1974 Half-Door Survivor Is the Only Plymouth SUV Ever; I Dare You To Find Another
By: Razvan Calin (Autoevolution)
These Plymouth TrailDusters are uncommon enough to warrant a look. The photos are worth it even if the article is bit commercial.
IHC Scouts and Ford Broncos were more common than TrailDusters. All these types of vehicles were intended to compete with Jeeps. The competition heated up after AMC began producing the two door Jeep Cherokee in 1970.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
This isn't just any old SUV—it's a convertible 1974 Plymouth TrailDuster, and that makes it extraordinary. With factory half-doors and a removable full top, this first-year off-roader from ChryCo's lowest-cost division is a genuine head-turner and a rare gem in the collector SUV space.
Introduced in 1974, Plymouth's TrailDuster was the brand's sole SUV. It shared much of its DNA with the Dodge Ramcharger but was produced in much smaller numbers. Built on a shortened Dodge D-series chassis, this two-door, full-frame rig launched with standard 4WD and a mix of engines, claiming attention as a serious Mopar competitor in the growing SUV category. It didn't really live up to its expectations, but that's another story.
This eBay listing truly stands out because of the half-door removable roof—available only on TrailDusters assembled before June 1974. That early production window makes it almost mythical among enthusiasts—few of these drop-top survivors have made it to auction in this condition.
Digging into factory specs, the 1974 model offered a choice of Chrysler's venerable 318 V8 or the stout 360, which came to replace the short-lived, hard-punching 340 small-block V8. The automatic transmission was the dominant pairing (though some manuals were still available). Over its lifetime through 1981, TrailDuster's total production hovered around 30,000 units.
Early estimates put production from 1974–1979 at roughly 27,000, with the full run from '74 to '81 totaling approximately 36,000. An agreement hasn't been reached on that, and no solid documents prove those figures wrong or right. The breakdown by engine was heavily slanted toward the 318 and 360 V8s, with a slant-six being rare and higher-displacement 400 or 440 V8s even rarer.
Automatics were the overwhelming choice, while manuals appeared in a small percentage alongside beefier engines. The model spanned eight model years—1974 through 1981—offering a mix of powertrain and trim tweaks along the way.
With a current bid of $24,800 after 33 bids and an unmet reserve, this listing captures a perfect storm of rarity and appeal. Data from Classic.com puts average TrailDuster prices around $27,427, with top examples touching $41,978 and lesser ones falling near $14,000. That's for all production spans, but isolating the 1974 variant produces precisely one result—an example sold in February of last year for $30,000.
However, that SUV wasn't in the same class as the one we're looking at in the video attached below. The Mopar that got my attention isn't the average rig—it's a first-year drop-top survivor with half-doors and a 360 V8. That premium configuration is rare enough to put this one at the top end of value, even if bidding hasn't quite caught up yet.
Jumping into convertible SUV territory, these early TrailDusters are blazing a trail of their own. The combination of removable roof, half-doors, original A/C, and powertrain makes it one of the most unique Mopar rigs out there—and an increasingly scarce one. From 2018 until now, I have only found two other examples offered for sale; that's how rare these Plymouth SUVs are. The other one was sold over on Craigslist in 2018 (for $5,888), and it wasn't anywhere as good-looking as this eBay piece.
If you're watching this auction, it's got every signal of being a blockbuster minutes from the sunrise of its collectible potential. Under $25K now for one of the most original and rare TrailDusters you're likely to see—including a clean body, factory tags on the engine bay, convertible top, and that signature avocado green finish—it's shaping up to be a wise bet for any serious Mopar junkie.
This 1974 Plymouth TrailDuster is a rare and early first-year survivor, notable for a highly unusual feature: factory half-doors. Only TrailDusters built before June 10, 1974, were equipped with this design, where the top portion of the door frame was built into the removable roof. When the top is removed, it transforms the truck into a true full convertible. This option would disappear mid-year and remains virtually unseen today.
Very few of these early half-door TrailDusters are known to exist, with only a handful registered in enthusiast databases. This alone makes it a standout in the vintage SUV market. As Plymouth's lesser-known sibling to the Dodge Ramcharger—which was built in much larger numbers—the TrailDuster is already a niche vehicle. The half-door convertible configuration pushes it into the ultra-rare category.
