1970-1976 Plymouth Duster

With a budget of $15 million, Plymouth's product team aimed to revitalize the aging Valiant for 1970. Unexpectedly, they used the funds to craft a stylish, new fastback coupe. This marked the beginning of the 1970-1976 Plymouth Duster's legacy.

Classic Cars Image Gallery

Fall 1959. Dateline: Detroit. Car buyers are excitedly awaiting the arrival of sleek new compact models from America's leading automakers. These vehicles are crafted to compete with the Volkswagen Beetle and address concerns that traditional models like Chevrolet, Ford, and Plymouth have become too bulky and cumbersome. The Big Three unveil a diverse lineup of smaller cars.

General Motors directly challenges the Beetle with the rear-engine Chevy Corvair, while Ford's Falcon is a downsized version of its larger counterparts. Chrysler's Valiant stands out with its European-inspired design by Virgil Exner, proudly declaring, "It's nobody's kid brother." Fall 1969. Dateline, Detroit. The VW Beetle remains popular, but the Corvair was discontinued earlier in the year, impacted by safety advocate Ralph Nader's campaigns and the rise of sporty compact "pony cars." The Falcon, once the most successful of the new models, is also nearly extinct, a casualty of Ford's trend of frequently changing nameplates.

The new Maverick is set to replace the Falcon. Among the trio of compacts launched a decade ago with high hopes, only the Valiant endures, with its peak popularity still to come. This success is largely due to a stylish two-door fastback named the Duster. At some point, nearly everyone owned or knew someone who owned a Plymouth Duster. They were incredibly common, as widespread as everyday items. Surprisingly, the Duster was never part of the original plan.

Proceed to the next page to explore Chrysler's 1970 compact car lineup.For more information on cars, see:

• Muscle Cars
• Sports Cars
• Consumer Guide New Car Search
• Consumer Guide Used Car Search

1970 Chrysler Compact Cars

By the late 1960s, Chrysler Corporation had firmly secured its position as a dominant force in the compact-car sector of the U.S. market. This page provides an overview of Chrysler's 1970 compact car lineup.

Thanks to the strong performance of the Plymouth Valiant and the slightly larger Dodge Dart, Chrysler consistently captured over 30 percent of compact car sales, significantly surpassing its overall market share of around 16 percent.

Since its debut, the Valiant underwent two restylings: first in 1963 and again in 1967, when its wheelbase was extended to 108 inches. However, the 1967 redesign limited the Valiant to two- and four-door sedans, as the notchback two-door hardtop and convertible versions were handed over to its more stylish counterpart, the Barracuda. After minor updates to the grille and taillights in 1968 and 1969, Chrysler allocated $30 million—divided equally between Plymouth and Dodge—to refresh the Valiant and Dart (internally referred to as A-bodies) for the 1970 model year. Dodge used its share to redesign the front and rear of the Dart's four-door sedan and two-door hardtop. While Dodge promoted its "Dodge Rebellion" campaign, Plymouth's team took a more radical approach.

Rather than investing in updates for the Valiant sedans, former Plymouth compact-car planning executive Gene Weiss revealed they chose to allocate "nothing—zip, zero, nada" to the existing models. Instead, the team secretly collaborated with Plymouth designers to gamble the entire $15 million on an ambitious project outside the company's official product plan. Why take such a risk? One key factor was the introduction of the all-new Barracuda and Dodge Challenger "pony cars" for 1970. The 1967 Barracuda, though attractive, was essentially a rebadged Valiant that couldn't compete with the more powerful offerings from Ford and GM.

Dodge also aimed to capture a share of that market. As a result, the Barracuda and Challenger were built on unique E-body platforms. To accommodate Chrysler's most powerful engines, both models were equipped with robust chassis components borrowed from Plymouth and Dodge intermediates. While this approach had its advantages, it also led to unintended outcomes. The heavier chassis parts made the Barracuda and Challenger more expensive to produce, contributing to their discontinuation in April 1974. Additionally, they fell short in terms of speed. "During the planning of the E-bodies, the affordable 327 small-block Chevy Nova was the fastest car in the quarter mile straight off the lot," Weiss recalls.

