What is your A Body history, which ones, and how many have you had? Why?

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HemiEd

HemiEd

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Ok I will start, I know this story will pale compared to some of yours, but it has been a long A Body road for me. I have just always loved A bodys. 8)

My second car, Christmas of 1966, I was 16, got a 64 Barracuda 273 2 bbl (no 4 bbl yet) 4 speed, white with red guts and the payment book. (It had been a repo at the bank)
Totally went crazy, got in ticket trouble, joined the Navy, as Nam was going on.

Met a gal (still my wife 38 years later) that had a yellow 67 Dart GT vert, and we get married after knowing each other 3 weeks. (the car!) Her dad had a 67 Sport Fury.
We made a home, and I got to buy a 65 Barracuda S, auto, white with black guts.

Get out of the Navy and I buy an auto 65 Barracuda S, Yellow with black guts.

Some of the rest. (most were between $200 to $500 in the 80s and early 90s)
65 273 2bbl Dart GT, cream with black guts (1 owner)
340 FM3 70 Duster wing, a/c, ps, and no carpet (farmers field).
68 Turbine Bronze 340 4 speed S Fastback. (my favorite car ever, pulled out of a salvage yard)
69 S Coupe, loaded, white vinyl top, turquoise, luggage rack (salvage yard)
69 Dart 340 Swinger
67 /6 white Barracuda Coupe
67 /6 white Barracuda FB (built for daugher)
69 318 3spd Red Barracuda FB
67 Barracuda coupe, race car 10:30s-10:60s track champion 88
68 Barracuda Vert (current car)
quite a few B and E bodys mixed in there with a couple 57 Furys.

So what is your story? Which cars? Excuse the n00b, but I want to learn about them.

I have always wanted a 64/65 Valiant 2sdn with a 340.
 
My '64 'Cuda is my second one.
My first was back in the '80's, a '67 Barracuda fastback with a blown 273. Guy I bought it from talked me into putting a big block in it. Found a guy selling a 426W motor, bored it .070" and put standard sized TRW 440 slugs in it, Isky cam, Hooker fenderwells, 4-speed, 3.23 Sure-Grip, Keystone Klassics. It was an ugly car that ran like stink, ate U-joints for breakfast. Sold the car a year later before I killed myself in it.
 
My A-body history started when I was about 5 years old. It involved my moms 74 Valiant 4 door gold with a black vinyl top, the rear pass side door, 3 of the fingers on my right hand and my sister laughing at me screaming my *** off.

I didn't even think about them again until around 2001 when I got my 73 scamp for $450 because it was cheap and ran.
 
Tony Fields said:
Bought a new 1971 340 Duster and that's it until
I got the '67 'Cuda in 2006
Click to expand...

Did you order your Duster or pick it out of inventory? What motor and color?

Pictures of the 67?

clifftt said:
My '64 'Cuda is my second one.
My first was back in the '80's, a '67 Barracuda fastback with a blown 273. Guy I bought it from talked me into putting a big block in it. Found a guy selling a 426W motor, bored it .070" and put standard sized TRW 440 slugs in it, Isky cam, Hooker fenderwells, 4-speed, 3.23 Sure-Grip, Keystone Klassics. It was an ugly car that ran like stink, ate U-joints for breakfast. Sold the car a year later before I killed myself in it.
Click to expand...
The first time through this, I thought you had a huffer on a 273.
I bet that 440 4 gear A Body was a handfull.



360scamp said:
My A-body history started when I was about 5 years old. It involved my moms 74 Valiant 4 door gold with a black vinyl top, the rear pass side door, 3 of the fingers on my right hand and my sister laughing at me screaming my *** off.

I didn't even think about them again until around 2001 when I got my 73 scamp for $450 because it was cheap and ran.
Click to expand...
Ouch! Did you lose your fingers, or just hurt them real bad?
 
First A body I bought was a 73 Swinger 318 Bucket bench,Tan/white int for $350. AKA "The Wench Wagon".

Then came my 75 Sport 318 Bucket bench, Blue/ blue. Bought this car for my 20th birthday for $450. Keeped this car for twenty years then sold it to my brother. AKA "The Sport". Years back I installed a 72 Duster Frontclip, now known as the "Dartster.

