A Conversation With Dale, The Original Owner Who Special Ordered My 1971 Dodge Demon 340


On this special episode of Dead Dodge Garage, I sit down with my friend Dale to talk about the car he custom ordered from a Dodge dealer, owned for 51 years, and drag raced almost from new – a 1971 Dodge Demon 340, which I now own and call “Dale’s Demon.” Of the ~2500 cars built, how many original paint, under 100k mile four speed ’71 Demon 340s could be left out there? And out of those, how many original owners are still around to tell their stories? I don’t know, but it can’t be very many – so to be able to sit down with Dale and hear the history of this car is something very special indeed.

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37 Comments

  1. My first car was a 73 or 74 duster, not sure, it was metallic brown with cream interior, 3 on the tree, 318 and I was surprised how well it did grab while taking off, but at about 90mp it got scary the front end floated up high and started shaking…… front end probably needed rebuilding….

  2. Jamie Thanks so much for bringing Dale on to your show that was the best! Your car is so very special and the history of this Demon means it's gotta pedigree takes it to another level of very special, and it doesn't get better than that.

  3. Often wondered why you always refered it as "Dales Demon". He's definitely one of a kind & a wonderful person. Congratulations Jammie on your find. The passion you have for this awesome ride is outstanding, you deserve it! I set up my Duster as close to The Bible as a 19 year olds budget could and it flat out WORKED. My Duster was a '72 Twister that the previous owner swapped a 340 4 Speed in. Tor Red, ladder hood stripe, 15×8 Cragars with L 60s & 14×6s in the front

  4. What a great story! Knowing the entire history of the car is really special. I wish I had that opportunity with my Coronet (also a '71), but having saved it from a wrecking yard, no history available.

  5. You are the perfect care taker for this car. The Mopar Bible in a binder. When I saw that I'm thinking why is it twice as thick as my manual. LOL. Actually put some thought into this comment. Back in the early 70's I first saw a blue with black stripes Demon. Small town in Saskatchewan. The grille, tail lights, and Demon decal caught my attention. There was also a black Monaco 68 ish, with dark blue velvet button tucked dash and seats. I was a pre teen, not into cars. Those two cars for some reason are stuck in my head.

  6. Super video. These stories are what makes these cars what they are! It's awesome he is still around to see it get a next great home ! Car stories always carry so much more meaning than just the cars themselves, but what happened with them, and too them. Priceless Sir !

  7. What a wonderful story – and the stories are really more important to me than the cars themselves, truth
    be told. Yeah, I've had hot rods for decades (thought I'm 20 years behind Dale) but it's as much about
    history and car tales for me as it has been about making my own stories in whatever car I've got at the time.
    Cars back then were created by humans, owned by humans, were a big part of human lives….
    Thank you for recognizing that and wanting to become the next steward of Dale's Demon, Jamie.
    Speaks volumes as to where your heart is, so good on ya!
    – Ed on the Ridge

  8. That's a great story..But I could think of a better guy to own that Demon,cough..cough..Yeah it's ME lol…

    My Uncle is the original owner of a 330,000 mile 1970 'Cuda 440 6 barrel..Car was never fully restored,never needed to be. In 1982 at 260,000 miles he rebuilt the engine ,seat recovered and new paint (my cousin repainted it again in/around 2005)looks and drives like new! My uncle is is 87 years young and bought it brand new in the summer of 1970.

    He ran high 11's two weeks after he bought it new..walking it out he ran low-mid 12's not flooring it until 25-30 mph..Last time it was on the track was 20 years ago and still ran low 12's in street trim walking it out,(still a easy 11 second car if it hooked or tried to race it but it was never a race car,just a very quick daily driver)that guy still can drive real good today even at 87 he rolls around in a 2020 Power Wagon as his daily driver zero scratches or dents,guy drives better than I do!!

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