At the risk of losing my ghetto cred.

"Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer" (dash-doorhandle-and-bondo) 04/13/2016 at 10:41 • Filed to: None

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Is it just me, or is this an unattractive design?

I try not to shit all over cars I don’t like. It’s just rude and non constructive. So much hate for everything out there. I have much love to give. But I’ve never, ever, liked the Duster. I get the point, a cheap mopar that fits big meats in the rear.

It’s the “fastback” Valiant, but to me, it’s always looked like the Plymouth Pumpkin. Or a “FATBACK”.

While not exactly the same car, this version is so much more attractive, and kept the 1967 lines till 76. These were out of style at the time, but the years have been kind to this classic look. I’d love one of these, but you’d have to give me a Duster. (not that I wouldn’t take it). The Duster may be the most 70s car ever, but is it a good looking design? and like all Mopars they go for 5 times what they’re worth, Beacuse Mopar people are insane, and ruined Mopar for everyone else. (The revised history says Ma Mopar ONLY made rare and valuable cars) Sorry to name-call, but you know this to be true. So much (ghetto) love for the Duster, Am I missing something?

I appologize to the Duster Faithful, and Admit my classic ride is a beige 4 door, but come on, Duster? are we that uncivilized? -Dash.

Wheelerguy > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 10:44

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I’m about to lose mine. I just said that a manual Aston V12 Vantage S and the New Ford GT are even.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Wheelerguy 04/13/2016 at 10:46

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love to live in that ghetto. Choices, choices.

My bird IS the word > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 10:48

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I don't like those tail lights, they look like an afterthought. Don't really care about the lines.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > My bird IS the word 04/13/2016 at 10:51

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The light don’t bug me, but everything behind the doors is just barfy.

Birddog > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 10:54

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I never thought they looked good in Grandma spec.

Dress them up a little and now we’re talking!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 11:01

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I’d have to agree. The trunk lid and rear “wall” are all wrong for the big picture and don’t go with the bumper or tails, and the tails should not be borderless. I think putting a trim line through the center of them is a mistake, too. I think a swap to a frenched thinner bumper or one of a similar profile that could be made body color, and putting in tails with a chrome edge up into the holes... that could fix a lot. It’s hard to get the right mix, though, my last few minutes in Paint haven’t hit it yet:

What looks best is if the “keel” on the side continues through where the bumper is from top to bottom, but there’s no way to make that work with a 5mph bumper unless it’s plastic - and that might be the missing fix here. Roll-pan plastic bumper, body color.

Urambo Tauro > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 11:02

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I don’t really care much for either one’s treatment of the tail-lamps.

That Duster’s tail-lamps seem like they would look better with a (chrome?) trim piece between them and the body. Without the trim, it looks like they don’t belong there. Almost like someone cut holes in the body just to put the tail-lamps in that location. The shape of the body seems to suggest that the lamps ought to be on the corner, like Valiants of that era.

As for the Scamp, I don’t like their placement in the chrome bumper.

Steve in Manhattan > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 11:02

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They sold a decontented version for a while as the Dodge Demon. Neighbor guy had one - it was horrible. The looks never bothered me, but that starter motor .... The Highland Park Hummingbird. EEEEEEEE-ripripripripripriprip. Flooded.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 11:06

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My mom had one of these when I was a kid.

It was this shade of blue and had the same hubcaps. I hated that car. She went and made it worse by leaving several bags of sheep manure in the trunk on a hot day.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Steve in Manhattan 04/13/2016 at 11:08

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There was one next to my grandma from new till about 2000-01, Demon Looked a little better, and had an awesome name. As I recall, a certain region of America freaked the fuck out over the name, and it became the dart sport.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > TheRealBicycleBuck 04/13/2016 at 11:09

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Still nowhere near the worst thing left in the trunk of a Ruster.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 11:11

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Kinja’s copy/paste for image data isn’t working, so pardon the double post. I know there’s a solution here somewhere, I’m just not 100% sure what it is.

