1972 Plymouth Duster

Description

Survivors are fun, with automotive archaeology being one of our favorite subjects. Looking at this one-owner 1972 Plymouth Duster, you'll be amazed by the preservation of the body and interior and with a thrifty slant-six under the hood, it's a practical, fun, and surprisingly energetic starter collectable. Did we mention it comes with the original dealer invoice and owners manual?

The bright red paint has a lot of years on it, yet given the fact that this car has lived its entire life in warm, dry, sunny Georgia, it's probably not a surprise that it still looks great. There's a gloss to the finish that no paint technique can duplicate and only time can make a car this honest. Sure, it's got a few signs of use (don't we all?), but this is the proverbial little old lady special that was tucked away whenever the weather turned foul and only used lightly. The doors, hood, and deck lid are all where the factory workers put them back in 1972 and there's just an intangible feel to a car that has never been apart that no restoration could ever duplicate. A black vinyl half roof makes the sporty Duster look a bit more formal, and the minimalist trim suits its economy-minded mission quite well. This is one of Chrysler's more attractive designs of the period, smooth and substantial without looking bloated, and even the chrome bumpers fit snugly to the body to enhance its sleek profile.

The black interior is surprisingly comfortable and like the rest of the car, in amazing condition. Bench seats make it feel roomy inside and the bright metal inserts on the seat backs gives it an upscale impression when you first open the door. There's a remarkably complete array of instruments for the driver, all nestled into a woodgrained instrument panel, and the three-spoke steering wheel will be familiar to any Mopar fan. There's an A/C system under the dash which is an unusual addition to the affordable Duster, but the rest appears to be no-frills motoring, including the original AM radio in the dash. Check in the trunk and you'll find a reproduction mat, but one glance at the insides of the quarter panels confirms that they're original and untouched.

The 225 cubic inch slant-six was one of Chrysler's better ideas. Durable and smooth, it has plenty of torque to move the lightweight Duster around in an entertaining way. It's been recently freshened and shows off bright corporate blue paint surrounded by a very clean engine bay. An original air cleaner fits snugly against the power brake booster and A/C compressor, which is now full of R134a refrigerant. It's backed by a 3-speed automatic transmission and the original rear end with highway-friendly gears inside, so this is a car you can drive regularly without emptying your bank account. There's plenty of originality underneath, which isn't a bad thing in this case, because there's nothing hiding under a layer of undercoating, just the signs of age that all cars of this vintage show. A single exhaust system has that distinctive slant-six sound and the ride is comfortable, not cheap-feeling. Recent whitewall radials have been fitted to sporty Rallye wheels, which always look right on '70s Chryslers.

It probably won't make you rich overnight, but if you've been looking for an inexpensive way to enjoy the greatest hobby on earth, then this 1-owner, documented, bright Duster might just be the one for you. Call today!