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Location: The Mile High City | We just returned from a Memorial Day weekend trip to Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills of South Dakota. It was a lot of fun. Here are a few shots of the DeSoto.
 (Mt Rushmore 2010 019.jpg)
 (Mt Rushmore 2010 020.jpg)
 (Mt Rushmore 2010 030.jpg)
 (Mt Rushmore 2010 031.jpg)
 (Mt Rushmore 2010 012.jpg)
 (Mt Rushmore 2010 014.jpg)
Attachments
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 Mt Rushmore 2010 019.jpg (188KB - 203 downloads)
Mt Rushmore 2010 020.jpg (118KB - 207 downloads)
Mt Rushmore 2010 030.jpg (101KB - 206 downloads)
Mt Rushmore 2010 031.jpg (133KB - 198 downloads)
Mt Rushmore 2010 012.jpg (157KB - 183 downloads)
Mt Rushmore 2010 014.jpg (197KB - 189 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 2612
Location: Parts Unknown |  Thanks for postin these !!! The car looks GREAT !!!!
AND YOU DRIVE IT ! ! ! ! WHOO ! ! ! 
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Location: The Mile High City | Thanks, B/G - you viewed those quick! I think your reply was up before I posted the last photo!
We had a great time. We saw Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, the Jewel Cave, Reptile Gardens, Story Book Island, and Dinosaur Mountain. The kids loved it. I washed the exterior of the DeSoto as soon as we arrived home. The interior is a mess though! With two little kids, well - it is just going to take a bit of time to clean it up. That's what they are made for. |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 13049
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | Totally stunning pictures Mike, that car in that place looks too cool!!! Thank's for sharing! |
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | Fabulous car, and great destination for a family trip! Thanks for sharing the pictures!! |
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Inactive by user's request
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada | Great destination and a great car for the trip.
Did Teddy say, "Bully!" when he saw that magnificent finned machine?
Just a bit of trivia. U.S. Highway 16, which passes not too far away from the park, used to stretch across Minnesota, Wisconsin, then cross Lake Michigan via car ferry to Michigan, then on to Detroit.
Now it only exists as a U.S. highway across part of South Dakota and to the eastern edge of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
K. |
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Location: The Mile High City | Thanks, guys! If you have ever seen North by Northwest, Mt. Rushmore provides the backdrop for some of the best suspense scenes. The Black Hills are a wealth of family-friendly places and things to do. It was a lot of fun to take the DeSoto up there and it is always a conversation starter! We met lots of very nice folks. |
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Location: Colorado | Fantastic Mike! You have a great car and you enjoy it with your family. It doesn't get any better than that!
Cheers! |
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Veteran
Posts: 279
Location: Los Angeles, CA | Excellent shots! Thanks for sharing! |
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Location: The Mile High City | Thanks, Mel and thanks, Ray.
Ray, good to hear from you! It has been a while. How are you and your Plymouth? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1107
Location: Arvada, Colorado (NW Denver Metro Area) | Mike, you did bring your family with you didn't you??? Or was it just you and your De Soto for a romantic get away?? try to include them in your pictures like last year at Yellowstone. LOL
You did not post any Mechanical Horror stories, so it must have done well! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 452
Location: Southern California | Great pics Mike! Your car looks stunning under those presidential faces. Great place to find yourself on Memorial Day!
PS: We were at Teddy Roosevelts home at Oyster Bay, Long Island, called Sagamore Hill the same day, minus the Beast!
Edited by Gidman 2010-06-08 1:23 PM
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Location: The Mile High City | 1959 Belvedere Conv - 2010-06-07 10:19 PM
Mike, you did bring your family with you didn't you??? Or was it just you and your De Soto for a romantic get away?? try to include them in your pictures like last year at Yellowstone. LOL
You did not post any Mechanical Horror stories, so it must have done well!
Ha! Yes, the wife and kids were along for the trip! We have tons of photos of the family and the sights, but I had to sneak away to snap these photos with you guys in mind. My only beef with the family is that they don't like driving with the top down as much as I do! Usually, when I go on these trips, I never want the top up - but the tide of wind complaints always catches up with me.
No major mechanical horror stories, thank goodness! It was missing just a bit and backfiring through the tail pipes, but Tony is going to sort that out next week.
I got lucky this time because I left my usual big trip road repair kit behind. I just had a small set of Craftsman tools and a full safety gas can in the trunk. |
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Location: The Mile High City | Gidman - 2010-06-08 11:19 AM
Great pics Mike! Your car looks stunning under those presidential faces. Great place to find yourself on Memorial Day!
