I Completely Forgot Plymouth Had A Bronco-Like SUV

I feel like when most of us think about early (as in ’60s and ’70s) shortened-truck-like SUVs, we tend to think of vehicles like the Ford Bronco or the International Scout or the Chevy Blazer, and, oh yeah, the Dodge Ramcharger. What we almost never bring up, though, is the Plymouth one! Yes, Plymouth did have a Bronco-like SUV from 1974 to 1981, and, sure, it was basically just a re-badged Ramcharger, but it existed, dammit. Just like Samuel Pepys and enchiladas, this thing was once part of the world, and it was called the Trail Duster.

Does anyone remember this? I mean, maybe there’s not all that much to remember, since the Trail Duster really only differed from the Ramcharger in name and some trim details. But still, as Plymouth’s only SUV ever, it’s worth at least a couple of neurons in your brain, right? Sure it is.

I can’t recall the last time I actually saw one of these out in the wild; it has to be at least 30 years or so. Oy. That’s sobering. Let’s lighten the mood with a 1978 dealer promo video for the Trail Duster, complete with music that’s just a tiny bit too loud:

There’s a lot of fascinating stuff here, and you sort of get the sense they were reaching for details to be excited by. Like, sure, this is convenient, but making a big deal about the fusebox location feels a little weird to me:

I can’t think of another car that has a fusebox as easily accessible as this one, sure (right on the dash when you open the glovebox door) but that also just makes me wonder how often these things were popping fuses? Like, how often do you really need to get to your fusebox?

They also make a point of showing the Electronic Ignition System box in the brochure, which I recognized because the same unit failed at least twice in my old 1977 Dodge Tioga RV, which used the same setup. Maybe by showing fuses and that module they’re subtly preparing the owners for dealing with these dodgy electronics?

Speaking of electrical stuff, the training film lists the upgrades for the Light-Duty Trailer Towing Package. What the hell is the  HD (heavy duty) flasher? Do they mean the blinkers/hazard lights? Did they have heavy-duty hazard lights on these things? What does that mean? A more intense shade of amber at the front, a more intense red at the rear? They blink harder? With a louder click?

(Commenters have pointed out something I should have realized: this is referring to the flasher relay, which would need to support extra incandescent bulbs on the trailer, and hence would need to be uprated!)

These things were kind of handsome in their way, too. I feel like when I did see them they tended to have the metal rear cap, but I do like the canvas top option you see there. I can’t recall ever seeing that in the wild, but look at what you could do with it:

The sides could roll up! That’s pretty fun, it feels very safari-like! Maybe if the US had a higher population density of giraffes and lions and wildebeests this would have been more popular.

The Trail Duster had some strangely austere basic trim levels. Like, look at this: the base level had only one seat? Who the hell was ordering that? Hermits who moved a lot of ladders, maybe? I can’t recall another non-commercial vehicle that had an optional passenger seat.

One thing the Trail Duster had that was ahead of its time was a cooler in the center console, which, according to this picture, seems like it would also have been great at keeping your binoculars nice and cool.

Also, a this is a good reminder of just how chromatically deprived the modern automotive world is. Look at that! Fourteen different colors, all dramatically different and vivid! It’s fantastic! Just to see the miserable state we currently are mired in, these are the colors you can get a modern Mopar SUV, the Dodge Durango, in:

Jeezis. Look at that. A dark red, a dark blue, and six grayscale colors, four of which I can barely tell the difference between.

Also, I bet you have to really look for the fusebox on a new Durango, and probably can’t yank fuses out while cruising down the highway at 70 mph, seatbelt-less, yell-flirting at someone on your CB.