1971 Plymouth Duster Flaunts Super-Rare Sunroof at the Dragstrip, but There's a Catch

Granted, Plymouth did not offer the Duster with the high-performance big-block V8 engines of the 383-, 440-, and 426-cubic-inch (6.3-, 7.2-, and 7.0-liter) variety. However, the 1970 Duster 340, which came with 275 horsepower on tap, was widely regarded as a "giant-slaying" muscle car. Simply because it was light enough to give the more powerful midsize rigs a run for their money.

All told, seeing a Duster spinning its rear tires at the drag strip wasn't out of line back in the day. And some 50 years later, Duster enthusiasts continue to race these compacts, albeit with beefed-up engines in most cases. The 1971 version you see here is one of those cars.

Even though it still looks stock for the most part, this Duster is more than just a standard compact with fat rear tires and a massive scoop on the hood. This Mopar hides a 500-cubic-inch (8.2-liter) monster between the front fenders.

It's a custom mill that packs more oomph than any Chrysler V8 from the golden era and pushes the Duster down the quarter-mile in less than ten seconds. For reference, a stock 1970 Duster 340 needs around 15 clicks to cover the distance.

But that's not the only detail that makes this Plymouth a crowd favorite everytime it shows up at drag racing events or classic car shows (yup, this rig is road-legal). This Duster also rocks a sunroof option that founds its way on very few examples back in the day.

And I'm not even talking about the regular sunroof that's rare on any Mopar regardless of the nameplate (Chrysler sold a few hundred units per year in 1970 and 1971). I'm talking about the canvas fold-back roof that was only available on Plymouth Dusters and Dodge Demons in 1971 and 1972.

How many examples were made? Well, accurate numbers are not available, but the Mopar Sunroof Registry estimates Dodge sold 66 Demons with this feature in 1971. The website doesn't provide such information for the 1971 Duster. As for the 1972 version, the registry includes 97 Demons and 41 Dusters. All told, we're probably looking at fewer than 300 units for both model years.

But before you accuse the owner of ruining a super-rare collectible, you must know this 1971 Duster is not a factory sunroof car. It's not even a 1971 Duster, for that matter. The dragster you see here actually started life as a 1970 Duster. The owner modified the exterior to look like a 1971 version and added the fold-back roof himself. But he did a great job, and it's hard to tell it's a clone.

And while it's not a real-deal sunroof car, the unit itself was taken off a 1971 Duster (most likely a vehicle found in a junkyard). We know this because the owner is completely honest about the build and doesn't parade it like an authentic sunroof car. Anyway, I bet he received quite a few offers to sell it over the years. See this amazing Duster run 10s in the video below.