Xander - 1972 Plymouth Duster

My car does not have a name. In my idealistic youth I attempted to personify it but found the task fruitless. It's moniker was denoted by the article 'The' and a lack of an adjective. Thus, 'The Duster' was distinguished from 'a Duster' or 'the V8 Duster'.

Driver: Xander

Make: Plymouth

Model: Duster

Year: 1972

Engine: 225 Slant-Six

Transmission: '3 on the tree' - 3 speed manual with the shifter on the column

History: Car started it's life in the mid-Atlantic where it accumulated significant rust on the driver's side frame. It was brought to Hanover, NH where the owner (Phil Phillips, I believe) expected to have it inspected. But the rust was too extensive; the frame rail was missing from the torsion bar mount to the upper control arm. It was given up for dead and sold to my father, who pulled the engine and parked it under a tree. ~11 years later I pulled it out and managed to fix the frame, starting the slow but steady restoration.

Years Owned: In family: mid 1990s-current, Xander: 2005-current

Work Done: Fresh engine, full brake job, bearings, PST suspension kit

Modifications: None to speak of.

Slideshow of Our Cars & Some of our Favs

Henry's 1964 Dodge Dart GT--"Stella"

Stella Blue

Driver: Henry Cesari

Make: Dodge

Model: Dart

Year: 1964

Engine: 225 Slant-Six

Transmission: Push-Button Automatic

Color: Custom Midnight Blue

Type: 50^th Anniversary GT Coupe

Known History: Bob Totz bought the car in Memphis drove it North, sold it to John Cesari.

Years Owned: Pulled from the barn fall of 2005

Work Done: PST front end suspension kit. Brakeline replacement and conversion to 2-cylinder system. POR-15 coat on floor to stop rust and strengthen. Carb rebuild. New exhaust. Engine rebuild in progress.

Modifications: You’ve got to be kidding. Do leather Volvo seats or Bob’s old chrome-reverse rims count?

Info: Nicknamed this car Stella and love her to death. Promised Xander I won’t upload the rewrite of the Grateful Dead song I did for her here, on account of this being a serious blog and all (notice, I linked to my, much less serious blog). She's a much loved daily driver and work in progress. --Henry

From V8 Valhalla From V8 Valhalla

From V8 Valhalla

Am looking for: Someone to patch and restitch the stock bucket seats. Stereo equipment (rats chewed through the AM radio's wires at some point). Any components of a better exhaust, maybe laker pipes. New rug for this style A-body.

LaFrance

Henry at the wheel, Xander navigating.

American LaFrance chopped down fire engine, now a speedster.

Welcome

Welcome to V8 Valhalla. My name is Xander, this is kind of a 'back burner' project for me. This blog will detail the projects and stories of all of my motorized pursuits, mostly for the benefit of friends and family. Other contributors will be my brother, Henry, and perhaps even my father, John. We all have our favorite vehicles, but if it has an engine and wheels we're usually willing to take a look.

My notable vehicles:

1972 Plymouth Duster - 225 slant six

1074 Plymouth Duster - 360 V8

Henry:

1964 Dodge Dart GT 'Stella' - 225 slant six