This particular example is finished in its factory metallic Avocado Green, powered by its original 360-cubic-inch V8, and equipped with 4WD, locking front hubs, factory A/C, optional rear seat, rollbar, and even the factory center console ice chest. Period-correct features abound, including a woodgrain 8-track tape player, rear-mounted box speakers, factory AM radio, fresh carpeting with sound-deadening material underneath, and an almost flawless dash and instrument cluster.
The factory front bumper guards are still in place, and the original factory tow hitch is included. However, it was removed during a recent fuel system overhaul. The drivetrain features Chrysler's rugged 727 three-speed automatic transmission paired with an NP203 dual-range transfer case and manually locking front hubs.
The engine starts strong and runs well, with a healthy exhaust tone and a compression test yielding over 135 PSI across all eight cylinders. Power steering and brakes perform excellently, and the tires remain in excellent condition. Recent maintenance includes a new fuel tank, lines inspected brakes with new drums, shoes, and braided steel lines, and replacement of key mechanical components such as the starter, alternator, plugs, wires, hoses, distributor, and a rebuilt original carburetor.
The TrailDuster remains unmodified, preserving its original drivetrain and color scheme. It retains the factory build decal under the hood and service stickers throughout the engine bay. The odometer reads 12,730 miles but has rolled once, for a total of 112,730 original miles. Chrome trim, glass, and brightwork are all in great condition. The rear tailgate functions smoothly, and the rear glass stays in position unaided.
The truck spent its life in the dry climate of central California, which preserved the body and undercarriage remarkably well. Inner fenders, door jambs, and underside components show minimal wear. One of the two previous owners, a Mopar enthusiast, kept it garaged and well-maintained. After acquiring it, the current caretakers meticulously cleaned the interior, polished the body, and repainted the lower white panel while installing new carpet and reassembling the seating.
While the paint shows minor touch-ups consistent with age, it presents very well overall. The front floor pans had a small section previously repaired to a high standard. Remarkably, the truck fired right up with nothing more than fresh fuel and a new battery.
Though the air conditioning system is not currently charged with Freon, all factory components are present and in good condition, making reactivation a straightforward task. The stereo system remains disconnected after the carpet install, but all wiring is intact. Weatherstripping is in good shape, though the front window felt strips could benefit from replacement. Windshield wipers function sporadically, likely due to a loose wire.
Servicing and registration receipts, the original owner's manual in near-mint condition, a matching sales brochure, factory product update sheets from Plymouth, and even a March 1974 issue of Pickup, Van & 4WD magazine featuring this very model on the cover and in a feature article are included with the vehicle. A metallic red stripe has been added inside the original body trim, though it can easily be removed to return to factory-spec black.
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Blast from the past. Boomers might remember these.
Not a boomer and remember these. They were a beast off road.
Definitely not political -- no interest.
Okay, I’m likely to be broomed again soon anyway:
Chevy sucks, GMC rules!
There's a difference?
Oh yeah, like the label, the decal and a couple inside geegaws …..
I don't recall ever seeing a Trailduster. I guess they were not exactly plentiful in Canada.
The styling is so close to the Scout and Bronco that it wouldn't have stood out.
We had a local International Harvester dealership that sold Scouts alongside the tractors and implements. We had several Chevrolet dealerships so Blazers were fairly common but they were a larger vehicle. I don't remember a Ford dealership in the area so there weren't a lot of Fords on the local roads. We had one dealership that specialized in Hudsons(?), Studebakers, and Ramblers.
I guess the dealership in Hudsons, Studebakers and Ramblers hasn't been around for a while.
I thought it was a Blazer with its top off. I’m sure I saw those back in the day but thought they were that Blazer.
My Dad bought a Rambler American; 1964 model if I remember correctly. Robin egg blue was a popular color. The dealer held on with AMC cars for a while. He may have gone with Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth, too. Too long ago for me to remember with a surety.
The Blazer was a much bigger vehicle. If I remember right, Blazers came from the factory with high lift suspension and bigger tires as a standard option. The Blazer shared styling with Chevy and GMC trucks.
I remember many Ramchargers but only 2 TrailDusters. I have seen some at shows
I remember them but I always thought they were just rebadged Ram Chargers. This Plymouth TrailDuster only looks radically different because of the half doors and since they were only available for half year the chances of seeing one with half doors and the top off so they'd be noticeable is pretty slim even back then.