"We realized that unless a buyer opted for the high-cost Hemi engine or a well-tuned 440, the heavier E-body Barracuda couldn't compete. We believed success hinged on a Barracuda that could outperform rivals without relying on a Hemi. What we needed was a lighter car equipped with our new 340-cubic-inch V-8 to match the quarter-mile performance of the 327 Nova. That meant utilizing our compact body."

To explore the design details of the 1970 Plymouth Duster, proceed to the next page.For more information on cars, see:

• Muscle Cars
• Sports Cars
• Consumer Guide New Car Search
• Consumer Guide Used Car Search

Designing the 1970 Plymouth Duster

Before the 1970 Plymouth Duster hit the market, Plymouth already had a lightweight compact car capable of housing a 340 engine in 1968 and 1969—the outgoing Barracuda.

Dodge, which had also fitted a 340 into the Dart, still offered the Swinger 340 hardtop. Weiss noted that while no one expected a boxy Valiant 340 two-door sedan to sell, a more stylish version might. As a result, the entire tooling budget was dedicated to the new car. This wasn't an easy task. For starters, a new compact coupe wasn't part of Chrysler's Long Range Plan (LRP). "Fortunately," Weiss explained, "the new E-body models were consuming most of the company's focus, especially at higher levels.

The Duster project flew under the radar because, compared to the E-body program, it was considered minor. This allowed the team to work discreetly. "Still, the tooling budget was incredibly tight. Everything had to be carried over, including the wheelbase, front-end sheet metal, cowl, bumpers, door lowers, and quarter-panel inner structure. The Plymouth designers had creative freedom as long as they adhered to these constraints. Their challenge was to create a sleek coupe using a carryover floorpan on a 108-inch wheelbase with significant rear overhang. Even the overall length—188.4 inches—had to match the four-door sedan. I called it 'junkyard styling': crafting something valuable from available parts. Milt Antonick was a master at this." Antonick, the supervisor for compacts and pony cars in the Plymouth Exterior Studio, led the effort. Working under him was Neil Walling, who later became Chrysler's Director of Advanced and Exterior Design. At the time, Walling was a junior stylist who had been reassigned from full-size Plymouths to work on what would become the Duster. "I was asked to create some sketches," Walling recalled. "It was a 'quick-hitter' project with limited time. Since the fender and door lower were carryover parts from the Valiant, we had to design around existing crease lines—five of them. We used tape drawings to achieve a sportier and more dynamic look."

Proceed to the next page to explore the interior details of the 1970 Plymouth Duster.For more information on cars, see:

• Muscle Cars
• Sports Cars
• Consumer Guide New Car Search
• Consumer Guide Used Car Search

Inside the 1970 Plymouth Duster

Designer Neil Walling skillfully incorporated the Duster's five existing crease lines into its design. By expanding the quarter panel around the rear wheel's centerline and sharply angling the lower of the two top crease lines upward before tapering them toward the rear, he achieved a cohesive and dynamic look.

Similarly, the lower pair of creases sloped downward from the door and then curved upward behind the wheel opening. This wedge-shaped design added a dramatic yet refined aesthetic to the car, showcasing Walling's creative ingenuity.

The central crease ran straight through, with all five lines converging at the quarter panel's end, forming a peaked "V" shape when viewed from the side.

Walling had to work with the Valiant's rear track dimensions (55.6 inches, compared to the front's 58.2 inches), preventing the new quarter panels from flaring outward like some GM models. This would have made the rear wheels appear even more recessed. "I always wished the car had a wider track," he recalls. "When I leased a Duster, I added two-inch spacers to the rear wheels just to improve its appearance." While the bold rear quarters played a significant role in the redesign, the new roof was the standout feature. "Fastbacks are a '25-percenter,'" Weiss explains. "No matter how well-designed, 75% of customers prefer notchbacks over fastbacks." Yet, the Duster was a fastback. Its sloping roofline set it apart from the Valiant's boxy notchback and provided the best solution to the styling challenge. "The Duster's roof appeared lower than the Valiant's because it met the decklid higher up," Walling notes. "I aimed to raise the backlight's base as much as possible for a fresh look." To achieve this, the designers crafted a steeply angled backlight paired with a sharply forward-leaning C-pillar, shortening the roof's visual length and achieving the desired compact coupe appearance.

