Picked my new ride yesterday. Relatively clean driver. Needs a few things but most importantly, IT DRIVES!
Rare car, nice find. Surprised when I saw the photo because I saw one EXACTLY (4 door hardtop, black) like it at a car show in Redding, CA today. What are the odds. Have fun!
It looks so clean! It's quirky but cool, that'll be a unique cruiser... Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
"Relatively clean driver" Understatement of the week award goes to you. "It's delovely, it's dynamic, it's DeSoto." The fins on that beauty would make a shark envious. Nice score, Dale Cleveland OH
It needs steering parts. All of them. More than likely some small custom touches, roof paint, stuff like that. That's pretty crazy! Something like 2,000 manufactured. Be even cleaner once I wash it! The amount of dust is crazy. Thanks guys! I'm pretty excited about it.
Love the DeSoto, great find, you will get much attention at the cruise in. You will be surprised at the number of older people who will have a story about a family member with a DeSoto.
Nice! Definately not a "belly button" car by any means, plus a nearly bullet proof drivetrain. If only the bodies had held up as well. Just enough of an orphan that if you took off the nameplates 90% of people would believe you if you told them that it was a one-off custon! Just realized what strong 58-59-60 Lincoln vibe the front of this car has. I can imagine the Chrysler designers having to add the upper grille just to keep Ford's lawyers happy! And are those Lincoln wheelcovers?
You can go with later disc spindles, especially if you're doing a bunch of front end work. Just watch the distance between A Arm mounts. The popular Aspen/Volare mounts was too close together for my '60 Plym. Since then I've sen a listing for ball joints(Mopar Performance?) that have 1" or 1/2" extensions that I asume would compensate for closer mount. One drawback of the Forwardlook site is there are purists there that advocate even keeping the fruit jar master Cyls!
There is nothing wrong with the fruit jar master cyl's. They ran them for years and I still do.The next thing someone is going to say is, "Get rid of the drum brakes".
Must be nice floating down the road. What was that, did I just hit a pothole? (Note; if you have to ask if you just ran over a pothole, and you ain't sure, then don't worry about it!)
Oh, she floats! I'm quickly learning that the bulk of this machines problems were from lack of use. It's more confident everyday I drive it. Ill have more pictures up soon, currently too busy burning up gasoline and tires. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
Knew of one 20 years ago. Really clean. The old woman that owned it was a home-bound hoarder, knew it was the last year for DeSoto, and let a 2 door hardtop rot to the ground. Yours is very nice.
What motor is in it, 360RB or 413 or something? Or is it a Poly of some sort? I have no idea what DeSotos used that late. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
Your story kind of depresses me but thank you, this one is quite nice. I believe it's in the 360s. 265HP I believe.
Nice It should have a 361 in it. You might find this page interesting. http://oldcarbrochures.org/index.php/NA/DeSoto/1961-DeSoto/1961-DeSoto-Brochure If I ever get a garage big enough I will have a Mopar Fin car someday.
At 16, I often stopped by the Desoto dealership to drool over this car. Looking at the window spec sheet, I remember seeing the "Hi-Performance" option (whatever that was) for an extra $45.00 Nice car!!
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