WOW '70 340 duster sells for $38.5k..

I am very familiar with the Duster in question, and was at BJ when it went across the block yesterday. Here's the low-down: this car was brought to the Russo and Steele auction last year by some guy from Philly; it only attracted an $18K high bid and did not meet the seller's reserve. Following the auction it was sold to a local party here in the Phoenix area. It's been offered for sale at a few car shows around the area since then.

Hemmings Muscle News basically trashed this car in a review of the RS auction last year. The Duster is a '70 model, but it wears '71 stripes and trim. It also has '73 Duster 340 metal emblems. Hemmings gave it a 2 minus rating. The paint is okay, but nothing spectacular. The engine bay is so-so at best. The interior is alright. I helped the Philly guy get the car started last year at Russo and Steele, and it seemed to be a little shaky mechanically.

All in all, it's a real surprise this Duster brought such strong money at Barrett-Jackson. My wife and I were both slack jawed as the auctioneer dropped the gavel at $35K. I think this is a real indication that the collector community is finally taking notice of single carb 340 A-bodies. As we all know, BJ sets the tempo, price-wise, for the market.