Plymouth's Only SUV: 1974 Trail Duster Is an Ultra-Rare Half-Door Convertible

In 1974, approximately five years after Chevrolet introduced the Blazer, Dodge unveiled the Ramcharger. Based on a shortened-wheelbase version of the D-series pickup truck chassis, the Ramcharger was mostly produced as a 4x4 vehicle with inline-six and V8 power.

Plymouth kept the nameplate in production for over two decades, but US production ended in 1993. The second-gen model remained on offer in Mexico through 1996, while a third-generation version was sold from 1999 through 2001. While the Ramcharger is a rather iconic Dodge nameplate, its Plymouth counterpart remains mostly unknown.

The brand produced a wide variety of automobiles over the years, but it primarily built utilitarian vehicles, with the notable exception of station wagons. The list would be quite small, as it would only include the Voyager van (1974-2000), Arrow pickup (1979-1982), Scamp pickup (1983), and Colt Vista MPV (1984-1991). Plymouth also produced a few pickup trucks back in the early days.

The Trail Duster also belongs on this list, as it is the company's only SUV. It debuted alongside the Ramcharger in 1974, but Plymouth discontinued production after the 1981 model year.

Unsurprisingly, the Trail Duster was nowhere near as popular as the Ramcharger. While Dodge sold over 100,000 through 1981, Plymouth delivered only about 36,000 SUVs over the same period. It's unclear how many Trail Dusters are still around today, but I can guarantee you that this red 1974 example is as rare as they get.

How so? Well, for starters, when's the last time you saw an early Trail Duster in such fine condition? And based on its description, it also appears to be a highly original unrestored survivor. The seller doesn't specifically state whether the paint is original, but almost everything else seems to be. In the worst-case scenario, this Trailblazer is a semi-survivor.

There's good news under the hood as well because this Rallye Red SUV still relies on the original 318-cubic-inch (5.2-liter) V8 engine. The small-block unit is nothing to write home about in terms of performance, but it's a very reliable engine. The V8 has a new timing chain, water pump, hoses, plugs, and wires.

But wait, there's more! This Trail Duster is also one of those very early examples with the half-door layout. These vehicles were only assembled before June 1974. It is unclear how many were produced, but they're very rare, and unrestored examples in excellent condition are almost mythical among Mopar enthusiasts.

Much like the bright green example we showcased in July 2025, this red version is arguably one of the finest half-door Trail Dusters available right now. The vehicle surfaced in Hayden, Idaho, and received 24 bids as of this writing. The reserve is still in place at $14,100, but bidding will continue for almost a week.

For reference, classic.com lists the average auction for Trail Dusters of any model year at around $29,160. As for 1974 iterations of the hauler, only a few have changed hands over the years, usually for over $30,000.