Bought another 75 Sport 318 Bucket bench, Gold/tan for $120 to drive while fixing up the Blue one.

While having one of my cars towed (can't remember which one) the tow truck driver asked if I was interested in what he called a 71 Demon. Turned out to be a 71 Swinger with no engine. Bought it for $700 and put a 360 in. It was Green/black with buckets. AKA "Slimer". Did tons of work to this one. Long story short-launched it real hard and twisted the body and broke rear spring frame mounts.

To cure my need for HP, I then traded a Dune Buggy straight across for a 71 440 Demon Blue/blue. AKA "Suicide". After several sets of tires, six curbs and 1 fence, it finally meet its demise(all go no slow)

Then I came across a 72 Valant 340 Blue/blue for $700.

While I was working out of town, I meet a little old lady driving a 68 Dart GT 225/6 Bucket console Blue/blue. Traded my mint 85 Diplomat for it. The GT was later known as "Low and slow"

Waiting for my brother one day in my GT, I saw a guy hauling a 69 'Cuda 383 4 speed. $1,050 later I reeled in that fish. Could write a book on the adventures of the 'Cuda, but in the end its under restro for my son.

My list of A bodies wouldn't be compete without mentioning my 76 Duster for $100. AKA "Rusty"

Four F bodies, 1 73 Charger and a few 70's Dodge Trucks amongst others thrown into the mix. Never been able to cure that Mopar addiction it just costs more. Miss the days when there were Darts around every corner.

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I've owned 4 dusters..1 '73 slant six
2 '70 340 dusters
1 '70 318 duster now a 360 street/strip car..
 
My dad found a 65 Valiant 4 door, 225 for me when i was in highschool. I saved up working at Carl's Jr. and bought it for a mere 500 bucks. Creame in color, with olive colored seats that had purple crushed velvet inlays, wich was a factory setup. Others include a 63 valiant convertable, and my current 64 Valiant with the stroker. I found this one on ebay in Nevada while I was deployed to Iraq.
 
First A body was a 70 340 duster Canadian (Windsor) built car, originally orange but was brown/bronze when I got it. It was a race car some time in its life before I got it judging by the loops under the driveshaft. Originally a 4spd car with a clutch pedal still in it and the reverse light on the dash which worked with the 727 in it when I got it. Way too much power for a 16 year old but I lived! It cost me $800 with no brakes in 1988. I found replacement 4 piston Kelsey Hayes calipers from the dealer back then for $300+ but it was back on the road after close to $2000 in parts and many hours in our schools auto shop. It went 140+ on the speedo at 6000 rpm that day...and too many times after that....like I said I lived but makes me nervous now that I have a 3 year old.

I ended up selling it to pay for a telephone pole I split in half half way up as I flew 20 feet in the air after missing a corner with a Ford EXP at 80+ mph. Funny how a glorified Escort got me after years with the Duster. Sold the duster for the same $800 with many updates in the middle of winter 1991 with no choke. Tough to start and tough to sell. Ended up going to the brother of the future wife of a good friend. Tried to buy it back a few times after college but he would not sell.

Few cars in between until I went looking for another 340 Duster back in 2004. Just crashed my crotch rocket avoiding two golden retrievers loose on my road 5 weeks before I got married and promised my now wife that I would get toys with bumpers.

I ended up finding a 1968 Formula S Barracuda at West Coast Car Connections east of Detroit. He flew out to California a few times a year and bought cars and had them shipped back to Michigan. Car was perfect body and paint wise but had a pealing rusty front bumper and a weak 318. I had the bumper rechromed, some new wheels, general cleaning up of the little things and then put in a no compromise 416 by Lapouttre racing.

My story.....
 
My first mopar was a 71 d-100 pick up when i was 17..I got my first a body in 2006 a 66 dart,2007 68 dart conv,sold both and now i have a 66 dart convertible,69 #'s matching 340 swinger,and a 68 dart gt with a 383 crossram with a 4 speed........i kove them all
 
crayzcuda said:
First A body I bought was a 73 Swinger 318 Bucket bench,Tan/white int for $350. AKA "The Wench Wagon".

