EXHIBIT 5.1

                         [KIRKLAND & ELLIS LETTERHEAD]

                                  May 22, 2002

Dura Operating Corp.
and each of the Guarantors
of the Exchange Notes
2791 Research Dr.
Rochester Hills, MI 48309

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-4

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We are issuing this opinion letter in our capacity as special legal
counsel to Dura Operating Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Issuer"), and each
of the other guarantors listed on Schedule A hereto (such guarantors are
hereinafter referred to as the "Guarantors" and the Guarantors, together with
the Issuer, are hereinafter referred to as the "Registrants"), in connection
with the proposed registration by the Issuer of $350,000,000 in aggregate
principal amount of the Issuer's 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2012, Series B (the
"Exchange Notes"), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") as of the date hereof,
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") (such Registration
Statement, as amended or supplemented, is hereinafter referred to as the
"Registration Statement").

         The obligations of the Issuer under the Exchange Notes will be
guaranteed by the Guarantors (the "Guarantees"). The Exchange Notes and the
Guarantees are to be issued pursuant to the Indenture (as supplemented, the
"Indenture"), dated as of April 18, 2002, among the Issuer, the Guarantors and
BNY Midwest Trust Company, as trustee. The Exchange Notes and the Guarantees are
to be issued in exchange for and in replacement of the Issuer's outstanding 8
5/8% Senior Notes due 2012 (the "Old Notes"), of which $350,000,000 in aggregate
principal amount is outstanding.

         In that connection, we have examined originals, or copies certified or
otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records
and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this
opinion, including (i) the Certificate of Incorporation, Articles of
Incorporation, Partnership Agreements, Operation Agreements and By-Laws of the
Registrants, (ii) minutes and records of the corporate proceedings of the
Registrants with respect to the issuance of the Exchange Notes and the
Guarantees, (iii) the Indenture, (iv) the Notation of Guaranty executed by the
Guarantors, as contemplated by Section 11.04 of the Indenture, (v) the
Registration Statement, and (vi) the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of
April 18, 2002, by and among the Registrants, Banc of America Securities LLC,
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Salomon Smith Barney Inc., Comerica Securities Inc.
and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.





         For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all
documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of all
documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the genuineness of the
signatures of persons signing all documents in connection with which this
opinion is rendered, the authority of such persons signing on behalf of the
parties thereto other than the Registrants and the due authorization, execution
and delivery of all documents by the parties thereto other than the Registrants.
As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein which we have not
independently established or verified, we have relied upon statements and
representations of officers and other representatives of the Registrants and
others.

         Our opinion expressed below is subject to the qualifications that we
express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of (i)
any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent
conveyance, moratorium or other similar law affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of
whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii)
public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain
certain remedies and (iv) any laws except the laws of the State of New York, the
laws of the State of Illinois, the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware and the federal laws of the United States of America.

         Based upon and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, exclusions
and limitations and the further limitations set forth below, we are of the
opinion that when (i) the Registration Statement becomes effective, (ii) the
Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, and (iii) the Exchange Notes and Guarantees have been duly executed and
authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and duly
delivered to the holders thereof in exchange for the Old Notes, the Exchange
Notes and the Guarantees will be validly issued and binding obligations of the
Registrants.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the commission as
Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to
our firm under the heading "Legal Matters" in the Registration Statement. In
giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and
regulations of the Commission.

         Our advise on every legal issue addressed in this letter is based
exclusively on the internal law of the State of New York, the internal law of
the State of Illinois, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or
the federal law of the United States, except that for purposes of our opinion
that the Exchange Notes and the Guarantees will be validly issued and binding
obligations of each of the Registrants, we have concluded the Indenture has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered and the Exchange Notes and Guarantees
have been duly authorized by each of the Registrants based solely on a review of
the applicable state corporate statutes of the States of Michigan (with respect
to Atwood Automotive Inc.), Indiana (with respect to Dura Automotive Systems of
Indiana, Inc. and Universal Tool & Stamping Company Inc.) and Tennessee (with
respect to Mark I Molded Plastics of Tennessee, Inc.), and, with respect to Dura
G.P., the Delaware Revised Uniform Partnership Act. We note that we are not
admitted to practice in the States of Michigan, Indiana and Tennessee and, as
such, our





conclusions as to due authorization, execution and delivery are based solely on
our review of the provisions of the above referenced state corporate statutes as
such statutes relate to the Registrants without regard to regulations
promulgated thereunder or any judicial interpretation thereof.

         This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no
opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. We
assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the present
laws of the States of New York or Delaware or the federal law of the United
States be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.

         This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the
Registration Statement and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise
relied upon for any other purpose.


                                   Sincerely,

                                   /s/ Kirkland & Ellis

                                   Kirkland & Ellis


                                   SCHEDULE A

Adwest Electronics, Inc.

Atwood Automotive Inc.

Atwood Mobile Products, Inc.

Dura Automotive Systems, Inc.

Dura Automotive Systems Cable Operations, Inc.

Dura Automotive Systems of Indiana, Inc.

Dura G.P.

Mark I Molded Plastics of Tennessee, Inc.

Universal Tool & Stamping Company Inc.