1972 · Plymouth · United States
1972 Plymouth Duster 340
In the first net-rating year the Duster 340's 8.5:1 340 was rated 240 net hp with electronic ignition, the Twister became order code A51, and output rose to 15,681 in both compilations.
United States · researched through 2026-09-23
1972 was the first year Plymouth published net rather than gross ratings, and the Duster 340's compression fell to 8.5:1 so it could run on low-lead regular fuel while output settled at 240 net hp with electronic ignition now standard. The Twister became a defined order code, A51, a Duster-only accessory group with its own cartoon logo debuting this year, while the Gold Duster continued. Production reached 212,311 base Dusters and 15,681 Duster 340s for a total of 227,992, and here the Standard Catalog-derived compilation and the separate Govier/Consumer Guide compilation agree exactly on the Duster 340 figure, though the production notes caution that their lineages may simply overlap rather than independently confirm each other.1
An open conflict runs through the 1972 record on two-tone paint: Plymouth's own advance information for dealers lists two-tone as one of several items discontinued for 1972, while the factory order code list instead shows it available at extra cost (though not on the Scamp) with its own color chart. Both are carried, with the order code list, the later and more specific ordering document, given the edge. That same advance-information bulletin lists the rear spoiler, tachometer, hood pins, performance axle package, and cassette player among Valiant-line options dropped for the year.2,3
No 1972 base or option prices were located in the sources read for this record; the Twister's rumored $100 price and a claim that bucket seats were standard that year both trace only to an enthusiast recollection page, and the factory order code list does not show bucket seats bundled into A51, so neither claim is treated as established. The 340 made 240 hp at 4,800 rpm and 290 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm net; the standard 318 two-barrel made 150 hp net; the optional 225 six made 110 hp net (13 hp less with the N95 emission package); and the standard 198 six made 100 hp net (6 hp less with N95).
The floor-shift three-speed was standard with the 340, the column-shift three-speed standard with the 198, 225, and 318, the four-speed manual restricted to the 340, and TorqueFlite optional with every engine. The Twister package itself bundled body-color dual racing mirrors, drip rail and wheel lip moldings, a performance hood treatment, body side and lower deck tape stripes, and a Twister decal; hood scoops were available only alongside it, and it could not be combined with the separate Custom Exterior Package. A manually operated fabric sun roof, in white or black, was offered on both the Duster and Duster 340, though not together with a vinyl roof.3
On a 108-inch wheelbase, the Duster coupe measured 188.4 inches long and 71.0 inches wide, standing 52.7 inches tall with a six or 53.1 with a V8, on a 57.5-inch front and 55.6-inch rear tread, with 15.9 cubic feet of usable luggage space as estimated by the source. The Duster 340 ran a 3.23 axle standard with any transmission, rising to 3.55 with the Sure-Grip differential, a 10.5-inch clutch shared with the 318 (against 9.25 inches for the sixes), and optional front disc rotors of 10.79 inches with 314.8 square inches of total swept area. Line-wide engine mix through February 1972 across the whole Valiant line ran 65.2% for the 225 six, 21.9% for the 318, 8.1% for the 198 six, and 4.8% for the 340, with automatic transmission at 86.7%, radio at 89.4%, power steering at 68.8%, air conditioning at 30.1%, and vinyl roof at 30.4%; Amber Sherwood Metallic led color preference at 11.3%, followed closely by Honeydew at 11.2% and Tawny Gold Metallic at 8.9%, with Formal Black last at 1.6%.3,4
Fact sheet · 1972 · United States
The numbers
1972 Plymouth Duster 340 — In the first net-rating year the Duster 340's 8.5:1 340 was rated 240 net hp with electronic ignition, the Twister became order code A51, and output rose to 15,681 in both compilations.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-23.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
- Duster 340: 15,681 (two compilations agree).1,5
- All Dusters: 227,992.1
- 340: 240 hp at 4,800 rpm and 290 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm, SAE net as installed; 8.5:1 compression.
