About 6 years ago I sold a really, really nice '58 Dodge Coronet. I loved that car and cursed it at the same time. Ever since she left me I've wanted another Forwardlook. I also loved the '61 Dodge and Chryslers and would occasionally check Dailylister, which does a nationwide Craigslist search. About 2 months ago I was searching and found a '61 Desoto about 2 hours from my house. I called the guy, who was pretty light on details and made it over to his shop two days later with cash. Here's what I bought.
Posted 2016-10-07 6:56 AM (#522829 - in reply to #522799) Subject: Re: 1961 Desoto
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610
Location: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Hey, thanks for the kinds words. I'm anxious to go through the car then spend more time behind the wheel. She didn't look this decent when I first saw her, but after getting her home, I spent about two weeks detailing, buffing, polishing and scrubbing every part.
Posted 2016-10-07 9:16 AM (#522831 - in reply to #522799) Subject: RE: 1961 Desoto
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1172
Location: Georgia
Great score, Chris! I've followed some of your acquisitions and trades over the years and you've had some neat cars. This DeSoto,
however, is tops! Looks like a good car.
I had a white over black '61 4-door just like this one a few years ago. A very nice, well-built car. Yours will look great with some
whitewalls. Keep us updated with your progress with her!
Pete
Posted 2016-10-07 9:17 AM (#522833 - in reply to #522799) Subject: Re: 1961 Desoto
Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 13055
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island
Great video - I didn't like the 61' DeSotos from the beginning, but lately they tend to grow on me.
That car is a great ride and it should be able to set the pace rather than follow it. The car should feel like a new modern car (next to it) on the road - if it doesn't, there's something that needs to be fixed
Posted 2016-10-07 12:14 PM (#522840 - in reply to #522833) Subject: Re: 1961 Desoto
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610
Location: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
wizard - 2016-10-07 9:17 AM
Great video - I didn't like the 61' DeSotos from the beginning, but lately they tend to grow on me.
That car is a great ride and it should be able to set the pace rather than follow it. The car should feel like a new modern car (next to it) on the road - if it doesn't, there's something that needs to be fixed
Wizard, thanks and it's ironic you said this. I was really surprised by how nice she drove. The ride is softer and it soaks up the bumps better then my '73 Imperial. She's also way more solid and tighter then I expected, and there wasn't any shimmies, shakes or weird vibrations. The seating position is more reclined and steering much more accurate then my old '58 Dodge. She drove much more modern then her age suggests and it was more like a car from the '70's. A real nice experience and it's got me excited to make her a reliable driver.
Posted 2016-10-07 12:18 PM (#522841 - in reply to #522831) Subject: RE: 1961 Desoto
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610
Location: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Great score, Chris! I've followed some of your acquisitions and trades over the years and you've had some neat cars. This DeSoto,
however, is tops! Looks like a good car.
I had a white over black '61 4-door just like this one a few years ago. A very nice, well-built car. Yours will look great with some
whitewalls. Keep us updated with your progress with her!
Pete
@SavoyPlaza
Pete, I appreciate it. When I sold the Dodge 6 years ago I would take that money and start buying and enjoying all of the different cars and trucks I've always wanted. Kinda like a bucket-list. I promised myself that I wouldn't make any of the cars a long-term love affair and I would rotate out each car after a year or so. This Desoto, even though it was high up on that bucket-list, will probably end up for sale in the future.
Posted 2016-10-07 4:19 PM (#522858 - in reply to #522841) Subject: RE: 1961 Desoto
Location: The Mile High City
Awesome, Chris! Now we need a updated image of your son behind the wheel of the De Soto! Kid is probably 7 or 8 by now! Congratulations, the '61 De Sotos are really something special.
Posted 2016-10-07 4:37 PM (#522860 - in reply to #522799) Subject: Re: 1961 Desoto
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610
Location: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Hey Mike, nice to hear from you. I enjoy reading your posts and prospective.
Yea, I like your idea of getting Nate behind the wheel of the Desoto. We'll have to do that in the next few days. Now that he's 14 it seems the only way to get ahold of him is through text!