Then came my 75 Sport 318 Bucket bench, Blue/ blue. Bought this car for my 20th birthday for $450. Keeped this car for twenty years then sold it to my brother. AKA "The Sport". Years back I installed a 72 Duster Frontclip, now known as the "Dartster.

Bought another 75 Sport 318 Bucket bench, Gold/tan for $120 to drive while fixing up the Blue one.

While having one of my cars towed (can't remember which one) the tow truck driver asked if I was interested in what he called a 71 Demon. Turned out to be a 71 Swinger with no engine. Bought it for $700 and put a 360 in. It was Green/black with buckets. AKA "Slimer". Did tons of work to this one. Long story short-launched it real hard and twisted the body and broke rear spring frame mounts.

To cure my need for HP, I then traded a Dune Buggy straight across for a 71 440 Demon Blue/blue. AKA "Suicide". After several sets of tires, six curbs and 1 fence, it finally meet its demise(all go no slow)

Then I came across a 72 Valant 340 Blue/blue for $700.

While I was working out of town, I meet a little old lady driving a 68 Dart GT 225/6 Bucket console Blue/blue. Traded my mint 85 Diplomat for it. The GT was later known as "Low and slow"

Waiting for my brother one day in my GT, I saw a guy hauling a 69 'Cuda 383 4 speed. $1,050 later I reeled in that fish. Could write a book on the adventures of the 'Cuda, but in the end its under restro for my son.

My list of A bodies wouldn't be compete without mentioning my 76 Duster for $100. AKA "Rusty"

Four F bodies, 1 73 Charger and a few 70's Dodge Trucks amongst others thrown into the mix. Never been able to cure that Mopar addiction it just costs more. Miss the days when there were Darts around every corner.
Click to expand...
Looking forward to learning more about the 69 project with you and your son. That is an impressive list.




stroked 340 said:
I've owned 4 dusters..1 '73 slant six
2 '70 340 dusters
1 '70 318 duster now a 360 street/strip car..
Click to expand...
Mental note to self, stroked 340 is Mr. Duster. Any pictures?


stroker_valiant said:
My dad found a 65 Valiant 4 door, 225 for me when i was in highschool. I saved up working at Carl's Jr. and bought it for a mere 500 bucks. Creame in color, with olive colored seats that had purple crushed velvet inlays, wich was a factory setup. Others include a 63 valiant convertable, and my current 64 Valiant with the stroker. I found this one on ebay in Nevada while I was deployed to Iraq.
Click to expand...

Is that a 2 door sedan with a small block? Did you see my opening post? I want it!
 
Like Hemied My ist abody was a 70 340 duster That I bought when I got out of the Navy in 1969. Built it for the strip and bought a purple 340 duster to tow it. Got married sold them off bought my wife a cute little 66 dart then 25 years later the need for speed hit me again so I bought a 73 dart sport 340 and an EV2 Tor Red 70 duster 340. My youngest daughter needed braces so I told my wife I would sell one but couldn't make up my mind which one to sell -so I listed both and said which ever one I sell ,I'll keep the other. Well they both sold so I ended up buying another 70 340duster 4 spd like the original one that first hooked me on mopar abodies. that was 5 years ago and I still enjoy taking it out in nice weather and going thru the gears.
Howard
 
Well lets see,I have had 8 a bodys and 1 b body.This is my 4th 69 Dart this one is a clean L.A. 69 LL Dart.The 69 Dart are my all time favvvv.
 
My 68 Barracuda is the first A-body.

Other Mopars I owned a 76 Volare and my current daily driver 99 Dodge Ram 4x4.

My younger brother has owned a 71 Duster, 74 Duster, and the 68 Barracuda I currently own.

I've always liked the A bodies though.
 
65 Barracuda white w/ black interior, 225ci /6, column shift 3-speed, 8 1/4 posi that I bought in Alaska. My best friend talked me into it. It used to get about 25 mpg; a lot of newer cars don't get that. I drove it for 2 years in AK then drove it all the way to Charleston, SC. Only problem I had with it on the trip was one flat tire. When my best friend and I got to Charleston, he bought a 69 notchback Barracuda and sold me the 4 barrel engine and 904 A/T out of it so he could drop his 440 and 4-speed into his 69. Later I pulled engine and trans out of it and sold it as a rolling chassis.

