[Tim Corcoran]

The Duster is back more beautiful and more powerful than ever. The Duster hasn't been made since 1975 and now it's back.

[KS circutguy]

[67drake]

Sleeper

[camerjeff]

That is a Duster, but it is a Dacia Duster not a Plymouth Duster. Romanian Model.

[Cammer-6]

isnt the Dacia the one that Top Gear likes to belittle?

[kingbuzzo]

lol future classic...

[jerry455]

It is the one James May loves, much to Jeremy's chagrin.

[ID67goat]

https://youtu.be/rh-OJkh1Ozg?si=l4KLjfMjvwaD3iUN

Here is a commercial for you…

[66sprint6]

I wish that they would recreate my '74 Duster. That thing was truly the best car that I ever owned. Spartan interior with a rubber floor, 225 Slant 6. That's about it. I paid 800 bucks for it and drove it all over Canada, through the mountains west to Vancouver, and then all the way to Toronto after that. All in all, that alone was a 4500 mile trip. The car never skipped a beat through thick and thin. It doesn't get any more endearing than that.

[59safaricat]

Originally Posted by 66sprint6

I wish that they would recreate my '74 Duster. That thing was truly the best car that I ever owned. Spartan interior with a rubber floor, 225 Slant 6. That's about it. I paid 800 bucks for it and drove it all over Canada, through the mountains west to Vancouver, and then all the way to Toronto after that. All in all, that alone was a 4500 mile trip. The car never skipped a beat through thick and thin. It doesn't get any more endearing than that.

The slant 6 is a beast (not in power but in durability/reliability). Chrysler drivetrains were pretty good then but electrical/wiring and fit/finish....well, some things never change,

[dataway]

There should be a hall of fame for the best base model, simple, reliable cars.

Duster with the Slant six would be on the list.
Ford Maverick with the 300 inline six
No frills early 70's Nova with the 305 (or was it 307)

I had an example of the Maverick .. the thing would start in zero degree weather before you could even hear the engine turn over. Body/Frame quality wasn't great for the Northeast.

Had an example Nova, not the best fit an finish but I could literally balance a nickel on the air cleaner while it was idling.

Cheap to fix, cheap to drive, easy to work on cars for Joe Everyman.

[4zpeed]

Bought a 6cyl. 3 on the tree 70 Nova from a scrap yard, comparable to a 70 Duster, needed a fender, windshield and headlight bucket. Was gonna fix it, quick paint job and sell it but I grew fond of the standard. Problem was 1st time back in the LTD I bout threw the little women through her windshield looking for the clutch.



Frank

[kingbuzzo]

My second car was a '76 nova with the six...ting was bulletproof. and the cheapest car to own...bot it for a carton of smokes too...those were the days

[OG68]

Originally Posted by dataway

There should be a hall of fame for the best base model, simple, reliable cars.

Duster with the Slant six would be on the list.
Ford Maverick with the 300 inline six
.

I think you misprinted the 300 six. That was the optional 6 cylinder in Ford trucks.

I bought a new 71 Comet (Maverick Twin) with the 200 inline six. Paid $2050 for it and drove it for over 20 years. Rebuilt the engine at 125K and drove it for another 200,000 miles. After a winter in Virginia it developed some minor rust in the rear quarters. Gave it to my son in '93 who had it for another year or so until he changed the oil one day and didn't notice the filter was missing its gasket.

The small Ford six came in four sizes, 144 / 170 / 200 / 250. And like the slant six, was virtually, indestructible.

[KS circutguy]

Loved my slant 6 Valiant
Like this.
In the 70's living in NY used it for a "winter rat".
2nd winter I used it the torsion bar support rusted out and the rest of the winter was fun driving a pogo stick on the right side.lol
But even in below 0 weather she always started. Wife hated the ride, but it beat walking.


My 64 1/2 Mustang had a 200 straight 6, great car and engine.

[dataway]

OG68 ... I think mine must have had the 250 ... it was a 1974 I think. They keep upping the displacement of that engine over the years right? Wasn't a race car, but it would get out of its own way .. being basically a bare shell of a bare bones Maverick.

You must miss yours. I grew up just poor enough that I'll never, never, ever lose my affection for a cheap car that starts good, runs good and gets you to work no matter the weather. That you can fix with a small box of tools in the trunk if needed and every parts store on earth carries parts for it. And after a year of owning it, if you absolutely had to, you could set it on fire and walk away without losing a dime.

Simpler days for sure.

[OG68]

I do miss it I was in the Navy when I bought it, earning about $120/month. Car payment was $76.
It had three options, the 200 six, C4 automatic and deluxe interior. No radio.
It never broke down (on me) or fail to start. Simple indeed.

[Shiny]

Agree on the Ford 6-cyl.

Around 1980, we bought a VERY tired 63 Falcon with a small (170 ?) 6 and 3-spd that just refused to fail in any way. We had no spare money and the car respected our financial situation for about 3 yrs. before we passed it on to a neighbor.

Today's cars may be safer, more economical, and better for the ecology but that Falcon was a great answer to reliable no-frills transportation. Maybe my bicycle was too but the Falcon didn't make me pedal uphill.

[kingbuzzo]

Gampy had the wagon version...very sensible...no falconing around

[4zpeed]

My father bought a 63 6cyl Falcon 3 on the tree in 66 after we got back from a tour in Germany, one night he tossed a ciggy out and unknowingly it made it's way back in through the back window. My brother was laying on the seat asleep and got to stirring around because that butt had landed between his pocket and the seat.

About then mom sounded the alarm so dad pulled off, removed the seat bottom and we relieved ourselves on it, for the exception of mom. I thought it was great fun, he got a army blanket from the trunk, wrapped it up and stuffed it back in, shortly after he traded it in for a new 67 6cyl Tempest 3 on the tree, the origins of my lust.



FranK