Distressed Dart Relief
Think about the cars, please.
For almost 50 years this Dodge Dart has faithfully served literally tens of humans as it slowly was allowed to decay.
Just $1.33 (*** edit apparently there is a $5 minimum) from each Facebook friend will allow this Dart to be returned to its former glory. Don't pass up a chance to be part of history as this fund will help repair the front seat where my soft buttocks will rest as I caress the steering wheel and gently apply pressure to the gas and brake pedals.
How we got here:
It started its life in Hamtramck Michigan on January 3rd, 1972. It was shipped off to a Dodge dealer in Humboldt Iowa where Clarence and Myrtle Fearing took delivery of this Swinger for just $1582.56 along with the trade-in of their White 1960 Plymouth Valiant.
Clarence and Myrtle loved this Dart, they named it Darty, while not very creative it was nevertheless sweet. Clarence and Myrtle would drive Darty around Humboldt (mostly to church on Sundays) with great pride. But by 1982 Clarence had lost his sight and Myrtle sold Darty to their grandson James in neighboring Webster City.
James was a bit of a rebel and he was known for carrying his wallet on a chain connected to his belt loop. This eventually wore a small hole in the driver's side seat fabric. He called the hole, Holey, he got his creativity from hos grandparents. James cared for Darty and Holey for another 36 years slowly navigating Darty from his home on Woolsey Avenue to the malt shoppe and back with great care.
But the elements were not kind to Darty or James. Rust began to penetrate Darty's floor pan and quarter panels, the rocker panels followed soon after and eventually made it to the front fenders. Holey grew larger with time but James still loved them both. He would have kept Darty forever but in 2018 Darty developed a leaking fuel tank, leaking brakes, leaking carburetor, well hell basically everything started leaking. Even James.
His eye leaked tears of sadness as he typed out the Craigslist ad to find Darty a new home. It was obvious his heart wasn't in it though. He listed Darty for $3295, a full thousand dollars more than the original MSRP. If it wasn't for a Dart lovin' son of a gun from Kansas, Darty would have probably rusted away in James' driveway. This crazy Kansan offered $1800, James reluctantly let go and countered, "$2000?"
Sold.
The Kansas guy drove up to Iowa with his father determined to drive Darty home. Carrying only his tools, some parts and a clear case of stupidity, he paid James and drove Darty straight away 6 blocks to the local O'reilly where initial surgery was performed on the alternator and heater hoses. He decided to forgo brakes and relied on his wit to stop Darty. Darty was so happy to be back on the road, the Dart made it 20 more miles to Ft. Dodge Iowa where he was rewarded with four new tires at the local Wal-Mart.
Darty felt like a new man. The fella from Kansas asked Darty if he thought they could make it the 500 miles back to Kansas. Darty replied, "I think I can."
And Darty did it! The last 200 miles Darty was stopping with only the parking brake and the floor pans in the back seat were filled with water. "Tears of joy." Darty is what Darty said they were filled with.
18 months later, some new wheels, and lots of mechanical parts later Darty is feeling better. But his get up and go has got up and went. He lost his ability to go backwards over a month ago and is currently scheduled for a transmissionectomy. But what really makes Darty sad is his seat. The Kansas boy has really finished off the driver's side seat fabric. Holey is now called Shreddy.
So please, facebook friends if you found this story as touching as I have, donate what you can to help Darty feel better about his upholstery. Just a $1.33 from each fb friend will put Darty back on the road to mopar happiness.
Dodge Bless You!