66 Barracuda red w/ black interior, 273ci V8, 904 A/T, 7 1/4. Bought it for parts. Stripped what I wanted then sold it to a junk yard.

75 Dart Sport tan w/ tan interior, 318 V8, 904 A/T, 8 1/4. This one was given to my best friend and I. I paid him for his half of the car and then sold the engine and trans after puting a new timing chain in the engine. Dropped in a 69 318 w/ holley 4 barrel, some 360 J-heads I got out of a junk yard, 4-speed, and B-body 8 3/4. DA'd the car down to bare metal, put in a 727, and sold it.

65 Barracuda, 318 V8, 904 A/T, 8 3/4, ladder bar suspension. Only owned it for a couple days. I let myself get talked out of putting a 440 in it, by an old racer that I used to think was a god, since the tranny crossmember had been cut out of it. The gentleman I bougth it from was nice enough to take it back from me and I gave him $100 for his troubles. He sold it again a few months later. I wish I would have kept it and just welded a crossmember back into it like I did on the 71 Duster many years later.

72 Duster, black w/ black interior, rolling chassis, w/ 6 point cage, frame connectors, 10" wide cop car wheels w/ tall slicks on back and centerline SBP on front, Herb McCandless semi-chassis big block headers, big block elephant ears, busted up gears w/ posi 8 3/4, fuel cell and 1/2 fuel line, trunk located battery, sharktooth grill. Stripped the headers, cop car wheels, fuel system, trunk battery harness, and some other stuff then sold it for what I paid for it.

71 Duster, black w/ black interior, rolling chassis, w/ 6-point cage, frame connectors, 68 A-body big block K-frame, big block A-body torsion bars, A-body 8 3/4 w/ Strange Engineering BBP axles and 3.55 posi, sharktooth grill. BBP single piston disc brakes. I sold the axles and the center section, sold the K-frame, and traded the rearend housing to my best friend for some mechanic work. My best friend helped me drop in my 440 and 4-speed. I put in my 4.10 B-body Dana 60. Ran it at the track a few times; it ran high 7's in the 1/8th. Later on I pulled my Dana and sold it. I replaced it with an A-body 8 3/4. I also pulled the 4-speed out and put in a 727 w/ manual valve body. Pulled the BBP disc front, my draglites and put aluminum slots on it after I put the SBP brakes from the new Barracuda on it. Pulled the sharktooth and sold it; replaced w/ a 69 valiant grill. My wife sold it for me while I was over in Turkey.

64 Barracuda, primer w/ red interior, rolling chassis, was a 273 Commando w/ 4-speed car. Came with an A-body 8 3/4 in it. Originally had all Formula S options, but was not a Formula S. Also had a later 4-speed in it sitting on rear floor. I took 4-speed and a few other parts. I planned to drop my 500ci 440 into it, but once I got to looking at it, the body was far worse than I originally thought. Traded the car for a narrowed Dana 60 w/ 35 spline axles and powerlock posi unit, but no gears.

My newest project, 65 Barracuda, white w/ black interior just like my first Barracuda, rolling chassis, supposedly an original 273 Commando car w/ 4-speed, came with SBP aluminum slots w/ brand new tires all around. Car is extremely clean and when I bought it the only rust was 3 pin holes in drivers floor and a small bubble under the paint in the drivers quarter that hasn't broken yet. After letting it sit outside over grass for a year, the floor doesn't look quiet as good any more. I already put my BBP disc front end on it. My plan is to backhalf it, tub it, ladder bar suspension w/ coil over shocks, narrowed Dana w/ 4.10 powerlock posi, 500ci 440 w/ stage VI max wedge port heads, M1 intake, Holley DP 1050cfm, 4-speed w/ blowproof bellhousing, roll cage and subframe connectors. I've got all the parts except the rear frame rails which I'll probably end up getting from this company: http://autoweldchassis.com/spec.ivnu

As for why, horsepower to weight ratio. Little cars with big engines, rigid choppers w/ big engines, and small guns that make big holes are all things that I love.

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My first experience with A bodies was when my dad bought a 66 dart new, ordered it with a 273 3spd on the tree with the heavy duty brakes and suspension package. He plopped an afb on it with duals and drove it for 4 more years.

