Clean mostly original V8 Gold Duster. Upgraded 318 cubic inch V8, automatic transmission, Rallye wheels. Nice interior, vinyl roof in excellent shape. Fast, fun, affordable ‘70s muscle that doesn’t break the bank to buy or own.

In the mid-70s, a well-driven Duster with a V8 was probably one of the hottest cars on the road. Not a lot of weight with plenty of reliable Mopar torque made for a car that could chase the legends of the ‘60s without really breaking a sweat. Chrysler was always famous for delivering models with playful names and interesting decal packages, and the Gold Duster is no different, offering a black body stripe and cartoony ‘Gold Duster’ name plates. Most of these cars were painted as this one is: Sunfire Yellow with black details, and we have to admit the combination works rather well. It’s obviously not a bright yellow, but the more muted tone is certainly appropriate for the era. And with straight bodywork underneath, it looks quite good for a car approaching its 50th birthday. The vinyl top is in great condition with no signs of problems underneath and those big chrome bumpers, an artifact of the period, polish up nicely. It’s a tidy-looking car.

Thanks to NOS material from Legendary, the seats are beautiful and correct. Sure, the head rests are slightly faded (likely due to being made of a slightly different vinyl), but the dash pad isn’t cracked and baked by the sun and that’s the original headliner overhead. The carpets have likely been replaced and they’re in excellent condition and the three-spoke steering wheel looks sporty enough in the otherwise no-nonsense interior. The only real demerit is the missing A-pillar trim, but we searched in vain for a few weeks trying to find replacements—perhaps the new owner will have better luck. On the other hand, the gauges are in great shape and are joined by an auxiliary ammeter under the dash, there’s an upgraded Sony AM/FM/CD stereo in the center of the dash, and this was a factory A/C car, although most of the underhood components have been removed. The Duster, despite being a compact, also offers a spacious rear seat, making this a good car for families, and there’s a massive trunk that still carries its original mat with spare tire stowed underneath.

Peek under the hood and you’ll see why we like this car so much: a nicely built 318 cubic inch V8 with a few smart upgrades. There’s a 4-barrel carburetor on top of an aluminum Weiand intake manifold, an upgraded camshaft inside, and beautifully finished long-tube headers feeding a rumbling dual exhaust system. It’s nicely dressed in Hemi Orange engine enamel with finned Mopar Performance dress-up parts, so opening the hood is something to look forward to. Better yet, it starts easily, idles nicely, and pulls the Duster around with genuine authority. The 3-speed automatic transmission snaps off crisp shifts and with 3.21 gears out back, it’s a comfortable all-around cruiser. Underneath it’s original, not restored, but there’s a newer Dynomax dual exhaust system, good floors, and front disc brakes that work well with the Duster’s modest weight. Air shocks in back help keep it on an even keel and it sits on 205/70/14 whitewall radials and factory Rallye wheels.

Documentation includes the original owner’s manual, service and body manuals, and a neat color and trim booklet used by salespeople in 1974. There’s also a folder full of maintenance receipts including details on the engine build.

Today as in 1974, the Duster offers a lot of performance per dollar. For Mopar fans, the Dusters have always lived in a special place and with a fairly potent V8 under the hood, this car is no slouch on the roll. Clean, fun, and easy to live with, perhaps it’s time to put a Duster in your garage. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.