EXHIBIT 99.1


DATE:  April 18, 2005

FROM:
DURA Automotive Systems, Inc.
2791 Research Drive
Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309

Keith Marchiando (248) 299-7500


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                 DURA AUTOMOTIVE ANNOUNCES DIRECTOR APPOINTMENTS

         ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., April 18 - DURA Automotive Systems, Inc.
(Nasdaq: DRRA), announced today that the company's board of directors has
elected Walter P. Czarnecki and Nick G. Preda to fill two vacant positions. With
these additions, DURA's board now consists of nine members.

         Walter Czarnecki currently serves as executive vice president of Penske
Corporation, a transportation services company, and has held this position for
the past five years. His history with Penske dates back to 1970, and his service
with the company includes the following: general manager of a Southfield, Mich.
Chevrolet dealership, vice chairman of Penske Speedways, and manager of Penske
retail automotive and motorsports entertainment subsidiaries. He is currently on
the board of Penske Corporation and various subsidiaries of the company. In
addition, Czarnecki previously served as a director of Detroit Diesel
Corporation and International Speedway Corporation.

         Nick Preda is currently president of Nick G. Preda & Associates,
L.L.C., a financial consulting services company. Prior to this, Preda was a
principal at the operational and financial consulting firm BBK, Ltd., where he
counseled the company's automotive and manufacturing client base. Preda was also
an executive vice president at Bank One, N.A., where he focused on the financial
institution's major corporate domestic clients.

         "It is with great pleasure that the members of DURA's board of
directors and management team welcome Walter and Nick to the board," said Scott
Rued, chairman, DURA Automotive.







         "Their automotive and financial backgrounds, leadership capacity, and
insight will be of great benefit to DURA shareholders and employees alike,"
added Larry Denton, president and chief executive officer, DURA Automotive. "I
look forward to their counsel and guidance."

         DURA Automotive Systems, Inc., is a leading independent designer and
manufacturer of driver control systems, seating control systems, glass systems,
engineered assemblies, structural door modules and exterior trim systems for the
global automotive, and recreation and specialty vehicle industries. DURA sells
its products to every major North American, Asian and European automotive
original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and many leading Tier 1 automotive
suppliers. DURA is headquartered in Rochester Hills, Mich. Information about
DURA and its products is available on the Internet at www.duraauto.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks
and uncertainties. These statements often include words such as "believe,"
"expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," or similar expressions.
These statements are based on certain assumptions that the company has made in
light of its experience in the industry as well as its perspective of historical
trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it
believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Actual results may differ
materially from the anticipated results because of certain risks and
uncertainties, including but not limited to (i) expected synergies, economies of
scale and cost savings from the company's acquisitions not being fully realized
or realized within the expected times frames; (ii) unanticipated difficulties
servicing the indebtedness of the company; (iii) costs or operational
difficulties related to integrating the operations of the acquired entities with
those of the company being greater than expected; (iv) labor disputes involving
the company or its significant customers; (v) risks associated with conducting
business in foreign countries, and (vi) general economic or business conditions
affecting the automotive industry, either nationally or regionally, being less
favorable than expected.


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