They also reduced the overall height by an inch and a half compared to the sedan. In profile, the beltline rose sharply behind the front door, then curved forward around the rear-quarter window.

The smaller quarter window, combined with the arched drip rail and frameless front door glass, gave the impression of a compact, sloping roof resting on muscular rear quarters. Despite its hardtop-like appearance, the Duster's rear-quarter windows were fixed and did not retract.

While the 1970 Plymouth Duster was a stylish and sporty vehicle, it had its imperfections. Continue to the next page to explore the design flaws of the 1970 Plymouth Duster.For more information on cars, see:

• Muscle Cars
• Sports Cars
• Consumer Guide New Car Search
• Consumer Guide Used Car Search

Design Flaws of the 1970 Plymouth Duster

The 1970 Plymouth Duster's side glass, along with its non-retractable flip-open rear-quarter windows, represented another design flaw.

In the late 1950s, Chrysler collaborated with Pittsburgh Plate Glass to introduce curved side glass in the 1957 Imperial, a first for American cars. By 1967, the more affordable Valiants and Darts also featured curved glass. "However, that was 90-inch-radius glass," Weiss recalls. "To achieve a more rounded appearance above the beltline for the new coupe, the design team proposed using 45-inch-radius glass for the Duster. While studio engineers often face skepticism, when a car engineer vouches for feasibility, it’s taken seriously. John Worthy of Advanced Engineering—who was frustrated with us for bypassing the approved LRP—was tasked with proving that the carryover door, originally designed for flatter 90-inch-radius glass, could accommodate the more curved 45-inch-radius glass and still function properly. Despite the challenge, he succeeded, marking a pivotal moment in the project." The rounder glass significantly enhanced the Duster's "tumblehome" above the beltline. ("Too much," Antonick remarked, feeling the glass was too close to the driver's head.) This design choice also made the body below the beltline appear rounder, even though the door was a carryover from the Valiant. At the rear, Tom Hale's taillight design added a sporty touch. The horizontal twin-slot lamps, unlike the Valiant's vertical ones, were recessed into the sheetmetal without bright bezels. While visually appealing, this design had drawbacks. The lack of bezels increased the risk of rust, and the lamp placement resulted in a high trunk liftover, making it awkward to load luggage. Additionally, the sloping decklid posed issues after a year of production. Without a handle, owners often shut the decklid by pressing directly on the sheetmetal, sometimes causing unintended creases or damage to the shallow lip.

To address the issue, engineers suggested adding a vertical windsplit to the decklid's center to reinforce the sheetmetal. This modification was quickly implemented as a running change for 1971 models.

Proceed to the next page to explore the features of the 1970 Plymouth Duster. Continue reading to discover more about this stylish and sporty vehicle.For more information on cars, see:

• Muscle Cars
• Sports Cars
• Consumer Guide New Car Search
• Consumer Guide Used Car Search

1970 Plymouth Duster Features

Plymouth invested significantly in the design and development of the 1970 Plymouth Duster, and the car's numerous features showcased this dedication.

With the remaining budget, Plymouth designers crafted a striking new grille featuring closely spaced, recessed, blacked-out horizontal bars. The center section was brought forward to align with the grille frame and topped with Plymouth's iconic "frog-legs" emblem.

