Frame Up Built Duster 408 CI 4 Barrel

If you’re one of the dozen or so guys who called ten minutes after our last screaming yellow Duster sold asking when we’d get another one, your prayers have been answered. That last one sold within about five days of its debut, so if you’re thinking about pulling the trigger, call now, because these are exactly the kinds of cars that don’t last long. Fast, well-sorted, and inexpensive, this 1973 Duster is an awful lot of fun wrapped up in a killer yellow package.

Clearly not even close to original anymore, this Duster has been transformed into a take-no-prisoners show and go piece that consistently knocks people out at shows and can get down the road with real authority. You won’t be staying under the radar with the beautifully finished yellow paintwork, which has been applied over a very clean original body shell. There are no signs of wholesale panel replacement, suggesting that this was a straight, rust-free car before the metamorphosis. Panel gaps are good, and if you’re going to install stripes, the panels better line up exactly right. The hood carries a large snorkel scoop and hood pins for a racy look, and on this car it’s not false advertising. It looks factory correct, and many bystanders might be forgiven for thinking it’s stock, which is exactly what you want them to think.

Other stock-appearing details include the Go-Wing out back (complete with Richard Petty’s signature), blacked-out grille, and all the original badges. The chrome bumpers have been restored and look appropriate on this yellow cruiser, preventing the yellow from becoming overwhelming. The original door handles and side mirrors have been retained as well, and out back, the original taillights look clear and bright. “340 Magnum” badges have been added to the large-by-huge hood scoop, and it still carries ‘340’ callouts on the quarter panels, but that’s only to lure unsuspecting victims at the stoplight grand prix.

Other racers won’t know what hit them when this bright yellow hammer comes down. Now powered by a 408 cubic inch stroker, it launches this lightweight car hard enough that you’ll need both hands on the wheel. Packing big cubic inches into a small block package is no easy feat, and this built 360 block is filled with good stuff that has been built to run hard. Up top there’s an Edelbrock intake and 800 CFM carburetor, Edelbrock Performer RPM aluminum heads, along with an MSD 6AL ignition system to light the fires. And if you didn’t say, “Wow!” when you first saw this engine bay, you must not be a car guy. With a ton of brightwork, you’ll be as eager to pop the hood at shows as you are to crack the throttle on the street. The intake and carburetor have been given Edelbrocks’ “Endura-shine” treatment, which matches the chrome valve covers and air cleaner. The accessories, including the water pump and alternator, have been chromed as well, and polished stainless hoses manage the fluids. Heck, even the master cylinder and booster have been given a coat of bright chrome. A massive Be Cool aluminum radiator keeps it cool, assisted by an engine-driven flex fan and an electric pusher. Fire it up and it cackles to life through a set of long-tube headers dumping into a 3-inch exhaust system. As I said earlier, it will be impossible to keep a low profile in this car.

The engine is backed by a 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission which has been heavily fortified for use behind the hot small block. It feeds a sturdy 8.75-inch rear full of 3.55 gears on a Sure Grip limited slip for great acceleration and decent highway manners as well. There’s more eye candy underneath, too, as both the engine and transmission feature chrome pans, and the ceramic-coated headers are beautifully finished. The 3-inch exhaust is fully welded and uses Flowmaster mufflers for that distinctive high-performance sound, and an X-pipe balances the flow. The suspension has been rebuilt, and now features adjustable air shocks out back to fine-tune launch characteristics at the track or on the street. Power disc brakes up front bring this relative lightweight to a halt safely. Traditional chrome Cragar SS wheels wear 215/60/15 front and 295/50/15 rear Cooper Cobra radials.

Inside, it’s just as cool as the exterior, with a completely custom upholstery job in black and yellow velour featuring the Duster logo. The original buckets have been retained, but every square inch has been given a makeover. The door panels and kick panels are covered in matching fabric, and a large center console has been fabricated to act as an armrest. A ratcheting shifter has been installed on the transmission tunnel to control the Torqueflite. A tach has been affixed to the steering column, and a trio of white-faced auxiliary gauges has been fitted below the dash ahead of the shifter. The original AM radio still lives in the dash, and I’m guessing the fellow who built this car preferred the sound of the rumbling stroker motor to talk radio. The back seat has been upholstered to match, as has the headliner and even the sun visors. In back, the trunk has been fully finished in matching black carpet, and the fold-down rear seat remains fully functional.

Like all the best customs and hot-rods we get, this one has a thick stack of receipts to document the modifications and components that went into the build, as well as an original owner’s manual. All the instruction booklets for things like the MSD ignition, as well as a calibration kit for the Edelbrock carburetor, are included with the car. I mentioned earlier that Richard Petty’s signature is on the rear wing and inside the glove box lid, and we’re including photos of the King making his mark on this car.

It’s not just hype when we say you need to call right away on this car. Every time we get a nicely built, reasonably-priced Duster, the phone starts ringing and there are always more than a few guys who just didn’t move fast enough. The engine alone is probably a $5000 piece, and you couldn’t build this car yourself for the price. Don’t be that guy who calls after he sees it disappear from our inventory and ask, “Is it really sold? Do you think you’ll be getting another one?” The summer driving season is coming up, and now is the time to put that new car in your garage. Don’t wait, call now!