1972 Plymouth Scamp

The Plymouth Scamp was a two-door hardtop that joined the Plymouth Valiant line in 1971. Its 111-inch wheelbase platform was courtesy of the Dodge Dart Swinger, and its sheet metal and dual taillamps were from the 1970 Dodge Dart.

The 1972 Plymouth Valiant was part of the third generation of styling that had been introduced in 1967 and would continue through 1973. The Chrysler Corporation had first used the name 'Valiant' in 1959 and would remain in production through 1976. It served as the company's entry-level, compact model and gained a reputation for its affordability, durability, and reliability. During the 1960s and 1970s, it was one of Chrysler's best-selling automobiles.

The third generation of Valiant styling was simple, square, and straight and built atop a 108-inch wheelbase that was two inches longer than the previous platform. There was curved side glass, a split front grille that was subdivided horizontally, single headlamps in square bezels, and vertical taillamps.

When the 'Scamp' arrived in 1971 as part of the Valiant line, it was joined by the Valiant four-door sedan, Duster coupe, and Duster 340 coupe. Although part of the Valiant group, the Duster no longer wore the Valiant nameplates for 1971 and had a new grille and rear end that help distinguish it from its siblings. The Duster 340 came equipped with the 340 cubic-inch V8 with dual exhaust, twin snorkel air cleaner, a heavy-duty suspension, a floor shift manual transmission, and a unique vertically segmented grille. The Valiant, based on the Dodge Swinger platform with Dodge Dart sheet metal was visually linked to the Valiant group by its use of the Valiant grille but distinguished as its own unique model through the use of unique styling from the cowl rearward.

With record-breaking sales for the Valiant in 1971, Plymouth was not motivated to make major changes. Minor styling updates were made to the grille and taillights, and the front side maker was slimmer and longer. For the Scamp, it wore a new Scamp signature at the passenger's side of the deck lid, just underneath the Plymouth block lettering. Standard amenities included a concealed spare tire, two-speed wipers, ventless side windows, a cigar lighter, interior Decor Group trim, and color-keyed front door armrests.

The standard six-cylinder Valiant engine displaced 198 cubic inches, had overhead valves, a cast-iron block, solid valve lifters, a one-barrel carburetor, four main bearings, 8.4:1 compression, and delivered 100 (SAE net) horsepower. The 225 CID inline-6 also had a one-barrel carburetor and 100 (SAE net) hp. The 318 CID V8 had overhead valves, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, a two-barrel carburetor, 8.6:1 compression, and delivered 150 (SAE net) horsepower. A three-speed manual transmission was standard.

The two-door hardtop coupe had a base price of $2,530 with six-cylinder power and $2,650 with the base V8 engine. A total of 49,470 examples of the Scamp were built in 1972.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2022