1974 Duster wont start

It should fire on starter fluid. I helped a girl at a picnic once with her VW Jetta w/ the funky Jetronic mechanical fuel distributor. One "professional" mechanic there said it must be a broken timing belt. It started and idled fine as I kept spraying a little starter fluid in the inlet duct, and asked the mechanic if he was still sure the timing belt broke. The girl wanted me to keep doing whatever while she drove home. I cracked the fuel supply line and nothing. When I told her, she said "not the fuel pump again!".

If not fuel, then your problem is no spark. Buy an in-line spark tester ($4 Harbor Freight).