- Twister package: order code A51, Duster VL29 only.3
- Engine mix of the whole 1972 Valiant line (Valiant sedan, Scamp, Duster and Duster 340) through February 1972, as Plymouth reported it to dealers: 225 six 65.2%, 318 V8 21.9%, 198 six 8.1%, 340 V8 4.8%. Other take rates: automatic transmission 86.7%, radio 89.4%, power steering 68.8%, air conditioning 30.1%, vinyl roof 30.4%, console 3.5%. These are line-wide percentages, not Duster counts.4
- Most-ordered 1972 Valiant and Duster colours: Amber Sherwood Metallic 11.3%, Honeydew 11.2%, Tawny Gold Metallic 8.9%; Formal Black was last at 1.6%.4
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duster, all models1 2-door coupe · not stated | 227,992 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duster, non-3401 Duster · 2-door coupe · not stated | 212,311 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Duster 3401,5 Duster 340 · 2-door coupe · 340 4-bbl · not stated Two compilations agree; their lineages may overlap, so the status stays reported. | 15,681 | built, model-year | Reported |
Duster and Duster 340 rows partition the total as the source presents it.
No Twister, Gold Duster, engine, transmission or colour count was found.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| E55 · 340 V8, 4-bbl (Thermo-Quad), electronic ignition3 340 cu in · Thermo-Quad 4-barrel | 240 hp @ 4,800, 290 lb-ft @ 3,600 (SAE net (as installed, SAE J245)) | standard in Duster 340 only; 8.5:1, 4.04 x 3.31 in, dual low-restriction exhaust, regular fuel | Not yet sourced |
| E44 · 318 V8, 2-bbl3 318 cu in · 2-barrel | 150 hp @ 4,000, 260 lb-ft @ 1,600 (SAE net (as installed, SAE J245)) | standard V8 in Duster | Not yet sourced |
| E24 · 225 Six, 1-bbl3 225 cu in · 1-barrel | 110 hp @ 4,000, 185 lb-ft @ 2,000 (SAE net (as installed, SAE J245); 13 hp less with N95 emission package) | optional in Duster | Not yet sourced |
| E22 · 198 Six, 1-bbl3 198 cu in · 1-barrel | 100 hp @ 4,400, 160 lb-ft @ 2,400 (SAE net (as installed, SAE J245); 6 hp less with N95 emission package) | standard six in Duster | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| D13 · Three-speed manual, floor-mounted, fully synchronized3 | standard with 340; optional with other engines | Not yet sourced |
| D14 · Three-speed manual, column-mounted3 | standard with 198, 225 and 318 (fully synchronized with 318); not with 340 | Not yet sourced |
| D21 · Four-speed manual3 | 340 only | Not yet sourced |
| D34 · TorqueFlite three-speed automatic3 | optional with all engines | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
A51sales code |
Twister Package, Duster VL29 only, not with A21 (body-colour dual racing mirrors, drip rail and wheel lip moldings, performance hood treatment, body side and lower deck tape stripes, Twister decal)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
J54sales code |
Hood scoops (available with the Twister package A51 only)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
A21sales code |
Custom Exterior Package (Duster: drip rail molding, lower deck tape, wheel lip and custom sill moldings; not with A51)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
A25sales code |
Interior Convenience Group (cigar lighter, dual horns, glove box lock, deluxe steering wheel)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
A01sales code |
Light Package3 | — | Not yet sourced |
A04sales code |
Basic Group (AM radio, variable-speed wipers, left remote mirror, day/night mirror, deluxe wheel covers)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
A88sales code |
Interior Decor Group (carpets, rear armrests with ashtray, wood-grained instrument panel and door trim)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
V21sales code |
Performance hood paint, flat black (Duster and Duster 340; not with two-tone)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
V3W / V3Xsales code |
Sun roof, manually operated fabric top, white or black (Duster and Duster 340; not with vinyl roof)3,2 | — | Not yet sourced |
G36 / G37sales code |
Dual racing mirrors, left remote and right manual: body colour (G36) or chrome (G37)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
R21sales code |
AM/FM radio (monaural; new for 1972)3,2 | — | Not yet sourced |
