Mopar®: It’s In Their DNA

A Mopar® car show isn’t just about the rows and rows of incredible Mopar machines on view—although admittedly, that’s a huge part. Just as important is the passion for the Mopar brand that spurs enthusiasts to painstakingly restore or modify their rides. It’s a passion that is often shared within families, a passion gifted from one generation to the next.

Such was the case at the 31st Annual Mopar Nationals car show, held Aug. 12–14 at 
National Trail Raceway near Columbus, Ohio. Many cars on display shared a similar back-story. Tales of family bonds forged over late nights and long weekends, as parents and children worked together to create a shared version of the ultimate Mopar ride. The photos shown here offer a mere snapshot of the many Mopar clans in attendance at “The Nats.”

1. The Plymouth Duster was the “tribute” car at the Mopar Nationals. 14-year-old Alex Stark of Chesterfield, Mich. displayed her Duster with the help of her father, Opie. Alex played with a diecast version of a Duster as a young child and demanded of her father, “I want a bigger one.” When Alex was 10 she found a “bigger” Duster on eBay®—her dad bought her the life-size version as a shell, with all the parts in boxes. The father and daughter team worked to put the car back together. “It was a family project,” said Alex. “We just finished last week and it took about four years. We’ve had a lot of compliments on the car at the show.”


A true Mopar man, Opie has restored seven Mopars and said he will keep daughter 
Alex’s Duster “warm” until she is of driving age. “I have to make sure it’s broken in until she turns sixteen.”

2. Dewayne Swing (right) and his father Johnny Swing (left), from Shelbyville, Tenn., traded 
a 2003 Ram Crew Cab truck for the Duster they displayed at the Mopar Nationals. The restoration of the vehicle, which included installing a Mopar big block engine, took two years. “We’ve always been close, but the car has brought us closer,” said Dewayne of 
the project.

3. Doug Yoder, of Plain City, Ohio, inherited the 1973 Gold Duster that his grandma, Zelpha, drove until she passed away in 1992. Yoder tuned the car, which remains in its original shape aside from new wheels and tires, for his grandma. Of his grandparents, Yoder said, “They only bought Chrysler vehicles. Nothing else.” He named the car “Zelpha” in honor of its original owner.

4. Randy Bradford, of Grafton, Ohio bought his 1973 Duster “about six years ago as a rust bucket. It took until about a year ago to get it to where it’s at now.” The car was restored with numerous Mopar parts. “I’ve been a Mopar fan my whole life,” said Grafton. “I’ve got most of my sons into it now.”

5. The Mopar Village Club, based in west central Ohio, includes more than 70 members. “It’s neat to come out and see all the Mopars, and talk to people who share our passion,” said Kyle Huelsman, whose dad, Tom, is president of the club and owns multiple Mopars.