formerly drawn 1956 De Soto Fireflite Sportsman spotted
di_ch_NY56
Posted 2019-02-23 8:42 AM (#578547)
Subject: formerly drawn 1956 De Soto Fireflite Sportsman spotted



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Location: ZH, Switzerland

It's not mine. This De Soto belongs to a friend. He showed it to me.

The history of this De Soto is, that it was under water for five years. The owner and his mechanic let out 9 quarts of water and 8 oz of engine oil out of the oil pan. Of course the engine didn't turn over (very different than the seller said...). The owner and his mechanic managed to free the engine. It runs under it's own power again. The mechanic was eager... all electric motors, switches and so on are working again.

Other than the seller promised, the car is not complete. This is the reason he showed me his newest baby to ask for help. I put this car on this forum to show it to you, folks to ask for help (sources, left over parts).

Happy Restoring!

Dieter





(IMG_5619_De Soto on the car lift at Emils.JPG)



(IMG_5611_De Soto front floor.JPG)



(IMG_5612_De Soto rear foot floor.JPG)



(IMG_5614_De Soto trunk embleme gone - missing.JPG)



(IMG_5613_De Soto C pillar emblem missing.JPG)



(IMG_5616_De Soto front emblem missing.JPG)



(IMG_5615_De Soto grille surrounding missing.JPG)



(IMG_5617_De Soto front passenger side chrome trim missing.JPG)



(IMG_5618_De Soto front drivers side chrome trim present.JPG)



(IMG_5620_De Soto steering shaft nut broken while removing the steering wheel.JPG)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments IMG_5619_De Soto on the car lift at Emils.JPG (177KB - 178 downloads)
Attachments IMG_5611_De Soto front floor.JPG (186KB - 176 downloads)
Attachments IMG_5612_De Soto rear foot floor.JPG (181KB - 174 downloads)
Attachments IMG_5614_De Soto trunk embleme gone - missing.JPG (125KB - 170 downloads)
Attachments IMG_5613_De Soto C pillar emblem missing.JPG (158KB - 172 downloads)
Attachments IMG_5616_De Soto front emblem missing.JPG (123KB - 170 downloads)
Attachments IMG_5615_De Soto grille surrounding missing.JPG (222KB - 170 downloads)
Attachments IMG_5617_De Soto front passenger side chrome trim missing.JPG (113KB - 179 downloads)
Attachments IMG_5618_De Soto front drivers side chrome trim present.JPG (127KB - 179 downloads)
Attachments IMG_5620_De Soto steering shaft nut broken while removing the steering wheel.JPG (143KB - 172 downloads)
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wizard
Posted 2019-02-23 11:07 AM (#578549 - in reply to #578547)
Subject: Re: formerly drawn 1956 De Soto Fireflite Sportsman spotted



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Interesting, thanks' for sharing Dieter - under water where? Obviously not in salt water….
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Powerflite
Posted 2019-02-23 12:11 PM (#578551 - in reply to #578547)
Subject: Re: formerly drawn 1956 De Soto Fireflite Sportsman spotted



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John at BigM will be his best resource.
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Fireflite56
Posted 2019-02-23 4:39 PM (#578563 - in reply to #578551)
Subject: Re: formerly drawn 1956 De Soto Fireflite Sportsman spotted



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Dieter, I sent you a message. We have parts for sale and can also provide technical information about your friend's 1956 DeSoto. It looks like it may be an LA-built car from the photos.
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di_ch_NY56
Posted 2019-02-24 3:43 AM (#578577 - in reply to #578563)
Subject: Re: formerly drawn 1956 De Soto Fireflite Sportsman spotted



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Location: ZH, Switzerland

Fireflite56 - 2019-02-22 10:39 PM Dieter, I sent you a message. We have parts for sale and can also provide technical information about your friend's 1956 DeSoto. It looks like it may be an LA-built car from the photos.

Thank you very much David for your PM. I'll print it out to show it to my friend. 'til later, thanks

Dieter

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di_ch_NY56
Posted 2019-02-24 3:45 AM (#578578 - in reply to #578549)
Subject: Re: formerly drawn 1956 De Soto Fireflite Sportsman spotted



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Location: ZH, Switzerland

wizard - 2019-02-22 5:07 PM Interesting, thanks' for sharing Dieter - under water where? Obviously not in salt water….

Hi Sven

Thanks a lot for your answer. It's the car of Emil. I have to ask if he knows more about the history. I'm interested about the history as well. Because I assume it's a super rare car here in Switzerland.

Take care,

Dieter

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di_ch_NY56
Posted 2019-02-24 3:48 AM (#578579 - in reply to #578551)
Subject: Re: formerly drawn 1956 De Soto Fireflite Sportsman spotted



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Location: ZH, Switzerland

Powerflite - 2019-02-22 6:11 PM John at BigM will be his best resource.

I'll ask John as well. For sure it will become a wonderful car... The owner just elaborated if he could use a complete floor out of a Dodge. I told him I don't think so, because once I had the chance to see a 1956 Dodge next to my Beast. Compared to my Beast the Dodge looks like a midsized car. And the whole body/frame of the De Soto is identical to a 1956 Chrysler New Yorker, except the front end between the headlights.

Happy Restoring!

Dieter

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Old Ray
Posted 2019-02-24 7:47 AM (#578582 - in reply to #578547)
Subject: RE: formerly drawn 1956 De Soto Fireflite Sportsman spotted



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Just a small heads up, I had a shop in the 1970's and a buddy put his Dad's pickup in Lake Windermere during the winter, they left it until spring and then took it out.
It took me a week to get it going and they drove it for years afterwards, BUT they could never get the fishy mud smell out of the upholstery. I think new seat foam would be required.
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mikes2nd
Posted 2019-02-24 8:34 AM (#578583 - in reply to #578547)
Subject: Re: formerly drawn 1956 De Soto Fireflite Sportsman spotted


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Don't know how that car was under water for 5 year
, It should be in alot worse shape than that.
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di_ch_NY56
Posted 2019-03-10 2:40 PM (#579126 - in reply to #578547)
Subject: RE: formerly drawn 1956 De Soto Fireflite Sportsman spotted



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Location: ZH, Switzerland

I assume it was not full under water.. e.g. just up to the floor or a little bit more. But the owner addresses he drained about 9 quarts of water and some onces of engine oil...

The mechanic and the owner of the farmer shop (my Letter....) managed to let the engine run again - it was frozen (I guess, just the piston rings).

Happy Restoring!

Dieter

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