Arthur’s Duster

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go-fish

FABO Gold Member
FABO Gold Member
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I had a friend that I met selling parts to. I was selling odds and end Mopar stuff on Craigslist and he had responded to a couple of sales and I sold him a couple things. Throughout meeting up with him and selling parts we always talked at length about all sorts of things.

He was in his early 70’s and I’m in my early 40’s but we hit it off like old friends. We were both in the military. He was Vietnam era Marines and I was in Iraq when I served in the Navy. He was a marathon runner that did Boston and the Marine Corps Marathon in DC multiple times. To run Boston you have to qualify so it’s not like he just could barely do the 26.2. He was a good runner. I don’t have that distance but I log about 25 miles a week on average.

I had a 1973 Duster when I joined the military in 2001 and he had a Duster when he joined the Corpse.

We lived in the same small Oklahoma town growing up. I lived there throughout my youth and he lived there just a few years because his Mom had married an Okie that was stationed in Philadelphia, Arthur’s hometown, in the early 60’s. The guy moved them back to Oklahoma but there was a divorce so they went back to PA.

I loved to pick his brain and I sought his knowledge on many different things in life.

Arthur had this Duster that he had the numbers matching 340 and 4 speed rebuilt in. He had had it freshly painted and had an almost complete Legendary interior. Factory correct Accurate exhaust, brake lines, gas tank, …… the list goes on.

One night he called and told me he wanted to sell me his car. I was befuddled because I knew how much he was looking forward to completing the car and how close he was to finishing it. I told him no thanks and asked why the heck he was selling. Well, he broke the news that he had cancer and he wasn’t going to last too long. I still declined because I have a Valiant, Cuda, and a D100 to do and didn’t need another project.

That night I told my wife about it and she asked if it was the same year we had when we got married. Upon learning it was she told me to buy it. Now, she is the one who always keeps me from spending money on stuff I don’t need but she absolutely loved the Duster I had. My old Duster was a 40k mile survivor when I got it in 1999. A granny had bought the car new when she was in her 70’s and it is one car that I still dream about so Arthur’s Duster was something I wanted , however, I was just trying to think of my other projects.

Arthur died very shortly after I bought the car. So this build is for Arthur. I’m going to try to get a license plate that says “Arthur” so he will always be a part of it.


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Thank you for relating this story.
This Arthur (me) is proud of you that you listened to your wife and bought Arthur’s Duster. He obviously wanted you to have it and to complete it.
I am 65 years old and that Arthur’s fate is a wake up call to me to get my Duster completed. I am recently retired and in good health now but that doesn’t guarantee I will be in good health in the future. I really don’t want to leave an unfinished project car to one of my daughters as they have never wrenched on a car.
 
A great story and further proof that some of the best friendships are formed over a shared love of cars. I'm sure Arthur is watching and guiding your progress with pride knowing you are the right person to finish it for him.
:thumbsup:
 
Awesome story. I like the grille blackout job, too.
 
Thats a sad story! Im sure you will make him proud. You will always have that memory of yalls friendship thru his car. Its a beautiful car!
 
Arthur was a true car guy..... He knows the clock is ticking and wants the car to go where it will be appreciated. Says alot about your friendship.....

Your wife, she's a keeper.... And that's all there is to say about that. Neat story...

JW
 
Great story!
Even though your other vehicles are awesome , they will never have the story this one has!
Karma works in wonderful and strange ways, I'll bet your front bumper shows up from someone on this site as this story hits home with a lot of us.
I have great respect for the Military for keeping all of us safe so thank you to you and Arthur for your service.
All the best with your new build and keep us posted.

Cheers!!

:canada:
 
Really nice story about Arthur and the friendship that started over a common interest. I'm sure he felt that you were the one to fulfill his dream of finishing his Duster. To me, that ses alot about you! He passed knowing it would be completed even if he couldn't do it himself. I'm sure that in itself gave him some peace before he departed this earth. Well done sir! 65'
 
Your a great guy!! Very humble and lots of respect for the ole timers!! Thanks for the heart warming story and I tip my hat to you for keeping Arthur in your mind!! Car looks amazing.....
 