Rectangular park and turn lamps integrated into the recessed sections gave the car a "budget Grand Prix" appearance. (This new grille design was also applied to the 1970 Valiant four-door sedan.) The interior featured the Valiant's instrument panel, updated with a twin-circle gauge cluster offering full instrumentation and space for an optional tachometer between the two main dials. Seating options included a standard vinyl front bench seat, along with four upgrades: a cloth-and-vinyl bench, an all-vinyl split bench, a vinyl split bench with a fold-down armrest, and all-vinyl front bucket seats with or without a center console. "The entire Duster project—from sketches to modeling—was completed in six weeks," Antonick recalls. "While Chrysler officials were impressed, I thought, 'At Studebaker, we designed the Avanti in the same amount of time.'" The name "Duster" was proposed by the advertising agency. "It was a bold name, fitting with trends like Judge and Boss," Weiss explains. In its early years, the Duster logo featured a whimsical dust whirl with angry eyes. Though slightly intimidating, it was clear the character was a playful dust devil. "The Duster swirl was inspired by the Tasmanian Devil," Antonick laughs. "We wanted to use it directly, but Warner Brothers demanded exorbitant fees, so we created our own version." The Duster incorporated Chrysler's engineering innovations of the time, including Unibody construction, front torsion bars, and the TorqueFlite transmission.

Engine options included two versions of the reliable Slant Six, introduced in the original Valiant: a 198-cubic-inch variant producing 125 horsepower (up from 170 cubic inches and 115 horsepower the previous year) and a larger 225-cubic-inch version delivering 145 horsepower. For those seeking more power, Chrysler offered its robust 230-horsepower, 318-cubic-inch V-8.

The 1970 Plymouth Duster 340 coupe quickly made its debut in the market. Continue to the next page to learn more about this thrilling vehicle. For more information on cars, see:

• Muscle Cars
• Sports Cars
• Consumer Guide New Car Search
• Consumer Guide Used Car Search

1970 Plymouth Duster 340

The 1970 Plymouth Duster 340, initially dubbed the CK (Clark Kent), fulfilled its purpose with a 275-horsepower engine.

Exterior identification was subtle: dual black side stripes along the mid-body, slightly thickening to echo the flared quarter panels, and two broad black stripes linking the taillights.

The inclusion of the 340-cubic-inch small-block V-8 under the hood secured the Duster's place in Plymouth's prestigious Rapid Transit System.

The package came loaded with premium features, including high-flow cylinder heads boasting a 10.5:1 compression ratio, a high-lift camshaft with long-duration overlap, a single Carter four-barrel carburetor, robust .87-inch front torsion bars, a .88-inch front anti-sway bar, heavy-duty shocks, six-leaf rear springs, front disc brakes, and E70X14 raised white-letter tires on 5.5-inch Rallye wheels with trim rings. Transmission options included heavy-duty three- and four-speed manuals and the Torque-Flite automatic. In its March 1970 issue, Car and Driver tested the coupe, describing the Duster 340 as a "reroofed Valiant with a performance engine, priced to sell ($2,547)." The magazine recorded a 0-to-60-mph time of 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 120 mph.

For the quarter-mile, Car and Driver reported, "A 14.72-second ET outperforms any stock 'Cuda we've tested and many pricier cars." However, testers criticized the handling, noting significant understeer that caused the car to plow in corners. "Given the rear overhang and narrow rear track, we were fortunate it handled at all," Weiss remarked.

In the 1970 model year, 24,817 Duster 340s were produced, surpassing the 19,515 'Cudas. The Duster 340 consistently outsold the 'Cuda 340/383 in subsequent years, solidifying the success of the Duster concept.

Annual sales of the Duster 340 remained strong, ranging between 13,000 and 16,000 units through 1973. "One factor was that Duster 340 buyers—mostly young men—initially avoided exorbitant insurance rates by being clever," Weiss explained. "When asked about their purchase, they truthfully told agents, 'I'm buying a Valiant two-door sedan,' securing reasonable rates. Eventually, agents caught on, asking, 'A Duster?' followed by, 'six or V-8?' and finally, 'which V-8?' By then, the strategy was no longer effective."

The 1970 Plymouth Valiant Duster was a hit in the market. Discover the reasons behind its popularity on the next page. For more information on cars, see:

• Muscle Cars
• Sports Cars
• Consumer Guide New Car Search
• Consumer Guide Used Car Search

1970 Plymouth Valiant Duster

The 1970 Plymouth Valiant Duster (referred to by all three names in 1970) hit the market on September 23, 1969.

By the close of the 1970 model year, Chrysler-Plymouth dealers had sold an incredible 217,192 Dusters, a massive leap from the 36,317 two-door sedans sold the previous year. This surge helped Plymouth secure third place in sales for the first time since 1959.

