4 purchase. It looks solid, but be sure to confirm it is.
One way to tell if it is really 20K mileage would be to look at the condition of the brake and gas pedals, although they could have been replaced to make the car look low mileage.
What’s going on at the transition between the dogleg of the front fenders and the rocker panels on both sides? That’s supposed to go straight across the bottom. The “Craigslist restoration” under the hood? This thing screams hack job. Run.
Very nice Plymouth Duster but obviously gone over cosmetically. THAT’S OK though because it still would make an excellent classic cruiser! You don’t see too many of these cars ( and a lot of others) anymore. I think it looks great with the Rally Wheels and the overall look of the car! If it TRULY has 20,000 miles on it and it runs as good as it looks – somebody will get a very nice DUSTER. As far as the price goes – well – it’s worth what someone will pay for it. Eventually the price AND the right buyer will come together. To me though – it’s more of an $11,500 type of car – these days. Good luck. Fantastic article too!
I agree, nice car. but I just can’t stand the seller who can’t be honest that almost every inch of this car has been gone over and restored.
1 thing I noticed, the bottoms of the front fenders don’t line up with the rockers. Are they repop fenders or was there work done to the rockers? There is an orange one on Ebay at another dealer with 93000 on the clock and it looks much nicer, also a 318 with a/t. The air is hooked up on that one but doesn’t say if works. Cheaper too @ 25,800 or offer.
Where is that 340 with A/C we saw a few moths back? That one was worth the price!
Nope, refurbished radiator ain’t factory.. factory tires and wheels make for a sketchy ride,was the ac installed factory in the trunk? Replaced the shocks? Blasphemy I say.. my point being that there’s too much attention focused on originality which translates to how much one is worth. Knock $$$ off for everything not from the factory or replaced,even as a manner of maintaining the car,and the price go down. It boils down to now these rides have turned into objects of “collectables to be squirrelled away for future profit” and not cool cars anymore. I’ve seen some cars restored to the point of perfection that the owners are cautious of bringing them out of the garage. Don’t dare drive one for fear of depreciation. I’m not talking about the ZL 1s, Hemi anything’s , Boss any 3 number , Cobra etc. Not the rare as heck 7 of 29 made one of a kind. No,just a cool Duster…or any of a slew of more mundane ’60/70 type hotrod material. Some of these deserve to be hotrods. I ask, what would you have done with this Duster back in ’75? 383/440 ,Dana 60, ladder bars,fat tires and jacked up cruising looking for who knows what to blow the doors off of…sure, it’s a cool Duster…but I’d like to see what was done with them back before $$$$$$$ came on the scene…..
The Rallye wheels were an option on this and even though not original they look great. The steel wheels and wheelcovers I would NOT put back to its original state. It would make it next to unsellable. That said, this is one of those cars that’s gonna sit there a while at that price, but “there’s an ass for every seat” so the saying goes. At that price they can put all the a/c components back together and make it work. Hell, they can buy all new components. The mileage❓ Hard to say. If there’s any kind of documentation to prove it, that would make it more believable.
That is one of the first things I check, most will not know or replace when touching up.
Nice looking Duster, but I’m inclined to agree with the other commenters that there’s more than meets the eye here. And the price is too high for that. An in-person inspection is definitely called for here.
Also, I don’t recall the ‘Twister’ decal being on the fenders below the Duster badge. It was on the taillight panel only.
I just saw one on the road today, and you are correct, the Twister decal was by the right tailight.
i have never seen that sticker there
My Dad had a Ruster, this brings back memories of him pushing it out of the garage to hook up Mom’s Cuda’s battery to it to get a jump going. I remember my brother cutting his hand on the lower rear quarter panel when, well, for some dumb reason, he thought it was worth the time hand washing the old gal. 14 stitches and a tetanus shot later, he never did that again. It was a red Ruster, with a semi attached black vinyl top. Straight 6 to boot! Then one day Dad up and flipped that car over to a guy for a trade. Got himself a golden-brown Ruster with a half black top this time, and the top was still attached! Yeah, I remember Dad pushing that car for miles. But he loved it. And he stayed dedicated to it right up to the end. Fast forward to Dad’s last days in the nursing home. We couldn’t help but ask, why Dad, why a Ruster? On his last breath he pulled me and my brother in close, and whispered, “it was from the concussions from the day I scored four touchdowns for Polk High”….. and then, he was gone.
My 1st car was a ’71 Twister. As everyone agrees, this thing isn’t…
Just isn’t.
My girlfriend figured out that the under-dash vents could hold a 12 pack of bottles. Just like loading a shotgun. It was Michigan and they came out cold most of the year.
Right on! We used to use the spare tire well of my classmate bud’s ’62 Valiant as a cooler! Viva the days of yore!
Someone needs to contact @stevedulcich and @davidfrieburger for a @Roadkill episode. Here
Lovely looking car. I’ve always loved the styling of the 1970-72 Plymouth Valiant and Duster. Given its original survivor condition, I’d be willing to pay close to the asking price. I want to make sure that the car runs and drives safely and everything works like they should before I buy.
They are a fun car. The twister stickers on the sides should be just above or on the stripe behind the rear wheel well. I think mine were on the stripe but that was 47 years ago.
My older brother had a 1970s Plymouth Duster. I was way too young at the time to remember the car, but I’ve seen pics of him with the car. I think his was either a 1973 Duster (the year I was born) or possibly a 1974 Duster.