Steve in Manhattan > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 11:13

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My Nana’s neighbor lady had a Dart Swinger. Copper-colored, impossible to kill (straight six). Vinyl roof. Possibly the most inappropriately named car of all time. Pull up in that, and you will not be swinging.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Steve in Manhattan 04/13/2016 at 11:15

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Dodge need to bring back the swinger, no one seemed to have a problem with that name. That or the Demon hating Bible thumpers were unaware of “the lifestyle”

jimz > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 11:16

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The ‘72 looked a bit more “finished” back there.

jimz > Steve in Manhattan 04/13/2016 at 11:17

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scoff if you want, but reduction-gear starters are pretty much the standard these days.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > jimz 04/13/2016 at 11:17

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that stripe helps break up the largeness

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 11:49

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I have never liked the Duster/Demon/Dart, and this is coming from someone that DD a 72 4 door Valiant. I love A bodies for the most part. I own a Hang 10 edition, but it is a Dart with same body of the Duster. It was my wife’s car in high school, we also have her 63 Lancer that was her first car. The fastback just look like bad humpback Novas of the same vintage. Pre-68 Novas are one of my favorite cars, but 68 and forward yuck.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition 04/13/2016 at 11:53

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Yeah, I don’t really like pumpkin novas either, disconovas are ok.

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 12:46

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I completely agree. The notchback Valiant/Dart was a great looking little compact, and tacking on a fastback adds too much visual bulk to the rear of the car.

Die-Trying > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 17:20

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you just need the right year, and trim package.

340 with go package, 4 speed cars. 1971, one of the last years for the high compression motors. enough room in the inner fenders to put just about any tire you want. enough weight over the back to plant just about whatever power you can make. and weigh 3300 lbs

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Die-Trying 04/13/2016 at 18:18

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In the great white north there was also the 71 swinger 340 special, 25 Sold in Regina and 50 sold in Edmonton. They were rare from day one, and a lot have survived. That’s the one I’d want.

Die-Trying > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 18:33

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unless youre hung up on numbers matching originals......... build it.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Die-Trying 04/13/2016 at 18:42

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Nah, the old farts can have their precious musclecars, Even a not minty valiant brougham goes for stupid money, or at least tries to. There was a 73 shell for sale locally no doors, clip or trunklid asking $3500 Mopar guys are like this: If it’s for sale it’s irreplaceable mopar gold, At a show and shine they’ll read your vin to see if it’s “real” before deciding if they’ll chat with you. Love Mopars, Old Mopar guys can eat a dick.

Die-Trying > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 18:57

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yeah, i ran into that looking for a 63-ish chevy2 nova. couldnt touch a stripped and beat, rusted flinststones shell for less than 1500...... ten years ago. i looked for about 5 years, and then moved on too. ive gotten to meet some of those Old Mopar guys. they are in fact a different kind of “enthusiast”.

dont give up the dream.....

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Die-Trying 04/13/2016 at 19:08

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Loved working on them, come in so rusty the torsion bars are flipped, then when you’ve got it all back together they be all like “I hope you know this is a nightshift st. louis car, so that seam sealer was put on by a left handed Puerto-Rican on the right side of the trunk, and a righty on the left.....so you’re swirling it backwards...even if the factory forgot to do it, Do it right!”

That’s why I liked doing MGs and Triumphs, those guys don’t take it too seriously, and never thought they weren’t junk. Even the E-type guy I did work for was fine with “within reason”.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Die-Trying 04/13/2016 at 19:15

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that’s not entirely true, but it’s totally believable, I got my 73 yellow mach 1(cobra jet) for a grand, rusted out 340 duster with a window in the block? 8 grand. It’s just silly.

Die-Trying > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 04/13/2016 at 20:41

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waaaait........ it has occurred to me...... i understand it now....... THEY (mopar guys) went and secretly unified while no one was looking. like the porsche 911 guys have just here recently. basically driving up price and demand out of thin air. basically if they all refuse to sell, except at the ridiculous price......

no worries.......just gotta do the decent thing and cheapskate them.