1974 · Plymouth · United States
1974 Plymouth Duster 360
The 245 net hp 360 replaced the 340 in the Duster's best sales year: 3,969 Duster 360s among 281,378 Dusters, with Twister, Gold Duster and Space Duster packages priced separately.
United States · researched through 2026-09-23
For 1974 the 360 replaced the 340 as the performance Duster, in what production figures show as the nameplate's best sales year: 277,409 base Dusters and 3,969 Duster 360s for 281,378 total. Plymouth's data book describes the Duster 360's four-barrel 360 as built like the 340 it replaced, with a windage tray, shot-peened crankshaft, heavy-duty bearings, a long-duration camshaft, and dual exhausts, rated at 245 hp at 4,800 rpm and 320 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm net; power front disc brakes, heavy-duty suspension with a front sway bar, a floor-shift three-speed, E70x14 tires, and full-length body side and deck tape stripes came standard, with the four-speed and TorqueFlite extra cost. Factory package codes ran A51 Twister, A64 Gold Duster, and A67 for the Twister/Gold Duster combination, all Duster-only, alongside C73 Space Duster Pak for both the Duster and Duster 360; MuscleCarClub prices these at $124.05, $187.25, $234.60, and $88.80 respectively.1
Two conflicts run through this year's record. Duster 360 production is disputed between the Standard Catalog-derived 3,969 and a valiant.org essay's figure of 3,979 "sold," with the Standard Catalog leading only provisionally since neither source names an underlying factory record; a third figure, 3,879, circulates unattributed online and is not treated as a real claim for lack of any source lineage. Separately, the transmissions offered with the Duster 360 are themselves disputed: the factory data book and pocket guide both describe the floor-shift three-speed as standard with the four-speed manual and TorqueFlite extra cost, while the same valiant.org essay instead claims TorqueFlite was the only transmission offered, alongside a reader's report of encountering a four-speed car; the factory data book is given the lead.1,2
The 360 made its 245 hp and 320 lb-ft net through a 4.00 x 3.58-inch bore and stroke at 8.4:1 compression, and was not available with the column-shift three-speed; the standard Duster V8, a 318 two-barrel not offered in the Duster 360, made 150 hp at 4,000 rpm and 255 lb-ft at 2,200 rpm net. An optional 225 six, unavailable with the four-speed, made 105 hp, and the standard 198 six, excluded from California and from air conditioning or four-speed cars, made 95 hp. Estimated curb weights (not for licensing purposes) ran 3,055 lb for the Duster six, 3,155 lb for the Duster V8, and 3,395 lb for the Duster 360.
The Twister package bundled body-color racing mirrors, drip rail and wheel lip moldings, Rallye wheels without a trim ring, upper body side and lower deck tape, a Twister decal, and a front sway bar, and could not be combined with the Custom Exterior Group or a particular vinyl-roof code; the Gold Duster added a gold canopy vinyl roof, carpeting, gold vinyl trim, gold body side and deck stripes, deluxe wheel covers, 6.95x14 whitewalls, drip-rail molding, a Gold Duster decal, and deluxe insulation. The combined A67 package folded in the canopy roof, stripes, pleated D2 vinyl trim, carpets, Rallye wheels, whitewalls, racing mirrors, moldings, deluxe insulation, the front sway bar, and the Twister decal, though its $234.60 price is matched to A67 by description only rather than by a direct code reference in that source. A separate Radial Tire Roadability Package added a front sway bar and special body tuning, required whenever radial tires were fitted except on the Duster 360.1
On the same 108-inch wheelbase, the Duster coupe measured 194.1 inches long, 71.8 inches wide, and 53.1 inches tall, with a 59.1-inch front and 55.4-inch rear tread. The Duster 360's rear axle ran 3.21:1 standard with either manual, 2.94:1 standard with the automatic (3.21 optional there too), and 3.21 or 3.55 with Sure-Grip, riding on 0.89-inch heavy-duty front torsion bars, six-leaf rear springs, and a 0.80-inch front sway bar, with a 37.89-foot curb-to-curb turning diameter against 38.21 feet for other Dusters. No 1974 Chrysler-Plymouth VIN bulletin was found for this record; the corresponding Dodge bulletin lists engine letters J, K, and L for three different 360 variants but does not state which letter the Duster 360 itself carried.3
Fact sheet · 1974 · United States
The numbers
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 — The 245 net hp 360 replaced the 340 in the Duster's best sales year: 3,969 Duster 360s among 281,378 Dusters, with Twister, Gold Duster and Space Duster packages priced separately.