J52sales code |
Inside hood release3 | — | Not yet sourced |
H51sales code |
Air conditioning (not with 198, nor with 318 and manual transmission)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
B41sales code |
Power front disc brakes3 | — | Not yet sourced |
C16sales code |
Console (bucket seats and automatic only)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
D91sales code |
Sure-Grip differential (required for the 3.55 axle with 340)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
S13sales code |
Heavy-duty suspension (standard Duster 340)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
S84sales code |
'Tuff' steering wheel (with power steering only)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
W21sales code |
Rallye road wheels (D78 or E70 tires only)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
T76sales code |
E70x14 raised white letter tires3 | — | Not yet sourced |
N95sales code |
Emission control system (required on California-registered cars)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
GA4 |
Winchester Gray Metallic3 | Unknown4 Reported |
HB1 |
Blue Sky3 | Unknown4 Reported |
TB3 |
Basin Street Blue3 | Unknown4 Reported |
GB5 |
True Blue Metallic3 | Unknown4 Reported |
FE5 |
Rallye Red3 | Not yet sourced |
GF3 |
Amber Sherwood Metallic3 | Unknown4 Reported |
GF7 |
Sherwood Green Metallic3 | Unknown4 Reported |
HT6 |
Mojave Tan Metallic3 | Unknown4 Reported |
HT8 |
Chestnut Metallic3 | Unknown4 Reported |
EV2 |
Tor-Red (extra cost)3 | Unknown4 Reported |
EW1 |
Spinnaker White3 | Unknown4 Reported |
TX9 |
Formal Black3 | Unknown4 Reported |
FY1 |
Lemon Twist (extra cost)3 | Unknown4 Reported |
GY4 |
Honeydew3 | Unknown4 Reported |
GY8 |
Gold Leaf Metallic3 | Unknown4 Reported |
GY9 |
Tawny Gold Metallic3 | Unknown4 Reported |
V1B / V1F / V1W / V1X |
Vinyl roof: bright blue metallic / medium green / white / black (extra cost)3 | Not yet sourced |
two-tone |
Two-tone paint, extra cost; lower colour keyed to the interior (for example GB5 lower with blue trim), upper from a listed set3 | Not yet sourced |
V6W / V6X, V8W / V8X |
Tape stripes, white or black: V6 body side and V8 lower deck (extra cost on Duster, standard on Duster 340; delete codes V68, V88)3 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
B1B5 / B1F6 / B1X9 |
Cloth-and-vinyl straight bench, standard on Duster and Duster 340: blue / green / black3 | Not yet sourced |
D2B5 / D2F6 / D2X9 / D2Y3 |
Vinyl straight bench, extra cost on Duster and Duster 340: blue / green / black / gold3 | Not yet sourced |
C4F6 / C4X9 / C4XW / C4Y3 |
Vinyl split-back bench with center armrest and carpets, extra cost on Duster and Duster 340: green / black / white and black / gold3 | Not yet sourced |
C6X9 / C6XW |
Vinyl bucket seats with carpets, Duster and Duster 340: black / white and black3 | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 108 in | Duster 2-door coupe |
| Overall length | 188.4 in | Duster 2-door coupe |
| Overall width | 71 in | Duster 2-door coupe |
| Overall height | 52.7 (six) / 53.1 (V8) in | Duster 2-door coupe |
| Tread, front / rear | 57.5 / 55.6 in | Duster 2-door coupe |
| Luggage capacity, usable | 15.9 cu ft | Duster 2-door coupe (estimated by the source) |
| Rear axle ratio3 | 3.23:1 standard with all transmissions; 3.55 with Sure-Grip | 340 |
| Standard tires3 | E70x14 bias-belted | Duster 340 |
| Clutch diameter | 10.5 in | 318 and 340 (9.25 in with sixes) |
| Front disc brake rotor | 10.79 in outer diameter; 314.8 sq in total swept area with discs | Valiant line, optional discs |
Identification
- Body type codes
- Duster 2-door sport coupe VL29; Duster 340 VS29 (car line V, body 29).3
- VIN (1972)
- Car line V (Valiant-Duster); a series letter; body 29; engine letter B 198, C 225, G 318, H 340 (listed as '340 8-Cylinder H.P.'); model year 2; plant; six-digit sequence from 100001. The 1972 bulletin lists the series letters without meanings.6
Where the sources disagree
Identification
Read a 1972 Plymouth VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1972
- AMC AMX The first year of SAE net ratings and Chrysler-built TorqueFlite automatics. Javelin AMX production rose to 3,220, and the 304 V8 became available.