Sad but awesome story. Sounds to me that you not only met an amazing guy but you have an amazing wife who understands also. He may live on with the car but he will now live on through us and the story you posted here. Thank you for sharing. Long live Arthur!!
 
I didn't notice this right away but the car has had a spring relocation. I am sure this was done before Arthur owned the car because he had planned on using the 14X5.5 and 14X6.5 Rallye wheels.
Interestingly enough, whoever did it kept the stock location leaf spring pads on the housing so now it has 4 leaf pads. Also, when you do a leaf spring location you cannot run the exhaust like the factory did and mini-tubbing usually accompanies a full inboard spring relocation. Arthur had bought this exhaust, ?Accurate?, and was pretty proud of it. He was really excited when he told me he found factory bent exhaust pipes and that he could use OEM style tips. This is something I remember well.
It turns out that this was right at the end and he had a "hole in the wall" muffler and wheels shop put the pipes on. They put them on while it was on a lift and let her down and loaded the suspension. When the weight of the car came down on the leaf springs they pinched the new pipes between the gas tank and the leaves on the right side. Left side is fine. I don't think Arthur ever caught this and I don't think the muffler shop would have told him. When they had the car they knew he was sick and I was buying it.
Some of you may remember a thread I posted that went on for days about buying an 8 3/4 rear to replace this 8 1/4. One of the reasons I wanted to replace the 8 1/4 was to do the 3/4" - 1/2" MP or Doctor Diff spring relocation and I would need to move the spring pads. If I did it with this 8 1/4 that would make for 3 times pads were welded on these tubes. It also needs a gear change.
I found a 3.23 geared 8 3/4, from a member here, at a local swap meet as a rebuilder. Turns out the only thing salvageable was the 489 case, pinion snubber, and the brake backing plates. I won't go into how I think the guy knew this was not a good rebuilder and intentionally left out the fact that the rear had been exposed to the elements for a long long time!
Anyway, I am going to have a C-body housing cut down and build this 489 case up. I will do the Dr Diff 1/2" relocation. The exhaust pipe is salvageable and there is only a small dent in the gas tank.
Arthur wanted this car to be original and loved that it is numbers matching so the only deviation from the factory components will be things that could have been available in 1973. He would have stuck with the 8 1/4 but it's a single leg and the gears are 2.71 (IIRC), it has four leaf spring pads, and I do want to maximize the rear tire width.



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What a touching story with a great background.
I love the car and the color, and the legacy of Arthur's car is in your capable hands.
It should turn out awesome!
BTW, your wife sounds like a keeper for encouraging you to buy it and complete the car!
 
Very cool story. Keeping Arthur’s dream alive through his duster. Glad you listened to your wife and bought the car.
 
A wonderful story! Thanks for sharing.

The guy I bought mine from in 1991 passed away a few months after I bought it too. He never got to see what I turned it into, but I guarantee he was my first passenger when that beastie finally fired up for the first time.

Thank you and Arthur for your service to our country and for keeping the dreams alive. You ROCK!
 
Just needing that holy grail of a 1 year only 1973 front bumper.
I have a parts car that I acquired probably close to 15 years ago. I could be wrong but it may be a 1973 Duster and it still has a front bumper on it. I honestly don't remember if it is a Duster or Dart Sport, but I will make an effort to find out.
 
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I’m excited to have this. I used to have an LD340 that I sold before I ever used. I am eventually going to put this on Arthur’s Duster.
The only mods I want to do to it are Day 2 mods (except for suspension). I know he was kind of a numbers matching / OEM guy. I never have been but I am respectfully finishing the car.
Torn on the wheels though. Thinking about Cragar, Keystones, US Wheel Slots. I may even think more about Minilite’s seeing as how they were used on Trans Am cars and were available in 1973.

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