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
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duster, all models1 2-door coupe · not stated | 281,378 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duster, non-3601 Duster · 2-door coupe · not stated | 277,409 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Duster 3601 Duster 360 · 2-door coupe · 360 4-bbl · not stated Standard Catalog lineage. valiant.org prints 3,979; see conflicts. | 3,969 | built, model-year | Disputed |
Duster and Duster 360 rows partition the total as the source presents it. No package installation counts were found.
Plymouth's dealer installation rates for 1974 were not found; 1973 rates are in the 1973 record.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| E55 · 360 V8, 4-bbl, high-performance camshaft, dual exhaust 360 cu in · 4-barrel | 245 hp @ 4,800, 320 lb-ft @ 3,600 (SAE net) | standard in Duster 360 only; 4.00 x 3.58 in, 8.4:1; not with column-shift 3-speed | Not yet sourced |
| E44 · 318 V8, 2-bbl 318 cu in · 2-barrel | 150 hp @ 4,000, 255 lb-ft @ 2,200 (SAE net) | standard V8 in Duster; not in Duster 360 | Not yet sourced |
| E24 · 225 Six, 1-bbl 225 cu in · 1-barrel | 105 hp @ 3,600, 180 lb-ft @ 1,600 (SAE net) | optional in Duster; not with 4-speed | Not yet sourced |
| E22 · 198 Six, 1-bbl 198 cu in · 1-barrel | 95 hp @ 4,000, 145 lb-ft @ 2,000 (SAE net) | standard six in Duster; not in California, not with air conditioning or 4-speed | 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 synchronized | standard in Duster 360; extra cost in Duster | Not yet sourced |
| D14 · Three-speed manual, column-mounted | standard in Duster; not in Duster 360 | Not yet sourced |
| D21 · Four-speed manual, synchronized in all forward gears, with reverse warning light | V8 models: extra cost in Duster 360 and Duster | Not yet sourced |
| D34 · TorqueFlite three-speed automatic (2.45 / 1.45 / 1.00) | extra cost | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
A51package |
Twister Package, Duster only, not with A21 or V5X (body-colour racing mirrors, drip-rail and wheel lip moldings, Rallye wheels without trim ring, upper body side and lower deck tape, Twister decal, front sway bar)1 | $124.05 | Not yet sourced |
A64package |
Gold Duster Package, Duster only (gold canopy vinyl roof, carpeting, gold vinyl trim, gold body side and deck stripes, deluxe wheel covers, 6.95x14 whitewalls, drip-rail molding, Gold Duster decal, deluxe insulation)1 | $187.25 | Not yet sourced |
C73package |
Space Duster Pak, Duster and Duster 360 only (fold-down rear seat with security panel and carpeted trunk dress-up)1 | $88.80 | Not yet sourced |
A67package |
Twister/Gold Duster Combination Package, Duster only (canopy vinyl roof, stripes, pleated vinyl trim D2, carpets, Rallye wheels, whitewalls, racing mirrors, moldings, deluxe insulation, front sway bar, Twister decal)1 | $234.60 | Not yet sourced |
A21sales code |
Custom Exterior Group (drip-rail molding, lower deck stripe, wheel opening and sill moldings; not with Twister) | — | Not yet sourced |
A55sales code |
Radial Tire Roadability Package (front sway bar, special body tuning; required with radial tires except on Duster 360) | — | Not yet sourced |
A01sales code |
Light Group | — | Not yet sourced |
A04sales code |
Basic Group (AM radio, 3-speed wipers, left remote mirror, day/night mirror, deluxe wheel covers; not with Gold Duster) | — | Not yet sourced |
A25sales code |
Interior Convenience Group (cigarette lighter standard on Duster 360; inside hood release, glove box lock, deluxe steering wheel) | — | Not yet sourced |
A88sales code |
Interior Decor Group | — | Not yet sourced |
A34sales code |
Trailer-Towing Package (not with 198) | — | Not yet sourced |
M52sales code |
Sun roof, manually operated (Duster, Duster 360) | — | Not yet sourced |
G01sales code |
Electrically heated rear window defroster (with 65-amp alternator and tinted rear window) | — | Not yet sourced |
G75 / G74sales code |
Dual racing mirrors, painted (G75) or chrome (G74) | — | Not yet sourced |
H51sales code |