PS: We were at Teddy Roosevelts home at Oyster Bay, Long Island, called Sagamore Hill the same day, minus the Beast!
Great to hear from you, Gid! It was a great trip! Among all of those attractions in the Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore is still the most majestic - so that's where I went to get a few shots of the Firedome solo. It is a funny coincidence you were at the Bull Moose's home that weekend! I bet that was a real treat! He was truly a great American! My understanding is that he sneaked his way on to Mt. Rushmore because he was the sculptor's favorite President. If I were doing the work today, it would be a tough choice between Jackson, TR, and maybe Eisenhower - mainly because of his WWII leadership.
How's your Firedome doing? The last I heard it was temporarily sidelined. Do you ever take an out-of-town trip with it, or just stick to the around-town drives? |
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Location: The Mile High City | Kenny J. - 2010-06-02 10:23 AM
Now it only exists as a U.S. highway across part of South Dakota and to the eastern edge of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
K.
Hi, Kenny - I did not know that about US 16! Wouldn't that be a fun trip - from Rushmore to Yellowstone! You would need at least two weeks to do it right, though. There is so much to see at both destinations and places inbetween too.
I am trying to convince the family to take the DeSoto to Yosemite in California next year... |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 452
Location: Southern California |
I finally had my booster rebuilt and it's stopping fine now, thanks for asking! We've been doing some nice evening drives in the lower desert here. Out around Joshua Tree National Monument, a couple of hours away. Sometimes she has a tendency to steer real loose. From what I understand the bushing at the end of the steering column needs replacement. |
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Veteran
Posts: 111
Location: Aurora, Co | Howdy Lancer Mike. I met you in Sept at the Sonic Cruise in Aurora. Recognized the Car. SWEEEET!
Your trip to Mt. Rushmore brought back memories of my last Trip in Deligihtful Delores Desoto. Sidelined by Trans & Stuck Lifter Problems, I have not driven her since. The Year was 2002 & the reason, other than a place to go, was the Desoto Owners Convention in Rapid City, SD.
I have owned the car since 1996. I spent all my time on the Brakes, Suspension, Tires & Electrical. I drove around town for a couple of years & then it was motor time. She only had 78K Miles but the Cam no longer had bumps & the Cylinders were egg shaped. A motor rebuild & recommissioning took over a year. I got her back together & rewired just in time for the Rapid City Trip.
It was the 1st time I had driven her any distance & I was a little apprehensive. It was June & of course no A/C. We experienced the wonder of Flow Through Ventilation. Hood Scoop, Frount & Rear Wind Wings open. Quiet as a ghost & comfortable. So comfortable my wife fell asleep & my son was playing a game on his Laptop.
After leaving the Metro Denver Area, the highway speeds are 80 to 85. We crusied along with the traffic & enjoyed the puzzled looks as we passed people in their SUVs.
Once you get to the Northern border of Colorado & cross over to Wyoming there's no Speed Limits. I took the oppertunity to "let her out". After about 15 minutes at 100MPH my wife woke up & asked how fast we were going. I said "100". She said, "Doesn't feel like it at all. Slow down anyway." Well, I did but we hit the Century Mark 3 more times on the trip & she, the car, never even broke a sweat. She, my wife, came to enjoy the experience.
The Event was a real eye opener. My 1st at a Classic Car show. 85 Desotos from 1928 to 1961 showed up. All Body off 75K Restorations. My car was rusty & unpainted. They created a class for me & 2 others, the Diamond in the Rough class. The Regulars at these shows were absolutely stunning. I felt like the poor Church Mouse.
As a group we visited the Mt Rushmore, Crazy Hourse & Mt Rushmore Carvern. We also toured several "Antique Car Salvage Yards" while we were there. THe East Coasters were floored by the Rust Free condition of the cars in the yards. Oh Yeah, Wall Drugs, "Free Ice Water at Wall Drug", was another point of interest.
We returned by a different route & saw Devils Tower. More tme in Wyoming encouraged a few more Speed Runs & then it was time to go home. 8 days out & not a single sputter or hard start. A stop at several gas stations showed 16 / 17 MPG at 85. My neighbors Suburban couldn't match that.
