As a young man growing up in Ontario, Canada, Marvin Kelso was a real go-getter. At the age of 20, he started a job as a welder at a local factory in Woodstock, Ontario and just two years later, he founded Marv’s Rad and Welding, his own company, in the same town.

Soon after, he increased his business by adding a speed shop. Marvin was a huge fan of both drag racing and souping up other people’s cars so it was just a natural decision. “I think it was one of the earliest speed and custom shops in Southwest Ontario,” adds Marvin.

One day Marvin was heading to Stratford, Ontario, when he noticed a 1969 Dodge D-100 Utiline pickup truck sitting on the used car lot at Kalbfleisch Brothers Chrysler, a local dealership. Marvin thought, “What a cool ride!” and decided to pull in and take a good look. He went inside and asked, “How much for the truck?” The salesman said, “$2,000.00, but it was sold, pending the customer getting financing for it.”

Marvin was disappointed when he left the dealership, but the salesman said if the sale did not go through, he would call him. Well, Monday rolled around, and Marvin got the call that the truck was his if he still wanted it which he did. The salesman told Marvin that the truck was owned by a fellow named Herb Berger, who purchased it, new from the dealership. In fact, this truck was never winter-driven, which saved the body from the effects of harsh Canadian winters, or even driven over 50 mph.

The D-100 only had 11,840 miles on the odometer. Herb had covered the original rubber floor mat with a cloth to protect it and still had the original parts tags on the rear end. The D-100 was without a doubt in outstanding condition.

The truck was equipped with a 225-cubic-inch Slant-6 and came equipped with a 3-speed manual transmission. Unfortunately, Herb had some health issues and therefore could no longer drive the standard transmission. So, the dealership offered to resell it for him. Once back home with Marvin, he would use the truck as a delivery vehicle for the radiator part of his business.

In 2004, Marvin purchased a 1972 Plymouth Duster, equipped with a 340, specifically to install into the D-100. From then on, he began customizing the truck, meticulously modifying every square inch until it transformed into what he calls, “One Bad 340.”

Marvin started with the truck’s body and disassembled everything on it. Being as it was rock solid, not a single panel was changed. Once he had the frame refinished, the front axle was moved slightly forward and custom-made brackets were utilized with QA1 front and rear shocks and adjustable traction bars.

Moving onto the body, it was painted in a custom “Black Cherry” and clear paint job done by Dave Wettlaufer. In the box, the original wood boards were removed and replaced with Brazilian cherry wood with chrome strips and a custom door to access the fuel tank and battery.

On the inside of the cab, Marvin had custom carpet and seat upholstery installed. The original headliner and dash cover were reused and Autometer gauges keep Marvin in the loop about what this bad boy is always doing under the hood. He also replaced all of the glass with tinted versions.

Under the hood, sits the 340 small block from the Duster. It was sent out to Atchison Machine Service in London, Ontario where it was machined .030 over and they installed K&B forged aluminum pistons, new cam bearings, freeze plugs and rings.

A Scat 416 package was used with ARP rod bolts and Clevite 77 bearings. Marvin used Edelbrock Performer RPM cylinder heads that were ported and ground to match the Edelbrock air gap manifold. It features COMP Cam Xtreme Energy hydraulic rollers and lifters with dual valve springs and a COMP camshaft. The rocker arms are from Hughes Engines, which are aluminum with a 1.6 ratio, along with Trend Performance push rods.

Marvin used B-Body TTI ceramic-coated headers with an “onebad340” emblem welded on. They flow into a custom X-pipe exhaust system.

To feed the 340, a 750-cfm Quick-Fuel carburetor was used along with a Holley electric fuel pump. Everything is fed from a custom 10-gallon aluminum fuel tank built by Terry’s Welding of Woodstock, Ontario. The little mag wheel on the air cleaner was given to him by his grandson Kyle for “good luck”.

Spark is provided by an MSD digital-6 ignition box with a matching distributor. Taylor brand plug wires keep the electricity flowing to the spark plugs. A custom radiator from Kydd Radiator in London, Ontario keeps the 340 cool and a March Performance polished pulley system is used and has an underdrive ratio to improve performance with a serpentine belt.

Backing the 340 is a 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission that Marvin rebuilt with high-performance clutches, a shift kit; B&M flex plate and an AD Markham 2800 stall torque converter. A B&M Magnum Street Bandit shifter with line lock and launch control helps for those launches.

The power transfers from the 727 through a custom built driveshaft into a built 8 ¾ rear differential fitted with 3.91 gears and an ARB air locker. Marvin installed Strange slotted disc brakes up front with four-piston calipers to slow the truck down. The rear drums were utilized, and believe it or not, they were turned for the first time.

The D100 rides on Billet Specialties wheels (18×8” up front and 20×9.5” out back) wrapped in Toyo Proxes tires (255/60R18 up front and 315/50R20 out back. When the truck sees track time, Marvin installs 15-inch Weld Draglite wheels with Hoosier 29×10.5” drag slicks.

Marvin tells us “Much of the fabrication and mechanical work was done by me. All of the blood, sweat, and tears really have paid off. My best time at the drag strip so far has been 11.45 at 116.25 mph.” The truck has won countless awards and trophies at various car shows and events and Marvin couldn’t be any prouder.

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