1974 Duster I am Looking At....Need Help

[threewood]

A friend at work has this 1974 Duster he is passively trying to sell. He realized the fix up cost is more than he wants to put into it. He said he would like $1000 but would consider lower offers. He is a good guy and even offered up "pay me $100 a month if you want."

318 auto w/ newer Eddy 1406 Carb, MP distributor and Orange Box, headers, dual exhaust (fairly recent, factory A/C with comp, condenser, evap removed), originally Gold now painted black. Both rear quarters are shot, rear rocker to quarter transition shot, right side rocker suspect (looked to have filler ), rt frt fender crunched and slathered in filler, Lf frt fender....surprisingly unblemished, roof good, floors looked good. Pass side A pillar to cowl joint looked like it may have damage (large amount of seam sealer and painted). Obviously not an AZ car. Trunk was locked so I didn't get a peek.

Has been sitting 1.5 years, ran when parked. Can someone give me a ballpark on what It may be worth as it sits? Decode ID plate?

 

[threewood]

More Pics

 

[6pk2goDemon]

It was originally a /6 car from the factory. Since you're in Yuma, I would pass & find a car without so much rust....JMHO

You didn't really state what your intentions/plans are for the car ? That info would help judge value a little more....

 

[ScampMike]

well, he's right - there's a lot of work there.. probably a lot more than meets the eye... you're going to need to be VERY dedicated to get to the other side.. with that said, nothing is impossible - if you have to have the car - offer him $500, settle at $700ish and do NOT go the "some here, some there" method... at $100 a month that's 7 months.. that's too long to owe someone money. At $700 you can change your mind and part it out and not lose $$.

 

[JoesEdge]

If you have the time and money, then it's worth restoring. But, I believe every mopar should be saved if possible. 700 bucks seems fair.

 

[threewood]

Thanks. I'm not sure what I would do with it immediately, I just like working on them probably bring it back close to stock, original color but keep the 318. I would also look into a 4 speed conversion. Living in Yuma, it would be nice to have an older car with A/C. The rust that I saw doesn't scare me. Also, good to know about it being a /6 car originally.

Thanks!

 

[71DodgeDemon340]

$500, scrap price. Not the most desired years, and from the rust you can see you better believe there is a lot more, metal rot is like a ice berg, only 25% is visible to the eye. If you were going to do a resto id say pass, however if sub frames are solid, which i doubt they are then id make a sleeper, leave body alone, put money into drivetrain, steering, suspension, brakes and chassis

 

[diymirage]

"fairly recent exhaust" but the car hasn't ran in a year and a half ?

if you can get it for a few hundred I would drive until it falls apart


I'm slightly intrigued by the wheel studs, makes me wonder if that rear end might have been sourced from an old race car?

 

[threewood]

"fairly recent exhaust" but the car hasn't ran in a year and a half ?

if you can get it for a few hundred I would drive until it falls apart


I'm slightly intrigued by the wheel studs, makes me wonder if that rear end might have been sourced from an old race car?

He had Wilwood brakes installed about the same time as the exhaust year and a half ago. They had rust and didn't look too good after sitting. All four wheels have the long studs. I didn't take a look at the rear end but I doubt it is a race unit.

I'm still debating on whether to pick it up. I would love to save it, already looked at new sheetmetal. Did you see the 60A Square D breaker next to the build plate? Top notch audio install. Small stuff like that bugs me as well as cutting the kick panels for crappy speakers.rotest:

 

[Cuprum-74]

I would offer 500-700 as well. Body panels is one thing... Its when there is rot in the floors and subframes that it starts to get sketchy.

 

[Sedanman]

I'd pick it up as cheap as possible,get it running and work the bugs out of it and find another body to swap all the v8 stuff into and part out the rest. The rust on the brakes you can sand off.

 

[ValiantK360]

I would not go more than $700 for that car. Start at $500 and see if he takes it.

 

[Valiant1]

Honestly, I wouldn't even bother with this car. I agree with 6pk's comments. You should be able to find something much cleaner in your area than this one. Keep looking. JMO.

 

[moper]

$500 tops, and you can get that back if you need to by blowing it down the road or parting it.

 

[barbee6043]

$500 tops, and you can get that back if you need to by blowing it down the road or parting it.

I agree. and know this like others mentioned, it is FULL of old filler, obvious...... take a ton of work and $$ to do the body. just get it running, if good wilwoods, drivetrain, find a better roller for it all a nd part out the rest .

got to be way better bodies out your way!!!!!!!

 

[64physhy]

Go talk to R.C., the machinist at NAPA on 4th Ave. He's a Mopar guy and could probably get you lined up with a decent car. Better have some time on your hands though, he'll talk Mopar with you for hours.

Or, wait until the Snow-birds start leaving, and maybe something good will pop up. Some of them buy cars down here for the season, and then sell them when they migrate back north.

 

[64physhy]

You'd be better off to drive over the hill and pick this one up:
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/cto/5452169258.html

 

[crackedback]

500 max...

That car has so much rot that you CAN'T see... unless you can do that work yourself, look for a better body to start with.

 

[64physhy]

Or get this one from south of the border
http://tijuana.craigslist.com.mx/cto/5439722286.html

 

[dukeboy440]

500 max...

That car has so much rot that you CAN'T see... unless you can do that work yourself, look for a better body to start with.

I agree, unless you're up north where rust is typical like that, I'd steer clear of it.




Side note, Cracked, where did you get those GIFs in your signature

 

[threewood]

I saw the owner again today, said it was a Michigan car. Bought it in Phoenix and drove it to the shop it sits at right now. I have a side yard I could put it in, so space isn't a problem. I'll think some more on it. Floors are solid. I need another project like I need another hole in my head. If I can get it for $600 I'll probably do it.

 

[Clelan]

Go for it? 5 to 700 is great! Get it running and driving then look for a good body to swap it all over to. This is exactly what I did.

Cley

 

[threewood]

Sorry for the late update but I did not buy it. Talked with the owner last week and he has decided to fix it up and was asking me about body panels. Sent him in the direction of Summit so i hope he has fun with it

But the old car bug got me and I did end up buying a project car.....

This one needed a little work. Bought it from crackedback and was just about complete except it was somewhat in parts. Replaced roof, front clip, drivers side front and rear pans, trunk, trunk extensions, tail panel, dutchman panel, both quarter skins, outer wheel houses and multiple small rust patch repairs. It is now at the blaster and 100% rust free. Not an A body but Mopar nonetheless

Last week before going to the blaster....

 

[64physhy]

I know where there's a solid '66 Barracuda in Yuma, if you want to add another one to your collection.