1973 Plymouth Duster Restomod Ditches Factory 225 ci Slant-Six for All-Time Great V8
As far as I’m concerned, the Plymouth Duster went from pretty to “meh” over the span of its overall life cycle. Early 70s models looked more rugged than their mid-70s counterparts, and the crossover happened in 1973 when Plymouth gave the Duster a new hood, grille, fenders, bumpers and taillights.
This is a heavily modified 1973 Plymouth Duster with an absolutely stunning design, plus a great deal more performance courtesy of a supercharged V8 power unit. We’ll get to that in a second.
Visually, we’ve got the two-tone black and gold exterior, Hemi decals for the quarter panels, a front spoiler, rear wing, aftermarket headlights, dual side mirrors, a quick-release gas cap, tinted windows, plus a set of black-finished five-spoke 17” front and 18” rear Weld S71 forged wheels with Continental tires. It’s also got custom coilover front suspension, custom double-adjustable shocks, power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering, and loads more.
A fiberglass scooped hood is also included in the sale. While it is gold-colored, whether or not it’s a better fit than the current black-wrapped hood, is up to this car’s next owner.
Speaking of which, this Duster was up for grabs at auction until recently, when it failed to sell. Its owner refused to let it go for $41,000, with several people in the comments section agreeing this should be worth $50k at least. What do you guys think?
Now, in terms of the interior, highlights include the black vinyl Mopar front bucket seats with gold accents, carbon fiber trim, a custom center console, Hurst shifter, AutoMeter gauges, lap belts, a roll bar, an AM/FM radio with aftermarket speakers, and a three-spoke steering wheel. While the digital odometer shows less than 800 miles, the total mileage of the vehicle is unknown – as is often the case with these types of cars.
Photo: Bring a Trailer
Lastly, it’s time to talk about the engine. Gone is this Duster’s original 225 ci (3.7L) slant-six unit, replaced by a 5.7-liter V8, fitted with an Edelbrock E-Force supercharger. There’s also a seven-quart Milodon oil pan and custom headers for the dual exhaust system. Meanwhile, the Chrysler 45RFE five-speed automatic gearbox has been rebuilt and fitted with a skid plate.
According to the seller, the power unit has been previously dyno tested, producing 382.9 rwhp and 405.6 lb-ft of torque. They also estimate crank horsepower to be somewhere north of 490 hp, which is a serious number.
Ultimately, an all-original and mint condition Plymouth Duster will always be more appealing than a restomod, but it’s also going to cost you a great deal more – probably six figures. Otherwise, if you’re just looking for a fast and awesome-looking American classic, this thing should look great in any driveway.
