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Regular
Posts: 59
| Bought myself a birthday present -- the 57 Fireflite is the new addition to the family.
(IMG_6226.jpg)
(IMG_6224.jpg)
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Attachments ---------------- IMG_6226.jpg (292KB - 220 downloads) IMG_6224.jpg (230KB - 226 downloads) IMG_6230.jpg (252KB - 229 downloads) IMG_6231.jpg (258KB - 241 downloads) IMG_6233.jpg (272KB - 237 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 1737
Location: Hay Lakes, Alberta, Canada | Wow-y!!! Nice birthday gift! Love it! |
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Regular
Posts: 59
| Thanks, Brad! |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7393
Location: northern germany | Nice! Happy birthday! |
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Regular
Posts: 59
| Danke! |
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Regular
Posts: 83
| My birthday is coming up-I'll run it past the wife.
Happy birthday! Beautiful car. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 649
Location: Finland | What a car-what a gift!
Black-white combo is stunning..
Ouch I had my birthday 11.04.....forgot to get myself a fireflite...hmm my firedome have to go on without company.. |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 13045
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | Sweet, a faboulus car, happy birthday!
Makes me wonder if the wife would like to have a gift of the same price range for her birthday |
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Expert
Posts: 1740
Location: Alaska | Beautiful Desoto. I had a 55 Studebaker President coupe like yours my senior year of school though not the fancier model. Blew the engine up graduation night and then bought my first Plymouth Fury. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9650
Location: So. Cal | Congratulations! I've always liked the black/white combo and I have a couple of them myself. Enjoy! |
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Location: The Mile High City | 57Fireflite - 2021-04-15 6:17 PM Bought myself a birthday present -- the 57 Fireflite is the new addition to the family. Ok, so you have excellent taste. This is established. A President Speedster all resplendent in Hialeah and Sun Valley? Very, very nice.
Edited by Lancer Mike 2021-04-16 7:58 PM
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Location: The Mile High City | Lookit where you live too...it looks like Awesomeville corner lot, flowers bloomin everywhere
Edited by Lancer Mike 2021-04-16 8:25 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1889
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Congrats!!!
My wife's birthday at April 15 also!!!
Might you post an engine bay picture and the cowl?
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Expert
Posts: 1889
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and the cowl TAG please? |
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Expert
Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | What a fortunate find. I only wish I could find a 1960 Fireflite 2HT in that condition.
Congrats!
Edited by Viper Guy 2021-04-17 8:07 PM
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Regular
Posts: 59
| MrIncredible - 2021-04-15 7:42 PM
My birthday is coming up-I'll run it past the wife.
Happy birthday! Beautiful car.
Thanks!
So.... how'd it go? |
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Regular
Posts: 59
| frwl - 2021-04-17 1:01 AM
.
and the cowl TAG please?
Sure thing... I'll see if I can get those in the next day or two.
Sorry for the late replies...! |
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Regular
Posts: 59
| Lancer Mike - 2021-04-16 4:52 PM
57Fireflite - 2021-04-15 6:17 PM Bought myself a birthday present -- the 57 Fireflite is the new addition to the family. Ok, so you have excellent taste. This is established. A President Speedster all resplendent in Hialeah and Sun Valley? Very, very nice.
Thanks, Mike! Rare to find someone who knows what it is, let alone the color scheme -- I appreciate it!
I've had the Speedster for 20 years; my first car project bringing it back from the brink of death; the DeSoto needs hardly anything but I'm putting my personal touches on it (not custom). |
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Regular
Posts: 59
| Yessir!
My life goal is to have a bunch of them... until then, the two I've got keep me poor but happy. |
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Regular
Posts: 59
| frwl - 2021-04-17 1:01 AM
.
and the cowl TAG please?
Here they are; those good at decoding will note that something is amiss...
(DeSoto_Engine_Bay.jpg)
(DeSoto_Cowl_Tag.jpg)
Attachments ---------------- DeSoto_Engine_Bay.jpg (475KB - 132 downloads) DeSoto_Cowl_Tag.jpg (494KB - 126 downloads)
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9899
Location: Lower Mainland BC | .
frwk (Igor) will no doubt fix you up with a decode. In the mean time, I would suggest that it wouldn't be the end of the world to remove that data tag and chemically strip the paint from it and then paint it with just one light coat, e.g. black, before reinstalling. There are so many layers of paint on there that details of BDY PNT and TRM are drowning in paint.
Speaking of paint, the original paint code looks like HLH which should be Fiesta Red and White (no Black)
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Expert
Posts: 1889
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James: Thanks for posting;
Dave: Thanks for reminding!
