The Plymouth Trail Duster is a large sport utility vehicle built by Plymouth from 1974 to 1981 based on the shortened wheelbase of the Dodge D Series/Ram pickup truck chassis.
The Trail Duster was built using a nine-inch shortened pickup Chrysler AD platform that was introduced for 1972. First available in four-wheel drive with a rear-wheel drive only version available starting in 1975.
The 1974 through 1980 models came without a roof, with a dealer-installed fabric top, or an optional removable steel roof with a flip up rear tailgate window. The 1974 year model differs from the others in that its door pillars are attached to the removable roof. Marketed as a basic utility vehicle, only the driver's seat was standard equipment with the passenger seat optional up to 1976.
The vehicle was powered by a Chrysler LA engine, the most common being the 318 cubic inch V8. Optional was the 360 cubic inch V8, with big-block B series 400 cubic inch V8 and RB 440 cubic inch V8 were optional.
In 1978 and 1979 the 360 cubic inch output was increased to 195 HP. 1978 was the last year for the 400 cubic inch, which by then was rated at 215 HP.
The Trail Duster followed the D-series pickup's 1981 redesign into the Ram and is considered the second generation. These models had a non-removable welded steel top instead of the removable top.
The Trail Duster was only available for one year with the Ram design and steel non-removable top, as it was dropped after 1981.
