1971 Plymouth Scamp 2dr - what do you think?

[JJEH]

Guys,

I found this today on craigslist and I'm kinda attracted by it. Burkburnett, TX is 25min south and I feel like going there next week. What do you think so far? Wasn't the 340 the max. factory engine for this car? Kinda looks like a Dart Swinger to me...

Anyone had one here as youngster? Any known problem zones?

1971 PLYMOUTH SCAMP 2DR

I appreciate you guys

 

[kimporter]

my high school history teacher had one of those,we all thought it was kinda a whimpy little car till he blew the socks off of some of our hot rodders

 

[feralmerril]

I see you can drive this one with handcuffs pedro!

 

[G-Mac]

318, 340, and 360 is all the same block size. I don't recall those coming with a 360...but I could be wrong on that. After all these years, somebody could have swapped the engine out. Good looking car though, at least from that picture.

 

[Rule3]

"Any known problem zones?" Other than it's a Plymouth?? and it's called a Scamp?? Find a Duster logo and put that on it,

Actually I like it also.

A friend in HS, his Dad owned a Chrysler dealership and that rotten kid got a new demo car like every other week We go to ride in all of them. I like the Duster and of course the hotter Chargers, Challengers etc.

I bet the Scamp scoots with that engine, pictures looks nice but can never tell until you are up close with a magnet.

 

[DeathGrip]

All Dodge and Plymouth "A Bodies" Tend to rust out under the vinyl where the roof is attached. I think it was the bondo they used as apposed to lead.

Most parts are interchangeable. For example, I got an AC out of a Dart for my '69 Barracuda.

Fun little cars with a Small Block. 318 340 360. 340 being the best because of the heads. These days you can get aftermarket heads and really wake any one of them up.

That one looks clean from your pic. Check the B pillar from the trunk to see if its been redone. If it has don't bother with it.

One more thing, As you know I live in Fl. and the humidity rots them from the inside out. If its an orig. Tx car it might stand a better chance.

I really loved that little B-Cuda.

 

[OFT II]

Hell hath no Fury like a second hand Plymouth.

 

[charlie sherrill]

225 slant six, a peppy 318 V8, and a peppier 340 V8. I had the Dodge version with a 225 slant six. It had very little power and was not very efficient. The 340 came with beefed up suspension, graphics and some other stuff that made it fun to drive. I'm guessing the one pictured is a slant six or 318.

 

[DeathGrip]

The 360 was the smog engine that came out later but is still an LA series. Bigger cubes but the worst heads.

 

[jaykellogg]

I was never a Mopar man, but 1971 was pretty much the last year before the government emasculated them. If this has the original engine my expectation is it would have high compression and a big cam. This could be a fun muscle car at an affordable price. IMHO it is worth more if the engine is an original engine than if it was someone's budget econocar that later had a big engine transplanted.

According to Wikipedia, they never put the 360 in a 1971 Scamp, so this was probably someone's "go fast toy"

 

[timn8er]

My Dad had a '70 Dart that I hoped to inherit;unfortunately my older sister got there first. I ended up with a "66 Falcon as my first car. It was light on gas, though. It had these weird vacuum operated or assisted windshield wipers...the faster you went, the faster the wipers cycled.

 

[WardenRoss]

I had the Dodge Dart version of that car with the 340 Magnum, back in the day.

Yours is listed with a 360, but I don't think they came with a 360 in '71.

 

[perrazi]

had a 69 dart swinger with a 340,4speed,sure grip with 4.11 gears. was a fun car, but would break down on thursday night and then no car for the weekend. had it less than a year. ran great when it ran.

 

[LVSteve]

If it has an early smog engine I would run away. Those first systems were a nightmare. The sure only way around it is to do a "restification" with a modern motor with fuel injection.

 

[JJEH]

Thanks for all your answers so far guys, I appreciate it.

The 360 was the smog engine that came out later but is still an LA series. Bigger cubes but the worst heads.

Would you please be a bit more specific? What is the issue with the heads?

If it has an early smog engine I would run away. Those first systems were a nightmare. The sure only way around it is to do a "restification" with a modern motor with fuel injection.

Yeah, I don't think so. I thought it might be a nice ride for the sunny weekends for that budget. I certainly don't want to invest a bunch of $ in that kind of vehicle.

I still plan on building my idea of MAKO1 which is supposed to get a fuel injected engine.

Perhaps I just pass on any extra (or luxury) item and put the money in the MAKO1 pot... dangit... I don't know...

 

[Rule3]

1971 Plymouth Valiant | Hagerty ? Classic Car Price Guide

Now I do know squat about the engines and years but FIW Wik shows the biggest engine for that year as the 340, which I recall in the Duster.

Plymouth Valiant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[DeathGrip]

Two things,

They lowered the compression and reduced the flow in an effort to appease. It's still the same block. They can be turned to beast but you're gonna have to do a little more work. Honestly, If it's a 360 and it hasn't been messed with it ought to scoot along pretty well.

I'd worry more about the body. The power train can be done to any level you desire. New vinyl scares me.

 

[tekarra]

My sister in law had one the same as in the photo and my mother drove a Dart Sport which is the same thing. The 340 with a four barrel was the largest engine in those. They were/are terrific cars and very reliable. Problems started in later models.

 

[ralph7]

My Dad had a '70 Dart that I hoped to inherit;unfortunately my older sister got there first. I ended up with a "66 Falcon as my first car. It was light on gas, though. It had these weird vacuum operated or assisted windshield wipers...the faster you went, the slower the wipers cycled.

Fixed it for you.
I remember the vacuum wipers well.

 

[DeathGrip]

I just saw the link. I'd pass at that price. Go find a stock one with a 318 and AC and build it to your specks. Even the 318 can be fast.

Did I mention AC? I was stationed at Ft.Sill.