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Terry DeLong's Dodge Dakota

The Book Of R/T, As Delivered By A True Believer
By Brad Ocock
Photography by Brad Ocock
Dodge Dakota Drivers Side View
P77887 Image Large
Dodge Dakota Engine Bay View
Dodge Dakota Interior View Dashboard
Dodge Dakota Hood Scoop View
Dodge Dakota Emblem View
Dodge Dakota Interior View Gauge Cluster

Brothers and sisters, look upon Terry DeLong not as a delinquent who cares not for the humiliation he inflicts while driving this chariot. See him not as a burden on society while he races up and down the streets of Avilla, Indiana. Look upon him instead as a man doing the work of rightousness by battling the unwashed masses of Camaro and Mustang drivers; showing them the true power of the boulevard—the power of modern Mopar muscle! Can I have a witness?!

We are here today to pay homage to this vehicle—all it comprises, and all that comprises it. We are here to thank Terry for leading the way out of the front-wheel drive wilderness that is a Mopar dealership and showing us that the average enthusiast can—yes you can!—take a truck and make it haul more than simple cargo. That by making your choices wisely, you too can put a holy whooping onto the minions of General Motors, and those who would traffic in Fords. Amen!

The heart of a machine such as this must be pure, but that is not to say it cannot be improved upon as originally delivered by the Blessed Mother Mopar. To that end, Terry has walked down the path of performance, not stopping when others would have said it was enough; opting for four-barrel induction upgrades and nitrous oxide when others would instead extol the virtues of simple supercharging. Going the extra distance of porting the heads; changing the cam and rockers when it would have been easier to just leave it all alone. Yes, brothers and sisters, it is truly a man who fears no wrath of warranty who will take a truck this new and turn it into a tool of street justice, a vehicle of vengeance. Hallelujah!

But while it makes its presence known with a holy rumble and blinding flash of Curious Yellow, know, too, that Terry is careful not to carry himself too high, nor appear too proud. Terry has achieved this state of lowered grace through the help of friends at Western Chassis, American Racing, and BFG, while those at Stainless Steel Brakes have made sure he is able to stop in the face of adversity. No man is an army, and Terry will attest that the folks at Competition Engineering are doing fine work with their Slide-a-Link traction bars, ensuring that Terry is able to get a jump on his adversaries off the line. Praise the lowered!

Inside, robes of silver vinyl were stitched by Brother Trent at Trent’s Trick Upholstery, and Terry watches for signs from the American Products white faced gauges, while the bed of his steed is protected from danger by a Line-X custom matched bed liner and Design Automotive/Tek-Style Soft Hatch hinged tonneau cover.

Terry is quick to give praise to those who have helped him along his difficult path, those such as Fine Line Graphics for the Billboards and badges of honor found on the Shaker scoop and tail gate, Joe Mattes for suspension mentoring, John Davis for engine salvation, and especially Brother Mark Heber at Daimler Chrysler truck marketing for getting him started on his journey.

And so, too, should we thank Terry DeLong, and those like him, who are doing the work of Mopar, for it is through their efforts of humbling the rest that we all may benefit. Can I hear an Amen?!


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