- AMC Gremlin X and Spirit AMX The first V8 Gremlin: the 304 (150 hp SAE net) in AMC's subcompact. Gremlin X production is not published in any source found.
- AMC Javelin The base model was dropped, so every non-AMX Javelin was an SST. This was the first year of the Pierre Cardin interior and of Chrysler-built automatics.
- Buick Riviera Net ratings only for 1972: 250 hp standard, 260 GS per ROA; 2,171 of 33,728 were GS.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX The last A-body GS year before the Colonnade Century; the GSX package, now in many colours, was invoiced on only 44 cars, most of them outside the lower 48 states.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The last Z15 Chevelle SS of the first generation: net-rated engines, an LS5 454 at 270 net hp, and 5,333 SS 454s.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova The source engine table switches to net ratings; SS and Rally Nova offered. Enthusiast-compiled production: 349,733 cars; Super Sport 12,309.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS Last year of the Chevelle-bodied El Camino SS; 50,359 V8 Malibu El Caminos were built, and the SS share is not separately published.
- Dodge Challenger Hardtop only, with a new grille: the R/T gave way to the Challenger Rallye package, and the most powerful engine listed was the 340 four-barrel.
- Dodge Charger The R/T and Super Bee were dropped; the new Rallye package became the performance Charger, and the 440 Six Pack was cancelled after a handful of cars.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon The Demon's second and final year under that name: 8,773 Demon 340s, with small Canadian and Swiss-market 340 runs counted separately.
- Ford Maverick Grabber The dual-scoop-hood Grabber in its second year as a model; Classic Industries counts 35,347.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT continued on the 1972-76 Ranchero; 12,620 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Thunderbird First year of the sixth-generation Thunderbird; only the whole-line production total was found.
- Ford Torino The new body-on-frame Torino sold 496,645 in 1972; the performance models were the Gran Torino Sport SportsRoof (60,794) and hardtop (31,239), with the 351 Cobra Jet and a Rallye Equipment Group on the option list.
- Mercury Cougar Net ratings arrived, the 429 was gone, and the 351 Cobra Jet became the performance Cougar engine, fitted to 3,560 cars.
- Mercury Montego GT The first year of the fastback-only Montego GT on the new split-wheelbase intermediate, with the Cyclone name reduced to a performance option that only a few dozen buyers took.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The 4-4-2 became a Cutlass option again, engines were rated in SAE net (W-30: 300 hp), and a Hurst/Olds paced the Indianapolis 500.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda Hardtops only, single headlamps, four round taillamps, and a 340 four-barrel as the top engine: the 'Cuda carried it as standard.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite For 1972 the GTX existed only as the 440 four-barrel option on the Road Runner hardtop; Mueller's Muscle Car Source Book counts 672 of them.
- Plymouth Road Runner The hardtop-only Road Runner took a 400 four-barrel as its advertised standard engine, and production fell again.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am A strike-shortened year: 29,951 Firebirds and 1,286 Trans Ams, every one a 455 HO.
- Pontiac GTO The GTO goes back to being an option on the LeMans, with net ratings only; 5,807 were built.
- Pontiac Grand Prix A carryover year with the SJ still offered; production recovered to 91,961.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The GTO becomes a LeMans option, and the LeMans gets WW4 and WW5 performance packages.