For Sale Very Rare 1974 Plymouth Trailduster - $14500 (Kansas City)

[67newport]

not mine
Very Rare 1974 Plymouth Trailduster

I often hear people say we used to have a Trailduster but when I say was it a Plymouth they all say no it was a Dodge.
I've been to Barrett Jackson every year for 15 years and have never seen a 1974 Plymouth Trailduster go across the auction floor.
This is truly a collector's dream and is priced where it can make plenty of money if you choose to resell.
360 V8 4x4 all original body and motor. Just Google 1974 Plymouth Trailduster and see how many are available.

Serious buyers only please.

 

[commando1]

Now, I'm confused.
I remembered them as having full framed doors.
So Googling shows me both framed and non-framed doors.
Which is it?

 

[300rag]

Now, I'm confused.
I remembered them as having full framed doors.
So Googling shows me both framed and non-framed doors.
Which is it?

I recall that either 75 or 76 was the change.

 

[commando1]

I recall that either 75 or 76 was the change.

Must have been because of rollover standards?
Or they did not seal worth a crap.

 

[300rag]

Must have been because of rollover standards?

Could be, GM did the same with the Blazer.

 

[Samplingman]

Now, I'm confused.
I remembered them as having full framed doors.
So Googling shows me both framed and non-framed doors.
Which is it?

Apparently the frames were part of the removable roof on early models.

Dodge Ramcharger - Wikipedia

 

[Davea Lux]

These things were a lot like the old Chevy Blazers in that once you took the top off, you could play hell ever getting the thing lined up well enough to put it back on. Doubt it will bring much over $4500 but who knows anymore.

Dave

 

[CBODY67]

The Chevy K-Blazers all had "hardtop-style" doors/glass. About '79, they had a 1/2 top with the fiberglass section uncovering the rear seat and cargo load floor. This shifted the water leaks from the windshield header area to the rear floor area. I remember that TrailDusters having full-frame pickup-style doors on them, which was a better deal than what GM did, by observation, with their earlier models.

The TrailDusters sold fewer than the similar Dodge Ramchargers did, BUT nowhere does "rare" = "high collectible value". $14500.00??????? Plenty of room to dicker?

B-J would not be a good place to look for one of these vehicles. IF one of the Dodge Adult Toy Ramchargers rolled through, with full factory pristine graphics, and factory 440 4x4 4-speed and factory a/c, THAT might be worthy of B-J and elevated pricing. A factory Mopar CB radio might seal the deal?

CBODY67

 

[shooter65]

Hi Dave and CBody67, I have to respectfully disagree.

One brother had a 74 Blazer, full fiberglass top with hardtop style doors. We took the roof off many times. My other brother had a 76 Ramcharger, full metal top but with sedan style doors. We never took the roof off that one. My cousin had a 77 Blazer with the 3/4 fiberglass top, we removed that one several times also.

I thought the switch was around 75. I did a quick search and it appears Dodge/Plymouth switched to the Sedan doors in 75 and Chevy/GMC switched in 76. Ford was a different animal so I didn’t look at those.

1974 Ramcharger

1975 Ramcharger

1975 Blazer

1976 Blazer

In college I worked at a full service gas station and I guy pulled in with a very nice Ramcharger with Trailduster emblems on the front fenders. He told me I was the first one to notice and that most people didn’t even know what a Trailduster was. He said when he restored the Ramcharger, it needed front fenders, he found nice ones from a Trailduster and decided to leave the emblems as a unique conversation piece.

 

[polara71]

These things were a lot like the old Chevy Blazers in that once you took the top off, you could play hell ever getting the thing lined up well enough to put it back on. Doubt it will bring much over $4500 but who knows anymore.

Dave

4500?

I'd give 45 this morning for it, where do I sign?

 

[detmatt]

4500?

I'd give 45 this morning for it, where do I sign?

That’s what I was thinking Dave. Considering what trucks are bringing these days I’d call his asking price quite fair.