Including the 50,810 four-door sedans, Valiant shattered its previous sales record set a decade earlier. Over its first five years, the Duster's popularity drove Valiant to five consecutive sales records. What fueled this success? Styling played a key role, but buyers also recognized the Duster's value. Starting at $2,172, it offered exceptional features for the price. A Plymouth ad compared the Duster to the 1970 Maverick, highlighting the Duster's advantages: a longer wheelbase, more trunk space, greater rear-seat room, larger brakes, additional options (including two V-8 engines), and a superior warranty. A 1972 ad similarly targeted the Chevy Vega. After selling 100,000 units, Plymouth introduced the Gold Duster option, the first in a series of trim packages designed to sustain sales momentum.

The Gold Duster package featured enticing additions like Duster 340-style gold side and rear tape stripes, chrome drip moldings, an argent grille, a choice of 225- or 318-cubic-inch engines, whitewall tires, and deluxe wheel covers borrowed from the Satellite. These upgrades aimed to attract buyers, and customers responded enthusiastically. Following its strong debut, the 1971 Duster (no longer labeled as a Valiant) saw only minor updates.

The grille no longer displayed the "frog legs" emblem, but the new wheel covers, with their "salt-and-pepper shaker" center holes, were a welcome upgrade. (Later versions of these wheel covers were marred by black lines dividing the surface into wedges, a result of negative feedback in consumer testing.) However, the 340 model remained the star of the lineup.

Continue to the next page to explore the design updates made to the 1971 Plymouth Duster 340. For more information on cars, see:

• Muscle Cars
• Sports Cars
• Consumer Guide New Car Search
• Consumer Guide Used Car Search

1971 Plymouth Duster 340

Unable to keep the original Duster 340 a subtle "sleeper," Plymouth designers opted for a bold approach in 1971, adding eye-catching graphics. A full-length bodyside tape stripe followed the upper-body contour, culminating in prominent "340" numerals on the rear quarter.

For those seeking even more flair, the performance hood treatment was available. This featured flat black paint extending across the hood and cowl to the fender peaks, continuing along the beltline to the rear quarter windows.

Large white-outline "340" numerals, angled on the driver's side of the hood, along with the word "wedge" in orange stenciled on the vertical stroke of the 4, loudly proclaimed the car's performance credentials.

Racing-style locking pins added the finishing touch, making the 1971 Plymouth Duster 340 the most visually striking model in the Duster's seven-year history.

Other desirable options included a black decklid spoiler, a tachometer, and the new "Tuff" steering wheel with a smaller diameter and thick rim. Additionally, all 1971 Plymouth Duster 340s came with a unique and stylish grille. While similar in shape to the standard Duster's grille, it featured narrow, vertical, blacked-out rectangles and concealed park and turn lamps.

At the rear, vertically slotted taillights were planned to give the 1971 Plymouth Duster 340 a unique appearance from any angle. However, these taillights never made it to production, a result of internal corporate disputes. While Chrysler-Plymouth celebrated the Duster's success, Bob McCurry, Dodge Division's aggressive general manager, was less pleased. His dealers shared his dissatisfaction.

Accustomed to the Dart outselling the Valiant, McCurry was frustrated by the Duster's popularity. He demanded a Dodge version of the Duster, and it was quickly approved. "That decision," Weiss recalls calmly, "came from top management." The Dodge variant was created by attaching a 1971 Dart front clip to the Duster body, giving it unique fenders, hood, grille, and bumper.

The wheel lip details didn't align perfectly, but it didn't matter. To differentiate the rear, the Duster 340's vertically slotted taillights and lower deck panel were taken for the Dodge version, despite objections from Plymouth's design team. Named the Dodge Demon (later Dart Sport), it never matched the Duster's popularity, much to the relief of Plymouth's team. However, Plymouth didn't walk away empty-handed from this conflict.

In exchange for losing the Duster 340's taillights, Plymouth received a version of Dodge's popular Swinger, one of McCurry's prized models.

