Impulse bought a 59 Desoto!

[jayzee]

Hey all,

I am new to Mopars. I am a vintage Buick owner/collector since 2008 out of high school, but always wanted a Mopar. I found a very rare 1959 Desoto Firedome 4dr sedan being sold by the second owner. It came with all the factory documentation, and it was dirt cheap! It is going to need a frame off restoration and I will be roaming around learning about these neat rides as things progress.

 

[Hey-O]

Welcome from the show me state!!!

 

[polywideblock]

g'day from Australia

 

[mr. b]

welcome to FBBO thats cool keep us posted

 

[Don Frelier]

Welcome.
A big project ahead.

 

[jayzee]

thank you guys. It needs a frame off restoration and many parts. I located a parts car for her. All the rust is down low not from salt or driving, but from sitting so close to the dirt for so long. The frame is solid, but a few floor braces are gone as well as the floors. Not to difficult to fix with so many patch panels repoped, but a big job none the less lol

 

[Ron H]

Always liked those later 50's Mopars. $4400 was A LOT of cash for a car back then...equivalent of near 39 grand in today's dollars. Go figure, average cost of a house in '59 was $12,400. Having done a rusted resto you got your work 'cut out' for ya pun intended; but sounds like you're up and able for the project. Good luck.

 

[Bb70charger500]

Very cool what kind of Buicks? I like the 46-48 sedanettes

 

[jayzee]

I have owned/own/restore(d) almost 10 Buick from 1958 to 1970. My favorite years is 50, 57, and 58. They are VERY different animals then this Desoto. For example where the Desoto has 2 screws holding the instrument panel in place, Buick used back braces 6 screws, and 3 bolts in 1959! The Desoto reminds me more of my 56 Chevy with the leaf springs and dash simplicity. Its really neat, but makes me think that MAYBE that had something to do with their demise in 1960-61

My current Buick is a 1970 Electra convertible with the hemi killer (coffee can piston size) 455 with 365ish hp and 510 ft lbs mated to the th400. It will lay rubber with new tires on that 5,000 lb car with the 2.93 posi Buick 12 bolt rear! For Sale!

My wifes 70,000 mile 1 family owned 69 Skylark is behind it. Bulletproof Buick 350 mated to the th350 and the most famous Buick rear.

My dream car is a 57-58 Roadmaster with a 400+hp nailhead behind a 200r4 with a 3.53ish gear ratio. Those nailheads are indestructible! In 1963 Buick engineers put a turbo on a 401 nailhead and it put out over 1000 ft lbs. They were thinking about making a turbo version, but there was no transmission that could handle the torque (even the TH400) so they canceled the project. The engine is in a museum now.

 

[68sprtsat383]

Welcome

 

[Budnicks]

welcome

 

[71charger_fan]

If you haven't already, you should join the Forward Look forum
http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/category-view.asp?showall=true

 

[Dennis H]

Welcome. Grandparents had a 59 Electra. The 62 Invicta they got paled by comparison.

 

[Ron H]

Some of the automotive design history of the mid-later 50's was truly incredible among the big-3 and extended through the 60's as they were on the hunt to out HP each other. The engineers must not have slept much. 1957 was a break out year with design changes for all...the radical changes in body style from '56 to '57...and everyone Ford, GM, and Chrysler broke out that year with lowered-sleeker body designs - all of them in the same year. All were distinctive; you couldn't mistake one from the other. As a car nut I could always identify the Mfg, year, and model - unlike today...is that a Honda, Toyota, or Hyundai...or even some USA model? Is that a 2009 or 2015? Maybe some youngster today knows like I did back when...

 

[threewood]

Welcome from SW AZ!

Great car. The late 50's body styles are beautiful. Good luck on the hunt for parts, can't be very common anymore.