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Expert
Posts: 2244
Location: Yorba Linda, Ca | I sent this as a personal email to a friend of mine, here in the Forward Look Forums.
I think some of you other folks might enjoy the story of my 1957 Desoto Firesweep,
It shows how a 19 year old kid, (Me) thought about Forward Look Cars", back in 1961!
So, Here is "The Rest of the Story"
Hi, Tom.
As you have a "Keen Interest", in my 1964 Dodge, Polara 500, Here is the total history of the car.
First we will tell You about the car I sold when I bought the 1964 Dodge NEW!(I know You are a Desoto Fan).
From 1960 until March of 1964, I owned a 1957 Desoto Firesweep.It was a 4 door sedan that my parents
bought for me, after I graduated from High school.
The car had the 326 Poly engine and the 2 speed "Powerflite transmission"
The engine smoked very badly and the engine used a lot of oil. I had to add a lot of Bardahl
(an oil thickener) to keep it from smoking! I drove the car that way for about a year.
Then in 1961, I bought a 413 engine and a torqueflite transmission from a junkyard.
The engine and transmission were from a wrecked 1959 Chrysler New Yorker.
I think I paid the junkyard $600. I had the engine and the transmission installed in the 1957 Desoto.
The car was then very fast, and one night a 1957 Desoto Adventurer challenged me to a race at a red stop light.
I thought about letting the Adventurer beat me, as the Adventurer was beautiful with the gold hub caps.
But you know, back in 1961, I was a dumb 19 year old kid, so I stepped on the gas and beat him easily!
The 1957 Desoto Firesweep that I had was probably one of the finest around.
I spent all my money back then, fixing up the car. Perfect red & white paint job,
Best Tuck & Roll interior money could buy, expensive heavy red carpeting, etc etc.
I even had the kick panels replaced with steel chrome plated ones, Chrome reversed wheels.
The car originally had the 5 pushbutton radio, but I went to a local Desoto Dealer and they had
the 7 button search radio up on a display shelf, It cost $60, so I bought it.
I liked that car, especially with the 413 engine. Very reliable, as was the transmission,
(even though I raced it many times).
I'm enclosing some pictures as I know you like Desotos, and I still do too.
Also some Desoto links that I have posted on Youtube.
I still miss that Desoto, so why did I sell it?
I will tell you all about that and the 1964 Dodge in my next email to you.
This email is already long enough.
Gary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISDRP0_2Pl0&t=0s&list=LLi8K5PCQit9rt...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbyuxQ7Q8vA&list=LLi8K5PCQit9rtvv6gB...
I redid the interior as you can see, as everybody called the car "The Berber Shop"
(No accounting for 19 year old taste, back then)
forward
Edited by 1959Dodge 2019-01-03 4:06 PM
(1957 Desoto Firesweep left side with new Interior 800.jpg)
(1957 Desoto Barber Shop smaller file size.jpg)
Attachments ---------------- 1957 Desoto Firesweep left side with new Interior 800.jpg (432KB - 246 downloads) 1957 Desoto Barber Shop smaller file size.jpg (389KB - 249 downloads)
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 466
Location: Southwest VA | Thanks for sharing your story. It was definitely a beautiful car. I can see why you were so proud to drive it. Especially with the extra get up and go that transplanted 413 provided! | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1159
Location: D-70199 Heslach | Gary,
it was a great pleasure to read your story here on the forum and also by email.
Its a testimony of someone who has been part in the great time
By the way, I like Desotos, but I like Dodges too (I own two)
Edited by ToMopar 2019-01-04 2:51 AM
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | That is a really awesome mild custom Firesweep.
More people should try this style of build with four doors. That's a lot of fun on a budget. And I bet it was a screamer with that 413.
My dad's best friend had a '57 Savoy 2dr sedan as his first car. He crudely put a 300D 392 in it, and connected it to the 3spd manual. He said it was a little quicker than a 383 Road Runner, not quite as quick as a 440 one. Tires and shifting held it back. | |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 13049
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | Thanks' for sharing Gary, the '57 turtleback looks really nice! | |
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