Before I got out of college I bought a 73 dart swinger, 318/auto, B5 blue in and out with a black vinyl top. Drove that as my daily driver until about 1983 when I graduated from school and then decided to build it up. Back then you could go to the bone yard and pick parts - so I gathered up the pieces to convert it to a 4spd using junkyard pieces. Built a hot rod 318 and had fun with it. Kept that car until 1992 when I acquired a factory 73 dart sport 340 4spd car from california.

I sold the swinger to my neighbor (he still has it and it looks as good as it ever did). I proceeded to completely do a frame up style resto on the 73 sport. Its B3 blue with the hood scoop and a B5 split bench interior. Has the folding rear seat as well, but no sunroof. Its been done since 2001.

In about 1994 I bought a 66 dart gt convertable. White w black interior. 273/904 column shift with buckets. It sat in a dry garage for the next 10 years until I was ready to work on it. Its my current project car. So far Ive built a motor, trans, drivetrain, converted to disc brakes, converted the interior using factory pieces to a floor shift with console. Reupholstered the interior , done minor patches in the floor and installed subframe connectors. I also removed the K frame and cleaned it and had it ecoated, the whole underside of the car has been scrubbed clean and painted. The car drives very nicely, but still lacks a new top and the rear seat upholstery. It also needs a little cancer removal and replacement in the rear quarters. I chose not to repaint this car and make it a driver type. I already have one trailer queen, and have decided I want a car to drive and enjoy rather than worry about and keep spotless. I bought the 66 because I really liked Dad's old car, as it was my first memories of being slammed back in the seat while cruising down the toll roads in and around chicago. Plus the price was right. A running driving convertable for 4250. Not bad compared to what I see these days.
 
Typical old guy reliving his youth? In 1970-73, after the army, i worked as a mechanic/truck driver for my cousin. THT racing int. {AHRA world champ in GT-1 class for two years. Factory backed and i was hanging with the big dogs. the best time in my life so about 10 years ago i bought my 16 YO son a 73 duster w/ a 360 auto. we were having alot of fun working on that car so i decided i needed one! never owned one before but now i have about 30 good projects and 10 parts cars. all darts dusters and demons. My favorite is my 71 black demon 340/ 4-speed. sure hope i get to drive it soon. In 1972 i put a 440 in a 71 duster for the owner's son, may have been the first one used as a daily driver. Learned the hard way about frame connectors .almost broke in half before we figured it out.
 
Cool stories, thanks for posting them. Over 30 Dusters and 10 parts cars. You have to be MR. DUSTER! You win!
 
I will make it short.

My first A-body was a 318/ a-904 column, 74 Valiant 4 door that I scored from my Girlfriend's Aunt for $100.oo back in 1989 during my senior high school year.
I named the car Rodney and it quickly became a modified money pit that everyone knew.
I got married a year later to my highschool sweetheart and I quickly realized that money was extremely hard to come by, and once I blew the motor in the car my hopes of getting serious about this car was pretty much dead in the water.
I told myself that I would most likely have greay hair by the time I could afford a more desirable Mopar muscle car and restore it the way I wanted.

Well, I was right, I have some gray hair on the sides and I finally did what I set out to do although I had to wait patiently for 20 years and it still took me 8 years to build between paying the bills and putting food on the table.

I have a picture somewhere of "Rodney" with my then, girlfriend sitting on the hood in a cute jean skirt, but for the life of me I cannot find that darn picture.

I have plenty pics of my latest project but y'all have seen it a zillion times.

Man, I can remember so many "good" deals back then but I could not afford jack squat as a young punk other than a mopar action subscription and lotsa dreams.

So much for making it short.

Oh, I can't forget the clean little slanty 71 swinger I sold last year.
I bought the swinger because it was a killer deal and I was really itching to drive a cool Mopar while I was building the cuda.

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The neighbor i sold the white Swinger to yanked out the /6 and put a roller 318 in it, with a four speed, drove it for a couple weeks and sold it to my other buddy who hopefully will do some big things to it like he has on everything else he owns.
 
Had a 68 satelite and loved the slant six. Bought it for $600 in 81 and drove it for 12 years. A bodies started with a 67 Valiant for my wife. this is about 1987. Have a had a 66 dart, 69 dart, 76 volare wagon. Been driving my 68 valiant for 7 years and last year picked up the 63 for my daughter. Love to have a valiant wagon for kids and gear.
 