Named the Plymouth Scamp, it marked Valiant's first two-door hardtop since 1966. (Duster sales dipped slightly to 186,478 in 1971 as the Scamp attracted over 48,000 buyers who might have otherwise chosen the Duster.)

To maximize the use of its newly developed tools, Plymouth introduced the Duster Twister package. Learn more about this package on the next page. For more information on cars, see:

• Muscle Cars
• Sports Cars
• Consumer Guide New Car Search
• Consumer Guide Used Car Search

Plymouth Duster Twister Package

After investing heavily in new parts for the limited-production Duster 340 in 1971, Plymouth's sales and marketing team developed the Duster Twister package. The name cleverly played on the Duster brand, aiming to extend the use of the new tools.

Introduced in February, the Twister package was available for both six- and eight-cylinder models. It included the distinctive 340 grille and a special black "Duster twirl" bodyside stripe with Twister decals.

The hood, except for a black-and-body-color strobe design on the center, was blacked out and could be enhanced with twin flat black faux hood scoops. Additional features included lower deck stripes, dual racing mirrors, wheel lip and drip rail moldings, deluxe seat trim, whitewall tires, and Rallye wheels without trim rings.

To emphasize the Twister's resemblance to the 340, a double-page ad showcased a Duster 340 and a Twister side by side, both painted in Lime Light. Despite annual investments in tooling, Chrysler's leading compact models hadn't undergone a complete redesign since 1967. Initially, the 1972 models were planned to be all-new, with Plymouth and Dodge studios designing updated Darts, Valiants, Dusters, and Demons featuring softer, rounder lines.

However, these plans were scrapped. In 1970, amid financial instability and the Duster's overwhelming success, Chrysler decided to cancel the all-new models.

While designers were disappointed, the decision to stick with the existing A-bodies proved wise. Their popularity remained strong, capturing over a third of the compact-car market. Plymouth designers quickly refreshed the Duster, focusing on the rear. The updated taillights were wider and horizontally split, now divided by an argent plastic lens collar instead of sheetmetal.

Under the hood, the 340 V-8 saw its compression ratio reduced to 8.5:1, lowering its net horsepower to 240, but it became available on all Duster models. An optional electronic ignition system replaced the condenser and breaker points for V-8 engines. For environmentally conscious drivers, a two-quart plastic litter bag was included, mounted inside the glove box door.

A full vinyl roof, which ended abruptly at the top of the rear quarters, remained an option. The package also included whitewall tires, Satellite wheel covers, drip moldings, special interior trim, and gold lower deck panel tape stripes. Duster production reached 228,012 units.

With no new model launching in 1973, Plymouth concentrated on the 1973 Space Duster Pak options. Learn more about this package on the next page. For more information on cars, see:

• Muscle Cars
• Sports Cars
• Consumer Guide New Car Search
• Consumer Guide Used Car Search

1973 Space Duster Pak

With no new model on the horizon, Duster planners focused on enhancing the existing car, resulting in the 1973 Space Duster Pak option, also known as the Spacemaker Pak.

Inspired by the 1964 Valiant Barracuda, engineers modified the body bracing to create a passage between the passenger compartment and the trunk.

The rear seatback folded flat forward, while a security panel behind it folded backward, creating an opening 64 inches wide and 1 inches tall. This design provided a fully carpeted cargo area, 6.5 feet long (ideal for skis and surfboards) and offering 56 cubic feet of storage space.

If you chose the optional metal sunroof (replacing the folding vinyl sunroofs of 1971-1972), you could also transport taller items through the roof opening. Plymouth Dusters were always known for their cargo capacity, but with the Space Duster option, the car's storage capabilities became truly impressive. The 1973 Plymouth Duster's product plan included updates to the front and rear. A new hood was introduced, featuring a raised "power dome" center section.

The updated grille consisted of argent rectangular horizontal boxes, filled with an eggcrate pattern and stacked three high. The center boxes matched the width of the hood dome, while the outer ones were interrupted by the parking lamps.

