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Dan's TRIBUTE Car PROJECT

NOTE:  None of the funds raised by Dan's Ride will be used in this endeavor.  The work is donated by the artist and body shop (see below).  Any remaining costs are being paid by the Dolan family.

The Car:  Dan's black 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi.  Purchased before Dan deployed to Iraq, with all intentions of driving the wheels off on his return.  This car was what he talked about, what he dreamed about, and one of the things he most looked forward to when he returns home.  As evident in this paragraph taken from a Stars and Stripes article from August 31, 2006, 4 days after the  attack in northwestern Baghdad that took the lives of Dan and another member of his platoon, CPL Kenneth Cross:

"Pfc. Daniel Dolan, 19, loved apple-flavored chewing tobacco and talked incessantly of his snowboarding exploits and what he described as “the only girlfriend I need”: his Subaru STi sports car."

The Project:  It's very common these days to see TV shows that focus on drastic renovations of houses, vehicles, and even people.  Shows like This Old House, Ultimate Makeover, Pimp My Ride, and Dr. 90210 all draw on the concept that people love to witness the before and after images that demonstrates with enough time, money, skill, and sometimes pain, anything can be transformed from beast to beauty.

Dan's Car is in the middle of a similar transformation, but with a very different concept.  This car was already an awesome vehicle to begin with.  A sporty Subaru STi that was expected to be used as a great, fun, and enjoyable, mode of transportation for a teenager to young adult from Roy, Utah.  But now, four and a half years after the car was purchased, and four years after the plans for the car were changed forever by a tragic loss and heroic sacrifice, it is being re-designed as a spectacular tribute to Dan and everyone that serves or has served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Artist:  U.S. Army SGT Jake Taylor knows only too well about service and sacrifice.  He received two Purple Heart's for injuries received during his tour in Iraq.  An extremely talented artist now residing in southeastern Idaho with his wife Jaime and 5 kids.  Now a close, personal friend of the Dolan family, he has taken on this project with a vision and perspective that only a veteran with his experiences and history could provide.  And even more amazing, Jake is donating his countless hours of labor and his incredible talent for a "brother in arms" and to make sure the fallen are not forgotten!

BODY WORK:  Preparation on the car include paintless dent repair that normally would have amounted to hundreds of dollars in labor costs.  Fortunately, Andy Clawson, Jake's cousin and the owner of Car Medic in southeastern Idaho, donated his valuable time and effort to this great project.

Car Unveiled:  As we stated earlier, seeing before and after images of spectacular makeover's is exciting.  Now that you have read about the car, learned about the artist, and understand the project, the only thing left to do is show you the car! 

If we had a drum roll, it would be here.

Click Here!