74 Gold Duster just starting out...

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pdbyford

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Hey everyone. I'm brand new to the forum. Been looking around getting some information for awhile. I've got a 74 Gold Duster sitting that I'm trying to decide what to do with.This may not be the best category to post to but I couldn't decide for sure. If a mod wants to move it, feel free. Sorry. Anyway... Eventually it is going to be sold, but I'm trying to decide what I want/need to do to it to get the best price. Here's a link to a bunch more pictures of it so far.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/guqqe4uiqiu6815/AAAU6pXnDwWych6msbuCppf1a?dl=0

I haven't done anything to it yet. Hope to get it pulled apart soon to really check the body, but from what I can tell, it is very very very solid. I found very little rust. The only bad areas are the bottom of the fenders as you can see in the pics. The interior is pretty trashed though. Like I said, I know I'm not going to keep it. Not that I don't like it. It could be an awesome car, but I really don't have a ton of time or money to put into it and don't want it to sit for 10 years waiting for me. But, I don't want to just give it away either.

The biggest problem is that I don't know enough about them. I'm more of an E-body fan myself, so I'm not sure how to price this car. At the moment it doesn't run. The slant six is blown (little brother threw a rod a few years ago clean through the block). I will have a 318 and transmission to put into it soon, so it will be at least drivable. May not be super fancy, but better than a roller I'd figure.

I also plan to take it down to bare metal myself and make sure it's as solid as I think it is. So I'd love some ideas on what you more experienced guys think. Should I just sell it as is or put a little work into it? Should I paint it or leave it ready to paint for someone else? Keep it the original color? And what do you guys think about priceing? I'm in Southwest Arkansas but the car is in central Arkansas at the moment at my parents. Hope to move it down here within a month or two and get to work. Also, feel free to make an offer if you are interested. Thanks for all the help, and sorry if this is the wrong place to post.
 

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'74 was the highest year of production for the Duster. The "gold duster" package was pretty popular too, same with the /6.

As is sits, I doubt you'd get much more than $500 for it. If you reassembled the front end you might get some more, but probably not more than $1k. Folks do not like to buy disassembled cars. Even reassembled with a running 318 thrown in, you'd be unlikely to see much more than $1,500 if that was all you did, and you'd need to spend some money to get it converted to the 318. At the very least you'd need conversion engine mounts, a new radiator, and some kind of exhaust, and those things alone would eat the entire increase in the sale price, if not more.

If you tear it down further, you'll get even less money unless you put it all back together, and even then I think you'd be better off just leaving it alone. You'll end up putting more money into fixing stuff as it goes back together and the end result won't be worth any more than it is now. Painting it will cost thousands, and unless you complete a full restoration you probably won't even get the money it costs to paint it back out of it.

Even painted and put back together with a running 318 you're not likely to see more than $5k for it unless you do a really nice job on it, which will almost surely cost more than $5k.

Take a look at this '74. It was originally a 360 car (which is about as rare as a '74 Duster can be), but has a non-numbers 360 in it now. It's in nice shape, with a repaint and good condition interior. Sold for $5k.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1974-Duster-360-E58-360-4-Barrel-/251678700070?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&forcerrptr=true&hash=item3a99383226&item=251678700070&nma=true&si=7jAyiZ5sckZsGGuyFDAyC1W75FM%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I would say your best bet would be to offer it pretty much as is. I would air up the tires, clean off all the crud, and bolt the fenders, bumper, grille etc back on the car. Park it on a driveway, and take some pictures. If the car looks complete and like it could easily be rolled onto a trailer it'll get the highest price you can get. Spending more money on it is unlikely to get you any more profit, even if it does raise the final selling price.
 
X2
I looks like a great parts car.
You can restore it, but the down side is you will not make no money on it finished.
 
This '74 was just put up for sale right here on FABO. $1k...

100_3770.jpg


http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=299334
 
Thanks everyone for the information. We'll see what happens. I have a friend that can paint it so I'm not too worried on the price for that, but I totally see the point. I didn't think these went for very much. I'll have to research the interior costs a bit more. I'm thinking that's gonna be the biggest cost for me.
 
Interior cost isn't anything compared to all the drivetrain and engine/transmission parts costs. I am rebuilding a 73 Duster right now and I wish it was the cost of an interior lol. Good luck though no matter how you proceed.
 
duster007 said:
hi and welcome ...would be willing to sell the bumpers?
Click to expand...

Thanks. And maybe. If I decide to part it out I'll let you know.

NodakDuster said:
Interior cost isn't anything compared to all the drivetrain and engine/transmission parts costs. I am rebuilding a 73 Duster right now and I wish it was the cost of an interior lol. Good luck though no matter how you proceed.
Click to expand...

I'll have to keep that in mind. From what I've read, swapping to a 318 shouldn't be too big a deal right? I've got an engine and transmission lined up for super cheap, just have to go get it. But from what I've found so far, its pretty much just a matter of changing the K-member and getting the right motor mounts right? I probably won't worry about rebuilding the engine right now, maybe just get some new valve covers and stuff like that and clean it up a bit.
 
Another quick question. What year's parts are interchangeable? Can I get interior panels from a 73 or 75? Stuff like that?
 
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