Upper Row:
SCH 147 = Scheduled on April 27, 1957 approximately
SEQ 160 = 60th car built that day
BDY 166 = Fireflite Sportsman 2 Door Hardtop
ST
PNT HLH = Originally Paint Fiesta Red roof, White body and Fiesta Red inserts
TRM 545 = Red Vinyl and Gray Westminster Tweed
TR (blanc) = Torqueflite Transmission as Standard Equipment
Middle Row:
AG2 =Accessory Group No. 2 includes:
Hand Brake Warning Signal
Heater and Defroster
White Side Wall Tires
Dual Exhaust
Electric Clock
Windshield Washer
Left Outside Rear View Mirror
Prismatic Mirror
Vanity Mirror
Safety Cushion Dash Panel
Rear Seat Speaker
Radio with Search Finder
Fireflite Accessory Group No. 1 has same optional equipment except Radio less Search Finder
PB9 = Power Brakes
PW5 = Power Windows
Lower Row:
A3 = Interior Trim Group (no info what exactly it is)
Sorry, but your car has not next equipment from the factory:
Front Bumper Guards
Rear Quarter Stone Shields
Power Seat
Air Conditioning
Undercoating
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Expert
Posts: 1889
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The trim code 545 chip:
(Trim Code 545.jpg)
Attachments ---------------- Trim Code 545.jpg (130KB - 130 downloads)
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 625
Location: Lubbock, TX | Lovely Desoto! Love the current color scheme even better than the original. Interior and engine bay look so nice and clean!
~Peter |
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Regular
Posts: 59
| 56D500boy - 2021-10-14 8:38 PM
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frwk (Igor ) will no doubt fix you up with a decode. In the mean time, I would suggest that it wouldn't be the end of the world to remove that data tag and chemically strip the paint from it and then paint it with just one light coat, e.g. black, before reinstalling. There are so many layers of paint on there that details of BDY PNT and TRM are drowning in paint.
Speaking of paint, the original paint code looks like HLH which should be Fiesta Red and White (no Black )
: )
Hey! Thanks for the paint codes AND the interior swatches (saved those for a maybe someday project) -- yessir, astute observation on color scheme. I am going to strip that body tag as you suggest -- tomorrow.
Thanks again!
Edited by 57Fireflite 2021-10-16 1:31 AM
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Regular
Posts: 59
| CaprockClassics - 2021-10-15 6:14 PM
Lovely Desoto! Love the current color scheme even better than the original. Interior and engine bay look so nice and clean!
~Peter
Thanks, Peter.
I'm fortunate to have found this gem...
I've been tinkering on it -- e.g., rebuilt the window switches, added sound deadening material to cabin, doors and trunk -- but next order of business is a leaking axle seal.
James |
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Regular
Posts: 59
| frwl - 2021-10-15 12:21 PM
:cool:
Thank you, Igor for the thorough decoding -- that's really cool and good to have on file!
Fortunately, I have a pretty good history (photos, receipts dating back to the 60s) on the car and it meant a lot to the original owner who named it Jezebel -- it was her pride and joy. It's a head turner and I look forward to driving it much, much more.
James
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Regular
Posts: 59
| Question for the group:
I have a Service Manual for it as well as a large parts book -- are there any other books I should have on it? The service manual seems a bit basic so anything more detailed for those of us new to ForwardLookers would be great to reference. Thanks! |
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Regular
Posts: 59
| Igor, everyone
I noticed there is no mention of power steering either included or excluded on the tag decoding.
Does this mean it’s likely it didn’t come with it? Current engine is from an S24 and has PS.
Parts manual shows a dual pulley set up, 1826 158 that looks a lot like the current set up…
Help appreciated! Thanks!
Jimbo |
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Expert
Posts: 1889
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Yes, you are absolutely right: there is no power steering option stamped on the ’57 DeSoto data plates;
The power steering presence can be viewed on the build card only – it has order code 338 (the power brakes have 339), as on the picture below: PS = 8, PB = 9:
(1.JPG)
Attachments ---------------- 1.JPG (94KB - 62 downloads)
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Regular
Posts: 59
| Holy cow. Didn't know there was such a thing! I'll go looking for one for my fireflite. thanks! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1157
Location: D-70199 Heslach | Jimbo,- the build card is available at Stellantis. They will make a copy for you if you pay a few $$ |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9899
Location: Lower Mainland BC | ToMopar - 2022-10-04 10:57 PM
Jimbo,- the build card is available at Stellantis. They will make a copy for you if you pay a few $$
Not even. Free now. But no letter. Just a pdf of the IBM card scan.
Email (or mail) Danielle with your car's VIN and proof of ownership (scan of your registration or ???)
Danielle Szostak-Viers
Historical Services
CIMS 410-11-21
12501 Chrysler Freeway
Detroit, MI 48288
danielle.szostak@stellantis.com
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | 57Fireflite - 2022-10-03 11:06 AM
I noticed there is no mention of power steering either included or excluded on the tag decoding.
Does this mean it’s likely it didn’t come with it?
Remember that the tag only shows optional equipment.
So if there is no specific option code on the tag for PS, that means one of three things: A) it's a model that has PS as standard equipment, B) PS is part of an accessory group listed elsewhere on the tag, or C) the car just wasn't built with PS.
Did Fireflites have PS as standard equipment? My New Yorker did, and I know that 300s and Adventurers did.
Edited by 57burb 2022-10-05 10:31 AM
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9899
Location: Lower Mainland BC | .
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Expert
Posts: 1889
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(1.jpg)
Attachments ---------------- 1.jpg (142KB - 55 downloads)
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Regular
Posts: 59
| Very interesting, thanks guys.
Background on this situation—
Original engine is at the machine shop being assessed for rebuild; current engine [with PS] is from an S24 (and a spare distributor that came in the box o’ stuff x-references to an S24 Adventurer which I don’t yet understand) so I’m trying to figure out if it originally came with PS and if so, can I use the existing set-up (post#624667 in this thread)… so much yet to learn and figure out!
Appreciate all the help! |
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