The Twister stickers are way too big to be factory originals or repops , and as has been stated before ,would not be on the lower fenders . The stripes are wrong for a Plymouth too, and if the car had a stripe package, which I think only the 340 and Gold Dusters had in 1972 , it would have had a tail panel stripe too.
I noticed a couple of dents in the roof on the passenger side. The door jambs appeared to have had a rattle can treatment as well. Smoke and mirrors but hey dealers aren’t out to make friends just make money.
I have owned 2 Dusters previously and both were 340s nicely optioned with bucket seats , rallye dashes etc. When I sold them they both presented better than this one with more mileage on both. I agree that the mileage claim on this one is suspect for sure . It may look ok cosmetically but for the price…. not a bargain . I think the seller may have to adjust the price for just an ok cruiser that needs attention and with unknown history. You can still pick up better in this price range with a 340 and be better off . I love Dusters and always will so good luck to the seller. Love the articles on the Dusters , dont see enough of them so thanks for sharing.
The rally wheels are nice and I would leave those, since they could’ve been a dealer-installed option back in the day. But I WOULD get rid of those little decals under the Duster fender badges simply because they’re incorrect. This one looks ready to show. Add a set of correct floor mats and you have a show-ready survivor that’s worth $10k less than that steep asking price.
So many things about this Duster don’t make any sense.
Those Duster decals on the sides don’t just not belong there, those aren’t even factory decals at all — they were never that big. The one on the trunk is the correct size.
The stripes that they chose to slap on the sides to replace the body side moldings are a single model year, single application item. They belong on 1970 Duster 340s, and nowhere else. They were discontinued for ’71.
Those rally wheels are likely aftermarket, but do help the appearance of the car. The obviously aftermarket center caps are the correct design for ’72 and up, however, the factory centers never came in Argent Silver. They should be Dark Argent.
The big Duster stickers are part of an aftermarket set you could buy. Back in 1979 I bought a one owner , 1972 Basin St. blue 6cyl Duster . Being 17, I wanted it to look “cool” and bought the same set. It consisted of the tornados, and 2 large “Duster ” stickers in the same style as the emblems. I put the on the rear quarters , where a 340 logo would be. I then started looking around for a set of rallye wheels, but a speeding drunk driver rear ended me at a stop light and totaled it before I found them. I only had the car 3 months.
D’oh! That sucks! You didn’t have enough time to enjoy the experience before someone decided to get drunk and total their car along with yours. 😢
Dad bought a yellow Duster from the local Orkin pesticide office in 75 or so. Pretty basic car and ok for my sister but never could get the smell of pesticide out.
That’s a good thing Steve. Just think, no mosquito bites, or bee and hornet stings while driving. Lol!
Be kind of tough to sit with your date at the drive-in though.😄
Metal work under hood looks like its had a hard hit up front. By battery its looking like its been beat on to it kind of straught. And by the horn i see a weld burn though and looks like some patches welded in.
I have just my cell to see the pics and only 50 years of body work.
But if you want it . Pay to have it inspected first.
1972 was-the year pricing went haywire. In 1970 i returned from a crap hole in Southeast Asia. Still owned by my uncle Sam I bought a new Duster, 225 slant six three on the tree for $1,900.00.
In 1972 i traded that for a new Chevy ElCamino and got what i paid for the Duster in trade. Micky Merrick Gen Mngr and friend told me i would never experience this again, times were a changin.. Those were the days my friend
Hey bud. U remember the 80’s? Used 70’s beaters..with GOOD drivetrains..only went for $400-$800 ish! That included Valiants & Dusters. My beater 71′ 318″ A/T w P.S. cost about $800. Then I ran across an oddball 70′ 318″ 3-on-the-floor(!) “Duster-Twister”,pinstriped..w tiny Tasmanian Devil..or..?..was it..Wile-E-Coyote?? figure on side..all so faded red painted..w glasspaks on it! The manual shifter worked nice, but the BRASS(!)wheel lug hole makeup bushings kept loosening up after half a mile!! WHAAAT was the prior owner THINKing??..HAHAAAGH!
All of the small blocks ,was notorious for ,Timming chain wear .pop of the distributor cap off ,turn crank back and forth and see how many degrees it takes for the rotor to move,that test is a good indicator of mileage on engine,how many people know that trick !!
If it’s truly a Twister it should have all the driveline and suspension of a 340 car. Twisters were built to avoid high insurance rates caused by the hypo motors. I had one.
With the color change under the hood the AC compressor in the trunk and a new radiator , makes me believe this car was in a wreck.
Coming for the days that you could buy 20,000 mile Dusters or less, there is no way this is that low of an original mileage car. Its price is solely based on that claim. It is far to easy to change speedometer readings. Hard pass.
The biggest thing that makes this car worth no mare than maybe $7500 is thatb it has a 318 !!!!! They are the most garbage , under powered motors !!!
I dont know where you got that information , as a small block, they put out plenty of horsepower , until the govt got involved with all engines . The 1968 Belvedere 318 I had put out 230 hp stock. the 318 in my truck has plenty of power, even when its towing
that car is a mess! look at the stripe going into the door jam cut to different lenghs,how come the lower front fenders dont line up?wrong year fender emblem,trunk emblem to low,and on and on and on!!!! used car dealer polishing a turd