1971 Plymouth Duster

FAST BACK SEDAN

318 2 BARREL V8

Automatic

VL26G1E122112

Salvage

gas

I purchased this car from the orginal owners son. Mrs Rodgers bought this car new in 1971 and always kept her "baby" in the garage. with just over 60,000 orginal miles, Mrs Rodgers used this Plymouth Duster as her daily driver up until she passed away a few years ago here is the cars story as told to me by James Rodgers. the orginal owners son.... Mrs Rodgers loved the style of the plymouth duster and decided to buy one.. she went into the local Plymouth dealer near her home in Lompoc Ca in 1971 to buy a new car..She chose this brilliant yellow 318, 2 barrel , 904 automatic car. since she was just going to drive it regularly and not race she didnt feel the need for the bigger engine and extra insurance cost. She got power front disc, rear drum, automatic trans and power steering, it has roll up window and no air conditioning as it never really got warm where she lived and the extra cost would have made the little plymouth more than she could afford. It had black interior with front bench seat and seating for 3 across the rear windows are the pop out type. it had 14 inch wheels and full wheel covers with white walls.. and 185 /75/14. and a single exhaust. She drove this car daily for many years, always maintaining her "baby' who always slept in the garage! Sadly in 1979 she was involved in a front end accident , Mrs Rodgers wasn "devastated" James said. The insurance company sent a man out who "seemed" fine and polite, but was very interested in Mrs Rodgers Plymouth Duster. More interested than seemed normal to James and his mom. Some time passed and Mr Insurance Guy told Mrs Rodgers that the car was not worth fixing and it was to be considered a total. Mrs Rodgers stated " NOT WORTH IT TO WHO?" she was quite upset. She drove the car home from the accident..it still drove the same.. but the hood and fenders were bent and the grill broken , and she leaked some water cause the grill piece but a hole in the radiator. Mrs Rodgers found it even more strange that the insurance company had pushed the paper work thru so quickly claiming the car was a total loss... Mrs Rodgers stated " she only has 15000 miles on her!". Mrs Rodgers and her son James after discussing the distrust they had for the insurance company decided to get there own inspection, She loved this car and was not going to give it up so easy! After having thier own inspection of the car done they were informed that the damage was purely cosmetic accpet for the radiator.There was NO FRAME damage, NO SUSPENSION damage, and in actuality it would only need an alignment to get the front end squared away. Being the was 1979 or 1980 the value of the plymouth at the time was not realized she just knew she wanted to drive it again.. so the when the gentleman and the body shop made her an offer she gladly agreed. He had a 73 or 74 duster with the rearend all smashed in that was an actual total and that, "since the front sheet metal would fit her car perfectly" that he would sell and install all the 73/74 duster sheet metal on her 71 and then repaint the whole car the brilliant bright yellow she loved so much.!Her "baby" didnt look quite the same as it did when she bought it but she didnt care she was happy to be able to drive it again. Fast forward to march 2010 her son James has been the owner of the car for many years , since his mom the "Orginal" owner passed away. He told me this very story. So I drove the car it handled good , stopped well for a car of its age...it didnt make any weird sound or clunks , it tracked straight as observed when we followed James to a good meeting place...I however was still unsure.. and told James i wanted to have the vehicle inspected myself... i told him... ill give you 1/2 of the money your asking for the car.. and you hold the pink slip and if she checks out ill return with the other 1/2 and we can finish the deal..Needless to say the car checked out...Just as James had said.. and i bought the car. ..... The reason im selling is a bit of financial hardship,, i dont want to sell the car... but have to make a choice of what i can keep and what has to be sold.. Since i bought the car i did a complete tune up, fixed all the little things like bulbs that didnt light and new hood bumpers also installed a complete flowmaster dual exhaust to make the little 318 at least sound mean... lowered the rear end 2 inches and add brand new 17 in tires and wheels the stock 14in wheels and tires come with the car along with the dog dish hub caps... This car get attention wherever she goes. even took 2nd place at the local chili cook off and car show ..it looks like a muscle car, sounds like a muscle car but sips gas... like a 6 cyl.. nice to have with gas at the price it is... I have taken this car on several trips...in excess of 100 miles or more, driven in stop and go traffic and long open freeway she she never even got warm. And in case your wondering the new radiator was upgraded to a heavy duty one that is used on the cars with A/c. I wrote this out to tell you the true story behind this car... because most people freak out about a salvage title... this car never deserved to get one.. its in fine shape. and you WONT BE dissapointed! Bid and bid with confidence!!!!!!! On Jun-26-12 at 11:49:15 PDT, seller added the following information: LET ME REPEAT THIS CAR HAS NO STRUCTURE DAMAGE AT ALL!!! THE ACCIDENT WAS PURELY COMESTIC, THE FRAME WAS UNHARMED ALONG WITH ANY AND ALL SUSPENSION PARTS... IT TRACKS STRAIGHT AND IS ALIGNED PERFECTLY!! I HAVE ALOT OF PEOPLE LOWBALLING ME WITH OFFERS... THIS CAR IS WORTH THE MONEY... I HAVE A LOW RESERVE AND WHOMEVER HITS THAT RESERVE IS GOING TO GET THIS CAR FOR A GREAT PRICE... IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN MANY TIMES ON LONG TRIPS AND HAS NOT HAD ONE ISSUE..! PLEASE IF YOU WANT THE CAR... BE REALISTIC.. YOU SEE WHAT THEY ARE GOING FOR ON HERE.!!