Air conditioner (not with 198 or with manual transmission on 318; power disc brakes required with 318) | — | Not yet sourced |
C16sales code |
Console (bucket seats with automatic only) | — | Not yet sourced |
D91sales code |
Sure-Grip differential | — | Not yet sourced |
R21sales code |
AM/FM radio | — | Not yet sourced |
S84sales code |
'Tuff' steering wheel (power steering required) | — | Not yet sourced |
T76sales code |
E70x14 raised white letter tires | — | Not yet sourced |
T65sales code |
DR78x14 steel-belted radial whitewall tires (not with air conditioning on the Duster 360) | — | Not yet sourced |
V8sales code |
Rear deck lower panel stripe, black, white or gold (standard Duster 360) | — | Not yet sourced |
V9sales code |
Body side tape stripes (Duster) | — | Not yet sourced |
W21sales code |
Rallye wheel with chrome trim ring (D78 or larger tires required) | — | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
KB1 |
Powder Blue | Not yet sourced |
KB5 |
Lucerne Blue Metallic | Not yet sourced |
FE5 |
Rallye Red | Not yet sourced |
GE7 |
Burnished Red Metallic (Barracuda and Valiant-Duster only) | Not yet sourced |
KG2 |
Frosty Green Metallic | Not yet sourced |
KG8 |
Deep Sherwood Metallic | Not yet sourced |
KJ6 |
Avocado Gold Metallic | Not yet sourced |
HL4 |
Sahara Beige | Not yet sourced |
KL8 |
Dark Moonstone Metallic | Not yet sourced |
KT5 |
Sienna Metallic | Not yet sourced |
EW1 |
Spinnaker White | Not yet sourced |
TX9 |
Formal Black | Not yet sourced |
KY4 |
Golden Fawn | Not yet sourced |
KY5 |
Yellow Blaze | Not yet sourced |
JY6 |
Golden Haze Metallic | Not yet sourced |
JY9 |
Tahitian Gold Metallic | Not yet sourced |
V4W / V4X / V4Y |
Canopy vinyl roof, white / black / dark gold reptile grain (Duster models only) | Not yet sourced |
V1 |
Full vinyl roof: green (V1G), white, gold (V1Y), parchment, black | 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 |
|---|---|---|
A1G6 / A1B6 / A1X9 |
Cloth-and-vinyl bench seat, standard on Duster 360 and Duster: green / blue / black | Not yet sourced |
D2B6 / D2Y3 / D2L3 / D2G6 / D2X9 |
Vinyl split-back bench seat, optional on Duster 360 and Duster: blue / gold / parchment / green / black (gold standard in the Gold Duster package) | Not yet sourced |
C4B6 / C4L3 / C4G6 / C4X9 |
Vinyl split-back bench seat with folding center armrest, optional on Duster 360 and Duster: blue / parchment / green / black | Not yet sourced |
C6L3 / C6XW / C6X9 |
Vinyl bucket seats, optional on Duster 360 and Duster: parchment / white / black | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 108 in | Duster coupe |
| Overall length | 194.1 in | Duster coupe |
| Overall width | 71.8 in | Duster coupe |
| Overall height | 53.1 in | Duster coupe |
| Tread, front / rear | 59.1 / 55.4 in | Duster coupe |
| Curb weight (estimated, not for licensing) | 3,395 lb | Duster 360 |
| Curb weight (estimated, not for licensing) | 3,055 (six) / 3,155 (V8) lb | Duster |
| Rear axle ratios, 360 4-bbl | 3.21 standard with 3- and 4-speed manuals; 2.94 standard with automatic (3.21 optional); Sure-Grip 3.21 or 3.55 | Duster 360 |
| Standard tires | E70x14 bias-belted blackwall on 5.5JJ rims | Duster 360 |
| Front torsion bars / rear springs | 0.89 in heavy-duty torsion bars; 6-leaf rear springs; 0.80 in front sway bar | Duster 360 |
| Turning diameter, curb to curb | 37.89 ft | Duster 360 (38.21 other Dusters) |
| Clutch diameter | 10.5 in | 360 (heavy-duty) and 318 |
Identification
- Duster 360 appearance
- '360' nameplates on the front fenders, 'Duster' nameplates on the front fenders and deck lower panel, argent grille, bright drip-rail moldings, full-length body side tape stripes and lower deck panel tape stripes, E70x14 blackwall tires.4
- VIN (1974)
- No 1974 Chrysler-Plymouth VIN bulletin was found. The Dodge bulletin for 1974 lists engine letter J for the 360 4-bbl, K for the 360 2-bbl and L for the 360 4-bbl HP; which letter the Duster 360 carried is not stated there.3
Where the sources disagree
1974 Duster 360 production
The Standard Catalog figure leads as disputed; valiant.org's figure is shown with attribution. Neither names a factory record.
