RacingJunk Unveils Wicked Hellcat-Powered 1971 Plymouth Duster at SEMA 2024
As part of its 25th anniversary celebration, the top race and performance marketplace showed off a very special 1971 Plymouth Duster.
Restomods are all the rage these days, and for obvious reasons – after all, who doesn’t want a timeless classic with modern mechanics? It’s a match made in heaven for sure, and precisely why we continue to witness literal seas of restomods at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas each and every year. That’s also the case this time around, meaning that in order to stand out, you’ve got to create something truly special – and that’s precisely what this 1971 Plymouth Duster is, a special machine that was just revealed at the 2024 SEMA Show by the folks at RacingJunk.
The owner of this 1971 Plymouth Duster – Jordan Costello – was looking to modernize the car, as one might expect, but he also wanted to make something timeless, devoid of any trendy modifications that may be outdated in a few years. Thus, he took it to Troy Gudgel at BBT Fabrications in Mahomet, Illinois, who treated it to a stunning transformation in every single area – hammering the bodywork straight and creating a totally custom frame chock full of upgrades.
Along with its pristine white paint and a blue interior – which looks largely stock, but actually features reshaped front seats from a C6 Corvette and a custom bench in the rear of the cabin – this 1971 Plymouth Duster is chock full of modern mechanicals, as one might expect. Those upgrades begin with a supercharged Hellcat powerplant mated to a proper Tremec T56 transmission and an Eaton tru-trac out back, along with six-piston Baer brakes to slow the whole thing down.
All of this fine work deserves its time in the spotlight, and that’s precisely why RacingJunk offered to show it off at the SEMA Show as the world’s #1 race and performance marketplace kicks off its 25th Anniversary celebration. Costello’s 1971 Plymouth Duster is the latest custom build to land in RacingJunk’s booth, giving both him and the folks at BBT some much-deserved time in the spotlight. “SEMA is the place to get the most exposure for a car in today’s market. Having a car on display in the RacingJunk booth at SEMA is a great honor for us,” Gudgel said.
In addition to this stunning Mopar machine, the RacingJunk booth also features the return of the company’s calendar, which is always a fan favorite given the fact that the models featured in it are on hand to sign copies for attendees. “People have been asking for the calendar since we changed the program,” said Scott Stetz, Director of Sales for the Internet Brands Auto Classifieds Group, “And we’re thrilled to be able to bring it back this year, right in time for our 25th Anniversary.” The models were joined by NHRA Mission Foods Nitro Funny Car Driver Buddy Hull, will was also on hand to sign hero cards and greet fans.
Finally, RacingJunk is partnering with TurboKits.com to host a giveaway, where one lucky winner will take home that company’s Universal Turbo Package that includes an HPT F3 7880 Dual Ball Bearing Turbo and a case of oil, a Turbosmart Progate 50mm Wastebate and a Turbosmart Raceport 50mm BOV, which retails for $3,758 and is also on display in the company’s booth.
“SEMA, both the weeklong tradeshow, and the extended public experience are highlights of the enthusiast community,” says Stetz, “For the Internet Brands Auto Classifieds fans, enthusiasts, racers, buyers, builders, manufacturers and our partners, our presence signals our commitment to that audience. We are car folks first and foremost, for the grassroots racer to the street enthusiast to the person dreaming at home about the vehicle they want to experience and SEMA is the place to connect in support of that.”
Photos: Richard King for DodgeForum
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