 

[78Brougham]

I bought a '79 Tail Duster brand new. Had it for 3 years. It was a great truck and I really miss it. I've been looking for one, support of, but I can't see paying this kind of coin for one.
I removed the top on mine every summer it was heavy as hell but never a real problem with alignment or leaks. I bought a factory soft top for it for the summers, looked very cool!
I believe the first year, '74 was the only year that had the frameless doors.

 

[GJS]

Gorgeous year trucks overall ... IMO, the doors look wonky both ways. I'd take a similar year W200 or D100 over it any day.
For whatever reason that changes for me with the 80's/90's Ramchargers ... likely due to the integrated roof.

 

[67Monaco]

Hi Dave and CBody67, I have to respectfully disagree.

One brother had a 74 Blazer, full fiberglass top with hardtop style doors. We took the roof off many times.

I agree. I've had both a Blazer and 3 Broncos and none ever had a problem putting the lid back on and getting everything lined back up.

 

[Davea Lux]

I bought a '79 Tail Duster brand new. Had it for 3 years. It was a great truck and I really miss it. I've been looking for one, support of, but I can't see paying this kind of coin for one.
I removed the top on mine every summer it was heavy as hell but never a real problem with alignment or leaks. I bought a factory soft top for it for the summers, looked very cool!
I believe the first year, '74 was the only year that had the frameless doors.

I suspect you and your rig probably had different service use than the ones that I was familiar with. The Blazers and T-Dusters in Oregon were popular with hunters of deer and elk and spent a lot of time on banging around on logging roads or sage country with the top off. This tended to be hard on the vehicles and after a few seasons of that type use, alignment issues and water leaks were a big deal. These vehicles used for that purpose were admittedly "beater" units, so those types of issues would have been expected.

Dave

 

[commando1]

I'll take a reg. cab short bed and put a cap on it. Cab will always be dry.

 

[march]

We had a new 74 Trail Duster way back when, and it had full-framed doors.

 

[300rag]

I'll take a reg. cab short bed and put a cap on it. Cab will always be dry.

Lacks the open air feel though.

 

[polara71]

I'll take a reg. cab short bed and put a cap on it. Cab will always be dry.

You are so dull.

 

[CBODY67]

Hi Dave and CBody67, I have to respectfully disagree.

.
Thanks for that verification. . I'll admit that I didn't pay too much attention to the TDuster/Ramchargers when they came out, but was glad Chrysler got into that market.

The worst sealing issue was on the first-gen K-Blazers. There was a palm-sized, rubber coated metal piece that was at the upper corners where the windshield header and top corner bolted on. Body flex would wear the rubber away, which meant "leaks". It was hard to find in the parts books, as I recall, too. You could change the normal suspect weatherstrips and the leaks didn't stop because it was from the upper corners rather than the other places. The second-gen K-Blazers were better on the leaks as they had a better weatherstrip system. Seems like that corner plate was incorporated into the windshield header weatherstrip, with big "pads" on each end? The 1/2 top versions had more of a pickup truck feel, but just not the same feel as the topless models.

The GM models were limited to 350 4bbl and later 400 small block motors, whereas the Chrysler vehicles could go all of the way to 440s. One of my first Walter Mitty daydreams was of a 440 Ramcharger, in Low Lock, sliding around the local Sonic Drive-in, sideways amid a cloud of tire smoke. I know, a stretch given how the 440s were strangled back then, but still a neat thought.

I know that people did put big block Chevies into their K-Blazers. I know of one with a 502 crate motor, that generally sees the highways on the way to the hunting lease in another state. I do know that he's had real issues with the fuel system, getting it to supply what the engine wants and not going to FI. And he's spent several tons of $$$$ on tow bills when it'd quit on him. Be that as it may. Otherwise, you could get a 454 in a K-30 pickup, I believe. Fuel consumption probably tended to limit that market?

Every now and then, a last-gen Ramcharger surfaces. They were also the only 2wd utilities in their later years, as GM went all 4wd and discontinued their 2wd versions several years earlier. The 2wd Ramchargers are definitely noticeable, due to their lower ride height, in comparison to the 3wds that were still available.

CBODY67