54k Original Miles: 1970 Plymouth Duster 340
Looking to cash in on the youth movement that had sold a lot of muscle cars in the 1960s, Plymouth created a sportier version of its Valiant compact in 1970. The Duster would share its front clip with the Valiant but little else. From the windshield back, it was styled as a fastback and Plymouth would sell a ton of them. That included the performance version of the car, the Duster 340. At just 54,000 miles, this ’70 edition looks like a sweet survivor that is being offered by a dealer who specializes in muscle cars. Located in St. Charles, Missouri, this numbers matching machine is available here on eBay for $39,995. Offers will be considered.
For its first four years (1970-73), the Duster 340 was powered by Chrysler’s popular V8 with the same 340 cubic inch displacement. 217,000 copies of the motor would go into Mopars before giving up to a 360 to do that job. The Duster and its corporate cousin, the Demon, would account for the majority of the installations. In 1970 alone, the Duster 340 accounted for 24,875 automobiles on Plymouth’s balance sheet.
We’re told that this 52-year-old Plymouth is an unrestored original car – and it would be hard to think that one could be kept in any better condition than this one. It’s had just three owners who have maintained the automobile’s Dark Tan Metallic Paint, matching interior, and white vinyl top. The so-called black longitudinal Sport Stripes also look none the worse for age, so this Duster has spent a lot of time indoors. Two build sheets attest to how the car was assembled in 1970.
No mention is made as to how well the car runs, but we assume no issues. The original V8 is paired with a 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission, and a 3.23 rear-end ratio. This Plymouth wasn’t burdened with options, so there is no air conditioning and only an AM radio. Other than a blemish in one door panel and a crack in the dash pad, not much else seems to keep this car from near perfection. But 40 large puts it at the top of resale value charts.
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Comments
What a BEAUTY!! If I were to acquire this one, I’d only change the steering wheel for a sportier OEM one, and add some OEM box tips to the tailpipes!! The next owner should have an ear to ear grin when driving this one!! GLWTA!! :-)
Finally a MOPAR that’s Not rusted to $hit. But for $40,000.00 I’m Out.
The Duster earned its nickname Ruster honestly!
No more than any other car from that time period ; and these ran a lot longer than most other makes did.
A Duster 340 with a vinyl roof and white wall tires? Please, NO!
Gramma’s Duster . .
Someone wanted a sleeper. In that case it’s almost more surprising that the original owner didn’t skip the rally wheels for full covers and go for sport-stripe delete. Or they weren’t peeled off by the subsequent one who swapped the special 340-exclusive grille for a standard Valiant-Duster one.
Part of the 340s’ package was white letter tires , who knows why they put whitewalls on it.
With all of the restoration parts which have been out there over the last 20 or so years of difficult to determine country of origin, an original car is definitely the way to go .
Great looking car.
No posi axle option ? Hold that skinny wheel (good thing) and lay a one wheel strip all the way up the street.
I will never buy a factory muscle car that was built without a limited-slip differential. My OCD will not allow it, lol.
They’re meant to be driven, not to be an OCD point on a spreadsheet. Just quickly install one and drive.
I never met a 340 that I didn’t like.
Cool car no doubt, but 40k…? I have seen some cool cars on this dealer’s site over the years and always really expensive. Ah, what the hell, I got 2 bucks, maybe it’s time to play Powerball.
Any of you people ever drive one? Yeesh!
Can’t be very many of these low mileage 340’s around. They were just too much fun to drive. Don’t know if a bronze dash pad is available to fix the crack. Yes, posi would be a lot more fun with those skinny tires. But I’d put a nice set of Cragers and some meaty t/a’s on it. Have owned several, including a similar gold duster but never one this nice. But in the day I never paid more than 2k for one!!! I’ve had my fun with them already, not willing to part with 30K for sure. Cant tell if the market will accept 30K for this, seems like a lot to me..
I’m reading it says $40k, not $30k.
Very nice condition but way overpriced. If it had buckets, 4 speed and no
vinyl roof then maybe $30K. This car $24K.
Sure nice to see a 340 Duster in this kind of condition. I can even put up with the vinyl roof and matching color interior. But even with that groovy bench seat, it’s hard to forgive a column shift automatic.
I say add a 3.23 Sure Grip and a nice new set of BFG T/A radials (black side out) on the original Rallye wheels and go Mustang and Camaro hunting. With a flat hood, non descript exhaust tips, and modest callouts you’ll have the sleeper from hell.
P.S. Yes, this dealer is dreaming at $40k. As much as I love A body 340 cars, they will never command the kind of prices C and E body cars do.
A fine example of how the cars came off the assembly line back in the 70s. I think this car is gorgeous and for me the less aftermarket ruinization of an all original car the more I desire to own it
The vinyl roof kinda ruins the car for me. I usually don’t mind a vinyl roof on a car that’s more square. On the Duster it just kills the lines of the car.
i love the car my dad had one before he went in the military.I wish i had (wished) i could get him anpther one. i wouldn’t mind owning and driving one myself it is a cool car
I had a 72 Demon 340. I know it was a low compression 340, but it was a lot of fun. It had an automatic console shifter, 3.55 sure grip, no power steering, but I bought a OEM Tuff steering wheel. I put headers on it, and it really felt like it helped a lot. I miss that car more than any other I’ve owned.
40 large…no bucket seats…no a/c….only am radio AND a crack in the dash….ummm….no! Keep dreamin….18k tops.
Save the original rally wheels and tuck some 15 or 16 inch diameter steelies underneath there to fill out the wheel wells…. AND DRIVE IT. But 40K is just a bit much. So many great choices out there in the muscle world at this price range.