When we got back I had to do a long series of Business Trips; then it was Winter; then more travel & the next thing I knew it had been over a year since I had driven Delores. Late in the Spring of 04 I decide to get her rolling again. I cranked her up & she started, Faithful as a Lab. Then, a terrible clanking from the back driver side Cylinder Head. Stuck Cam Follower, but it was the same thing that happened just before the Cam got smooth. Then I discovered the Powerflight was stuck in Neutral. The same problem I had right after I bought her. That cost 1,600 & took 2 weeks. I see Rock Auto has many of the Trans Parts we couldn't find at the time.
I'm afraid I allowed my Practical Pig side let me bury my head in the sand & I went back to work. Work continued to expand until there was no time or energy to tackle what could be serious troubles in the Engine Bay. Now things have slowed down a bit & retirement is not so far away. I want to make a seriuos effort at getting Delightful Delores Desoto running again. I'm working out of the house now & can actually devote time to the project.
I include here some pics of my Delores Desoto in Rapid City & at Rushmore, no where near as fine as Lancer Mikes 59, But she has good bones. I plan to get her running again & then consider my next step. I am leaning towards a Resto-Rod approach as I was put off by the "just like it rolled off the Show Room Floor" crowd. I just want something cool to drive not a Hanger Queen. I don't mind if it's not "Period Proper" to put a Holly 4 BBL & Dual Exhaust on her.
THanks Mike for the ref to Forward Look.Net. I hope to learn a lot from you guys.
Colorado Firedome
1956 Desoto Firedome. 4 dr Sedan.
"Holy Moly, You could live in the Back Seat! I've had apartments smaller than that."
 (1Delores Desoto.JPG)
 (2Mount Rushmore Parking Lot.JPG)
 (3Queing Up for the Drive.JPG)
 (Crazy Horse Monument.JPG)
Attachments
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1Delores Desoto.JPG (243KB - 193 downloads)
2Mount Rushmore Parking Lot.JPG (249KB - 187 downloads)
3Queing Up for the Drive.JPG (249KB - 186 downloads)
Crazy Horse Monument.JPG (231KB - 184 downloads)
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1107
Location: Arvada, Colorado (NW Denver Metro Area) | Wow! Mike barely spent any time at the Sonic/ Aurora show....
Nice car Colorado Firedome! Looks like a dream to drive! Hope to see more of it his fall and into 2011 around the Denver area. |
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Veteran
Posts: 111
Location: Aurora, Co | THanks Belv. I wish it was running again, it was a gas to drive. |
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Location: The Mile High City | Fantastic, Robert! I was hoping you would join and post! What a great DeSoto! Great pictures too. Crazy Horse looks pretty much the same  Makes you wonder if it will ever be done!
Your '56 looks like it is in pretty good shape in the photos. I hope you can get it running again - it does look like a lot of fun. I am not the most technically proficient, but John knows his way around all the mechanical stuff.
As you probably know, I had some strange experiences at Sonic - but your post makes it all worthwhile! |
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Veteran
Posts: 111
Location: Aurora, Co | THanks Mike. Your Convert spured me into action. It was a gas to drive & I'm looking forward to getting her on the road again this Fall/Winter.
I got the old girl running this week end but the weather shut me down. Wallowing in the snow while bad gas runs down your arm is not the best enviornment.
I had a bit of trouble getting her to light up but all of a sudden there she was. THe current problems are listed in the Engine & Fuel Forum. (Unhappy Sounds in the Valley) Once that is under control it's the Trans. I can get a little motion in D but nothing in R.
1st the motor then the Trans, then the Paint & Body then the Interior. |
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Veteran
Posts: 111
Location: Aurora, Co | THanks. I'm struggling to reawaken the dreamer. (a request for help in the Engine & Fuel Thread)
Suspension Bushings, Springs & Shocks were replace in 2001. Motor was rebuilt that winter & the wiring loom was replaced then as well. Previously, I had replaced a rear Axle Seal (dumped Axle Oil all over the rear brake drum) I also had the MAster Cylinder & all Wheel Cylinders sleeved by White Post in VA that winter. She stops in a hurry, if I an only get her moving again. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1107
Location: Arvada, Colorado (NW Denver Metro Area) | Bob turned me down today at the Richards place for $650 to take the problem off his hands...But noooooo! He declined with a chuckle! LOL
Good meeting you to day Robert! Hope to see your car in the spring cruising around Denver! |
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Expert
Posts: 2596
Location: Upplands Väsby, Sweden | Thanks for nice pics at trip. Looks great |
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