A sleeper hit for a gearhead flick, Dazed and Confused was filled to the brim with Muscle-era choice cuts. Which did you prefer: Pickford’s GTO, Wooderson’s Chevelle, or O’Donnell’s Chevy truck? Maybe you liked the Maverick that Mitch’s love interest has parked near the grassy hill, or Pink’s El Camino brought back a memory or two. All would fit in, all seemed nice, clean choices for the most part. Then there was O’Bannion, the asshole who repeated his senior year and delighted in taking part in the senior hazing ritual one more time. Remember his car? A ragged-out, primer gray Duster on slot mags, sounding hot…especially after he got white-washed by his targets.
Dusters are weird to me. They’re alright cleaned up, but is it weird to prefer a car be ratty and rough as hell? I feel that’s where Dusters belong…the kind of car that makes the respectable types nervous just looking at it. That might be why this 1971 has my attention. Could it be a 340 car? I’m not sure, frankly I don’t care if it is or isn’t. 1970s style mail slot hoodscoop? Sure. Keystones? Perfect. Front bumper? Who needs one, just form up some metal to cover up the empty space. The 440 and the 4.10s in the 8.75 rear axle will compensate for the rest. 
Everything nostalgic tends to be viewed from the high school senior standpoint, right? The line between childhood and adulthood? Well, if it was the year 2000, and I showed up at my girlfriend’s house in this thing, with Purple Hornies barely containing the noise and one marker light out, I know that I’d probably have been chased off at gunpoint. And I dig that vibe from a car for some reason. If you can figure out the “why” behind that, let me know, ok?
I’m a Mopar or no car guy to the core. If anyone gave any more than scrap metal prices for this heap, I got a bridge to sell them, too. Cutting the front fenderwells without replacing them with a welded tube structure? Gutted interior? And someone would trust this guy’s work on the driveline? $1,500…would be generous.
Yep… on a Mopar, you can translate “fenderwell headers” as “cut out half the frame rail headers”. Those aren’t splash shields you removed…
Really, guys? It’s a project, and Dusters are cool. Ain’t gonna get turnkey for 4K, now, are ya?
I am with HotRodPop , beauty is in the eye of the beholder, love Dusters, great starting project for the right person. I have started with less and made nice cars,just takes more time and patience.
Wow how cool, l had a 73 duster 340 same color and same stripes and keystones, mine had a black vinyl top. My brother John helped me buy it and build it, we had so much in that car for 2 years to he died in a car accident, wow. Dusters are so cool, they are budget hot rods easy to build and make them fast. Long live mopars. Love ya john….1961 1987
I’d be perfectly happy to have it. I’d lose the boundary layer scoop, make something happen to address the “clearanced” inner fender panels, find a bumper & straighten the sheet metal and paint it the same color.
After making it mechanically spot on
I’d clean up and keep the rest of the “period correct” mods, and drive it everywhere!
Agreed! Lose the scoop, correct the mess in the wheel wells, put a bumper and a 340 grill in it for starters. Then I’d find a 340 gauge cluster and put the dash back in it with a correct set of bucket seats. I’m sure the harness is shot too so that’s a must too. My first car was 71 340 4 speed In Bahama yellow that my uncle bought new and I wish I still had it but I was a dumb kid and didn’t appreciate it for what it was back then.
How about a 1964 plymouth fury stationwagon…preserved for 15 years after the original owner passed away. A bit rust rotted, and tires shot, but after a fluid flush and new spark plugs it fired right up. A flashback straight into the life of the Griswolds christmas vacation…..dont forget your chainsaw!!!
Sad such a rare car is turned too junk