Sussmad said:
Had a 68 satelite and loved the slant six. Bought it for $600 in 81 and drove it for 12 years. A bodies started with a 67 Valiant for my wife. this is about 1987. Have a had a 66 dart, 69 dart, 76 volare wagon. Been driving my 68 valiant for 7 years and last year picked up the 63 for my daughter. Love to have a valiant wagon for kids and gear.
Click to expand...

So your daily drivers are A-Bodies? If so, good for you! That would be a real adventure, or step back in time, up here with all this snow.
 
Reading through all of the stories makes me realize how "new" to the game I am :lol: .
I grew up around Mopars, mostly vans at my dad's business. One uncle had a metallic green Demon that I just barely remember.
Another uncle had a 78 dodge tradesman that he ordered new. The van was B5 with a 440 in it, crager SS wheels, and blue velvet interior...bow chicka wow wow. Even my older brother owned a couple of road runners from the 73-74 era.

My brother was dating a girl that lived over by Bradenton and after one of his return trips from visiting her, he walked up to me and said, I found the car that you need to buy... I was 15 at the time but hadn't really started thinking about a car, but when he showed me a picture of a maroon 75 duster with chrome wheels... it was mine. The summers and spring breaks of getting paid for working around the shop had given me just enough for the $1200 price tag ( in early 1981 ). It was a /6 904 but I installed some kickin tunes and tinted the windows before I even had my license. I loved that car. So many good times, but 2 wrecks later it couldn't be saved.
A couple of years later I picked up a 73 with a strong v8, so strong in fact that I couldn't keep up with drive train repairs ( trans, rear end, and multiple broken U-joints ) and sold it to keep code enforcement at bay.
After years of straying, I needed to replace my daily driver for something better, so I decided to look into getting another Duster.
The rational that I used was that I could spend $4000-$5000 for a used POS civic or accord or yadda yadda yadda...OR spend the same amount on something that I wanted.
I found a 73 Duster in need of some attention. Had I really known what I was getting into I probably wouldn't have bought it. That was almost 4 yrs ago.
18 months, countless hours, tedious body work, new quarter panels and umpteen million mods later I have a freaking awesome daily driver ( at least I think so ) :)
 
Ah yes, my first love. Being a student at the time, with part-time employment, I was looking for some basic transportation to replace my money-pit, POS 80 Horizon. I ended up at one of those "we give anyone money at exhorbitant rates" places, and they said I was good for $2500. So I looked around for something reliable, but as fate would have it, I passed a 68 FB Barracuda for sale on the highway to my parent's cabin. Asking price was 2300, so I gave the fellow a $100 to hold it. Unfortunately, the finance company was not to keen on giving me money for an "old" car. Fortunately though, my ex's dad towed wrecks for the insurance auctions, and had an 83 Colt writeoff sitting in his driveway. I gave the finance company the VIN, told them it was getting a new windshield so I couldn't bring it by right away for inspection, and they gave me a cheque. Of course, I bought the 68. A year and a half later, while making a payment, the fellow says to me "Hey, I notice that we haven't seen that Colt yet. I tell him, "yeah, after driving it for six months, the engine died, but I was able to trade it for something running" Of course this is a no-no, so he wanted to see it for sure. I took him outside, around the corner (of course), and said this is what I got for it. He must of been a car guy, because he told me I made a great trade lol.

Grant
 
hemied said:
So your daily drivers are A-Bodies? If so, good for you! That would be a real adventure, or step back in time, up here with all this snow.
Click to expand...
Yes; I have driven them to the ground and then sell them. Only junked the Volare (didn't know if this sight existed then probably not] I love them. The 63 we try to keep out of the salt and snow since it is still rather clean. The 68 is getting ragged in the lower quarters and lower front fenders and has been off the road since my son is in college. I'm at cross-roads with it tryiing to decide to repair or sell. It is a 2-door. I drive my son's 95 gulp Toyota Camary in bad weather. It is a good car but parts are expensive and they do go eventually. My wife has a Honda- Pilot-5 kids. She likes early Barracuda's but just wants to get from point A to B then C-D you get the picture. Best
 
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