A bright molding ran along the top, widening under the power dome to showcase the Plymouth name. New rectangular headlamp doors completed the front look. A deeper front bumper, equipped with large vertical guards, was added to meet new federal bumper impact standards. At the rear, above the new deeper bumper, updated taillights—still horizontally split—were moved to the outer edges of the lower deck panel and framed in traditional bright bezels.

These taillights were actually less expensive than the earlier chromeless versions. However, the combined front and rear updates, with their more formal appearance, seemed to distance the Duster from its original image as a trendy, slightly counter-culture coupe. The Twister and Gold Duster packages continued with minor updates: the Twister featured a new hood blackout treatment with smaller faux scoops, while the Gold Duster offered new side and deck panel striping in gold, black, or white.

The Plymouth Duster 340 also received updated body-side and rear striping. The front suspension was enhanced with new upper and lower control arms, improved upper ball joints, and new knuckle arms.

V-8-equipped Dusters now included front disc brakes as standard (power-assisted on the 340 model), and all engines were upgraded with electronic ignition systems. Interior materials were significantly improved. As a result, Plymouth Duster production rose again, reaching 264,974 units.

In 1974, the Plymouth Duster 360 debuted, featuring a larger 245-horsepower engine. Learn more about the Plymouth Duster 360 on the next page. For more information on cars, see:

• Muscle Cars
• Sports Cars
• Consumer Guide New Car Search
• Consumer Guide Used Car Search

1974,1975 Plymouth Duster 360

The 1974 model year saw minimal changes for the Duster, but it marked the introduction of the 1974-1975 Plymouth Duster 360 to the market.

In 1974, the Twister and Gold Duster packages remained available, and buyers could even choose a combined Twister/Gold Duster option. The most significant update was the introduction of a larger 245-horsepower engine for the newly named Plymouth Duster 360.

However, buyer interest was low, and only 3,969 units were sold. High insurance costs and rising fuel prices signaled the end of the muscle car era, highlighted by Chrysler discontinuing Barracuda/Challenger production in April. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries embargo, which began around the start of the 1974 model year, led to gasoline shortages in many regions.

Concerned buyers shifted toward more fuel-efficient vehicles, causing sales of larger cars to drop sharply. In response, Chrysler launched the Fuel Pacer System option in March.

A small chrome piece on the left front fender contained a light that illuminated when the carburetor enriched the fuel mixture under heavy acceleration, prompting the driver to ease off the gas. Plymouth Duster production reached a record high of 281,378 units, and Valiant sales peaked as all variants (including a luxurious new Brougham line) totaled an impressive 476,818 units, helping Plymouth secure third place once again. However, the following year told a different story.

1975 was another financially challenging year for Chrysler, starting with a three-month rotating layoff of most engineering and design staff.

This poorly planned cost-cutting move inadvertently delayed the release of the new F-body cars, which were intended to replace the A-body models.

Unlike the previous year, the 1975 Duster introduced several updates. Studio manager Bob Eidschun crafted a sleek new grille with a tight eggcrate texture and a center shadow box, which, for the first time since 1970, featured the iconic "frog legs" emblem.

A new Duster Custom series debuted, featuring a rear lower deck panel adorned with a taillight-to-taillight bright applique panel. This "boiler plate" design was also standard on the Gold Duster, where buyers could choose between a new bodyside tape stripe resembling the original Gold Duster's or a protective bodyside molding.

The Twister package was discontinued, but in its final year, the Plymouth Duster 360 received bold new striping that extended across much of the upper quarter panels. Under the hood, the 198-cubic-inch Slant Six was dropped, leaving the 225 as the base six-cylinder engine.

By this time, Chrysler's focus had shifted to the upcoming launch of its next-generation compact cars. Although the semi-fastback F-body coupes were clearly designed to replace the Duster and Dart Sport, management chose to name the new models Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen.

Several factors influenced this decision. Ironically, the Duster and Dart's widespread popularity—perhaps too common—played a role, as did their reputation as reliable, no-frills vehicles. Chrysler aimed for a more premium image to compete with Ford's Granada and Mercury's Monarch, leading to the new names despite late-stage consideration of "Valiant Volare" branding. Amid media coverage of Chrysler's challenges and leaks about the new compacts, Duster production plummeted to 120,131 units in 1975, barely surpassing Valiant sedan sales.