Transmissions offered with the 1974 Duster 360
- Floor-shift 3-speed standard; 4-speed manual and TorqueFlite extra cost
- TorqueFlite only (with a reader's report of a four-speed car)2
The factory data book leads; the enthusiast account is shown.
Identification
Read a 1974 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 1974
- AMC AMX The final Javelin AMX: 4,980 built, with the Go Package's cowl induction dropped and a production run that stretched into November 1974.
- AMC Gremlin X and Spirit AMX The Gremlin X gained a 'hockey stick' stripe. The 304 V8 remained available, but no X or V8 counts for the year were found.
- AMC Javelin The Javelin's final year: 22,556 non-AMX cars on a production run extended into November 1974.
- Buick Riviera Colonnade pillared roof; 20,129 built, 1,698 with Stage One and 4,119 with the GS handling option.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX The last year a 455 Stage 1 could be had in a Buick intermediate Gran Sport; 3,355 were built, 478 of them Stage 1.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The SS was gone; the new Laguna Type S-3 coupe carried the Chevelle's performance image, with a 235 net hp 454 still on the engine list.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Spirit of America Nova (RPO Z51) offered on the Custom hatchback per the source. Enthusiast-compiled production: 390,537 cars; Super Sport 21,419.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS Colonnade-era El Camino; Chevrolet's 1974 data pages define the RPO Z15 SS option for the El Camino Classic. Team Chevelle's production totals give 51,223 El Caminos built, 4,543 of them with SS equipment.
- Dodge Challenger The last original-era Challenger shared a catalog with the Dart; the 360 replaced the 340 as the optional engine and production ended in April 1974.
- Dodge Charger The last B-body Charger before the 1975 personal-luxury redesign, with 5-mph bumpers, carried-over powertrains and an SE that accounted for 30,957 V-8 cars.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon The 360 replaced the 340 in the Dart Sport, and Flory's production table counts 3,951 Dart Sport 360s at a $3,244 base price.
- Ford Maverick Grabber Grabber production fell to 23,502 by Classic Industries count.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT continued on the 1972-76 Ranchero; 11,328 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Thunderbird Sixth-generation personal-luxury Thunderbird; the record holds the production total and the luxury-group option prices only.
- Ford Torino The 1974 Torino grew again and added the Gran Torino Elite; the Gran Torino Sport survived only as a formal-roof hardtop, with 23,142 built.
- Mercury Cougar Outside the muscle focus: 91,670 Cougars for 1974 per Wikipedia's table.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The Hurst/Olds paced the Indianapolis 500 again and offered a 350 for the first time: 1,800 coupes, 380 of them with the 455 W-30.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda The final year: Barracuda and 'Cuda hardtops with a standard 318 and a new optional 360, and 11,734 built before the line ended.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite In 1974 a GTX nameplate came with the Road Runner's optional 440 four-barrel, TorqueFlite required; Mueller's Muscle Car Source Book counts 386 of them.
- Plymouth Road Runner The last Satellite-based Road Runner; production roughly halved from 1973.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am A new nose and the last Super Duty: 10,255 Trans Ams, 943 with the SD-455.
- Pontiac GTO The last original GTO: a package on the compact Ventura with a 200 hp 350; 7,058 built.
- Pontiac Grand Am A revised nose and 17,083 built, only 342 with a four-speed.
- Pontiac Grand Prix The 455 remains the SJ engine as Grand Prix volume falls to under 100,000.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans With the GTO moved to the Ventura, the LeMans GT package became the intermediate performance choice, backed by 350, 400 and 455 V8 options.