Touching story of my late friend.

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340john

340john

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In high school (1984-1986), the majoritiy of kids drove Chevy's and Ford's. The Mopar faithful were limited to me and a handfull of other like minded gearheads. We all quickly struck up a friendship and some of them are still friends to this day. One of my best friends was Rob, he was a Mopar man through and through. In school he drove a Diplomat, while he built his dream car...a 340 Duster. Tragically Rob passed away on July 2nd 1994 from heart failure. Rob left a pregnant wife and many friends. He never got to met his son, Tyler, who is a gearhead in training as I call him. I lost touch with Rob's wife and hadn't spoken to her in 15 years until recently. We have started talking again and I have started to build a friendship with Tyler. We found his dad's old Duster ! It show's some age, but is still frozen in time as far as I am concerned. Here are some pictures of Tyler and the Duster at a show we went to. He wants the car so badly and I wish I could get it for him...but there is no way, I am barely making it myself and the owner is asking 8K.
 

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Touching story. If we could get 800 members to donate 10 dollars a piece that car would be his. I for one would be in. I would hope if something ever happened to me, the same would be done for my son.
 
Just getting to find and sit in his Dad's former car is way cool. I'm in the same boat as far as finances go, so i understand. Hopefully Tyler can keep in touch with the current owner and somewhere down the road can acquire his Dad's car.
 
OldmanRick said:
Just getting to find and sit in his Dad's former car is way cool. I'm in the same boat as far as finances go, so i understand. Hopefully Tyler can keep in touch with the current owner and somewhere down the road can acquire his Dad's car.
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Xs2.
From what is posted on FABO seems like most of us are in the same boat as far as finances go.
 
Well donate 10.00...... if you can get enough other people to help also,
sure would like to see this young man, get his Dad's car back. That
would definately be awesome to see! Let us know if we can help. Dodge33
 
Dodge33 said:
Well donate 10.00...... if you can get enough other people to help also,
sure would like to see this young man, get his Dad's car back. That
would definately be awesome to see! Let us know if we can help. Dodge33
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Thank you for the offer. I have a 1966 mustang hardtop that needs to be restored, and I think I am going to sell it and try to help tyler as much as I can.
 
I'd be up for 10. And I'm not all that flush, either

Why don't you edit the title something to the effect donations need for good cause, etc?
 
What is most touching to me is not the Duster as badly as Tyler wants it now but that you can build a friendship with him and share stories about his Dad from his high school years. Imagine what that will mean to Tyler to learn things about his Dad he never knew!
 
goldfish65 said:
What is most touching to me is not the Duster as badly as Tyler wants it now but that you can build a friendship with him and share stories about his Dad from his high school years. Imagine what that will mean to Tyler to learn things about his Dad he never knew!
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David, when we first started talking, I asked Cheryl (his mom) how much I could tell him. So, I am choosing my stories wisely. I am up to the PG13 stories now LOL.

Seriously, I do agree that it is good for both of us. I couldn't even imagine being in his shoes...never knowing his dad.
 
Oklacarcollecto said:
That would be cool. Is the Duster a real 340 car? Auto or stick? Any additional pictures?
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No, it is a clone car. Rob built his cars to suit his taste. It is an automatic, it has a 340 with NOS.
 

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OldmanRick said:
Just getting to find and sit in his Dad's former car is way cool. I'm in the same boat as far as finances go, so i understand. Hopefully Tyler can keep in touch with the current owner and somewhere down the road can acquire his Dad's car.
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I think it is cool too. I hope he can own it someday...someday soon I hope. I would love to help him restore it.
 
Touching story. Can you imagine the impact of 800 members to fork out $10. and being part of this kids life and getting something is father built. It would an honor to to donate. I'm in...
 
I would be able to donate to help this kid buy a car his dad had built.
 
If you all think this might be possible, I would love to start a collection/donation for Tyler to get some funds to put toward his dream car...his dad's old Duster.
 
So acouple of thoughts,
I think you need to find a way to do it so that you get a garanteed 800 members to commit before sending the dough. Yeah its only 10 bucks, but what if you only raise 5k, then what? return it, upset the kid? and feel like losers? I mean its not unreasonable to do this, just gotta find a more solid way to do it. How many members are here?

The other thing is, is Tyler ready for this responsabilty? 17 is just a lad from where I'm standing now. I know I F'd up alot of machinery back then. Its a powerfull and relitivley unsafe car by todays standards. Your the one that knows him, think about it. You mean well and its comendable, but look at all the aspects.
Sorry just playing devils advocate.
Other than that you can count on me for a 10 spot.
G
 
I posted this on the other thread and I feel like I should also post it here so I am covered.

On the advise of my attorney I am out on having anything to do with buying this car. I am going to leave it at that.
I think it would be great if some day he was to have the car.
 
Oklacarcollecto said:
I posted this on the other thread and I feel like I should also post it here so I am covered.

On the advise of my attorney I am out on having anything to do with buying this car. I am going to leave it at that.
I think it would be great if some day he was to have the car.
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Maybe you could enlighten us? If you knew he bridge was out down the road a bit, you could let the driver know......
 
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