The Plymouth Duster 360 concluded its production run in 1976, marking a disappointing final year with fewer than 35,000 units sold. Learn more about the 1976 Plymouth Duster 360 on the next page. For more information on cars, see:

• Muscle Cars
• Sports Cars
• Consumer Guide New Car Search
• Consumer Guide Used Car Search

1976 Plymouth Duster 360

Amid the excitement surrounding the 1976 Volare launch (named Motor Trend Car of the Year), it was easy to overlook the fact that the 1976 Plymouth Duster 360 was still available.

In its final year, the Plymouth Duster was simplified, offering either a 225-cubic-inch six-cylinder or a 318-cubic-inch V-8 engine. The 360-cubic-inch engine remained an option (paired exclusively with TorqueFlite and unavailable in California), but the Duster 360 and Duster Custom models were discontinued.

The Gold Duster was replaced by the one-time-only Silver Duster package, featuring a canopy vinyl roof and other upgrades. Red-and-black stripes followed the lower bodyside lines, sweeping up and crossing between the taillights. The interior was enhanced with vibrant Boca Raton cloth and vinyl. Chrysler engineers worked discreetly to maximize the Slant Six's efficiency, resulting in the "Feather Duster," a $51 optional package.

The Feather Duster, identified by its name on the front fenders, featured lightweight aluminum components such as hood and decklid inner panels, bumper reinforcements, and an intake manifold. It was equipped with a specially tuned 225 Slant Six engine and a single-throat carburetor.

An economy-focused 2.94:1 rear axle ratio was standard, and buyers could choose a manual overdrive transmission with an aluminum case for further weight reduction. With the overdrive, the total weight savings reached 187 pounds. However, to achieve the promised fuel efficiency, the list of available options was heavily restricted. In its final year, the Plymouth Duster 360 attracted only 34,681 buyers, nearly 6,000 fewer than the Valiant sedan. Despite this, over 1.3 million Plymouth Dusters were produced during its seven-year run, a remarkable achievement. According to Weiss, the Duster's significance extended beyond sales. "The Duster taught Chrysler valuable lessons in line simplification, reducing part numbers, and optimizing manpower. It was the precursor to 'lean manufacturing.' By producing the same car year after year, manufacturing improved quality while cutting costs," he explained. While performance was a key factor in the Duster's creation, most buyers opted for six-cylinder models, drawn to the car's blend of style and practicality.

The Duster embodied fun, freedom, and a cool, hip vibe. It thrived in an era when cars had unconventional names like Road Runner, Judge, Boss, and Eliminator; when they featured wings, spoilers, bold colors, and wild graphics; and when they boasted "Mod Tops," "Tuff" wheels, shaker hoods, and "beep-beep" horns. After 1976, the Duster name was occasionally revived for promotional packages, such as the 1979-1980 Volare Duster Sunrise and during the final years of the Sundance production. Are Dusters collectible? Chrysler believes so. The company recently acquired a Duster 340 for its Chrysler Historical Museum, highlighting its significance among the corporation's notable vehicles.

For details on models, prices, and production numbers for the 1970-1976 Plymouth Duster, continue to the next page. For more information on cars, see:

• Muscle Cars
• Sports Cars
• Consumer Guide New Car Search
• Consumer Guide Used Car Search

1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 Plymouth Duster Data

When Plymouth's product team received $15 million to update the aging Valiant for 1970, no one anticipated that the sporty fastback coupe they designed—the Duster—would achieve such widespread popularity. Below are the specifications for the 1970-1976 Plymouth Duster:

1970 Plymouth Duster Models, Prices, Production ­

1971 Plymouth Duster Models, Prices, Production

1972 Plymouth Duster Models, Prices, Production

1973 Plymouth Duster Models, Prices, Production

1974 Plymouth Duster Models, Prices, Production

1975 Plymouth Duster Models, Prices, Production

1976 Plymouth Duster Models, Prices, Production

• Muscle Cars
• Sports Cars
• Consumer Guide New Car Search
• Consumer Guide Used Car Search