1974 duster project

Potentially rot free V8 3 speed for $1k? That would be a criminally good deal in the northeast. You can probably sell the buckets and console (since they are from an earlier, automatic car) for half or more of what you paid for the whole thing. My dash pad was about the same as yours when I got my car, and my (green) carpet was bleached white where the sun hit it.
This is going to be a sweet ride, and it looks like you are off to a good start!