Neil Walling is credited with designing the Plymouth Duster. It was given a sloped rear, wide rear fenders, curved side glass in the windows, and a small roof. John Worthy, who worked in the Advanced Car Engineering Department, was brought in to solidify the design and verify that it could be built. The man responsible for managing the project and gaining approval for the design from the corporate management was Gene Weiss.
The original idea was to use the Warner Brothers Tasmanian Devil swirl cartoon but they were unable to secure the rights. So designs were drawn with their own 'Duster' or devil swirl. The name drew from the idea that when a driver lost a race they were left in the dust or 'dusted'.
The car was positioned to compete with the Chevrolet Nova. In 1970 Plymouth introduced their Plymouth Valiant Duster. It could be purchased in the latter part of September 1969. During its first year, Plymouth sold 217,192 Duster cars. 24,817 were outfitted with the 340 cubic-inch engine. At a base price of $2,172, the Duster was a phenomenal purchase. The base engine was a 198 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine that produced 125 horsepower. The 225 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine raised the horsepower rating to 145. Two 8-cylinder engines were available, the 318 and 340 cubic inches. The 318 produced 230 horsepower while the 340 produced 275. With the 340, the Duster could race from zero-to-sixty in the low 6's with the quarter-mile time of around 14.7.
The Duster featured unibody construction, Torqueflite automatic, optional disc brakes, front torsion bar suspension, and four engines to choose from. The interior could be outfitted with a bench or bucket seats. The instrumentation was complete and an optional tachometer was available as optional equipment.
In 1971 Plymouth introduced the Twister package which included Rallye wheels, bucket seats, a unique grille, racing mirrors, and more as standard equipment. The engine options remained the same.
In 1972 the compression was reduced to 8.5:1 on the 340 cubic-inch engine. Horsepower was now rated by the SAE standard, meaning the 340 cubic-inch 8-cylinder engine was rated at 240 horsepower. The Twister trim was carried over from the previous year but did not retain its unique grille and hood. The 198 cubic-inch Slant six-cylinder engine was dropped. The 225 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine producing 145 horsepower was now the base engine. The 318 produced 230 horsepower and the 340 produced 240 horsepower. After 100,000 units had been sold, Plymouth introduced the Gold Duster option package.
In 1973 the Duster received styling changes. The taillights were modified and the vehicle received a new grille. The back seats were now able to be folded down, allowing ample cargo space. These models were known as Space Dusters, due to the extra space that they provided. The bumpers were updated to comply with Federal safety regulations. 15,731 customers purchased the Duster 340 in 1973. The 225, 318, and 340 engines were offered.
The marketplace was shifting and the world was experiencing a fuel shortage. The price of gasoline skyrocketed and the public reacted by searching for economical, fuel-efficient vehicles. The automobile manufacturing companies responded by offering smaller engines. After the oil embargo crisis was over, the public was back to buying the larger engine vehicles.
In 1974 Plymouth introduced the 360 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine in the Duster model line, as a replacement for the 340. The 360 engine produced 245 horsepower and was fitted with a Torqueflite transmission. 3,979 examples of the Duster 360 were purchased. Even though the 360 engine had a larger displacement, it also was heavier, ultimately degrading the performance when compared with the 340.
1974 turned out to be the best sales year for the Duster.
In 1975, the Twister option was no longer offered. The 360 cubic-inch engine was detuned and now produced 230 horsepower. The 318 produced 230 horsepower while the base 225 six-cylinder engine produced 145 horsepower.
In 1976 Plymouth introduced the Volare and Dodge introduced their Aspen. They were immediately popular with the public and this had a negative impact on the sale of the Duster. To rejuvenate sales, Plymouth introduced the Silver Duster package which did little but add to the visual appeal of the vehicle. A Feather Duster was introduced which replaced many of the body components with aluminum, resulting in a nearly 200-pound weight loss for the vehicle. It was outfitted with a six-cylinder engine, a special exhaust system, and promoted as a lightweight, fuel-efficient vehicle. A Spirit of 76 edition was offered which featured a 'Spirit of 76' sticker on the rear quarter panels.
The 360 cubic-inch engine was detuned even further, complying with strict government regulations. Producing 220 horsepower, it had lost 10 horsepower when compared with the prior year.
Production for the A-body Dusters lasted until 1976 resulting in 1,328,377 units being created. The Duster name continued to be used, built on the F-body platform and resembling its Volare counterpart.
by Dan Vaughan