di_ch_NY56 - 2012-10-14 9:19 AM Big congratulations to your effort and perfect work. Your Adventure is looking marvelous actually. I wish good luck for all work you have to do to finisih your wonderful Adventure. Do you start with the wiring harness, the heater system and the dahsbord soon? Happy Motoring! Dieter BTW: second sight: WOW, the windshield's mounted. I'm so happy to see the progress or your De Soto

raffaplymouth - 2012-10-13 7:23 PM

yes , i will start with restoring the heater box and dashboard  , need also reassembly the engine and trans

d500neil - 2012-10-14 8:06 PM Raffa, how do you keep the door handles from chipping the paint around them, when you install the handles? Two man job? Masking tape around the openings?

d500neil - 2012-10-18 9:28 AM Masking around the door handle openings can protect the paint from chipping or scratching when you are installing the door handles ("fishing" the handle and its mechanisms into and through the opening, and positioning them, and tightening them down). The handles enter the openings at an angle, and then have to be turned/rotated somewhat to seat them properly, and it is easy to move the handle's edges around, against the paint, in the process.

sidesho_bob1961 - 2012-10-18 9:54 PM I don't think he's asking about the outer headlite trim bezel. The picture is of the inner headlite buckets which actually holds the headlites, which I would think would be black.....

57desoto - 2012-10-20 10:03 PM I do believe they are a galvanized metal, not painted, as christine-lover says. They can't be seen once on the car, so it isn't a major issue.

raffaplymouth - 2012-10-20 3:15 PM



Bumpers ready to chrome redone ... i don't think this is the original bumpers or found from another car ... Lee Exline you know ??

roadkillontheweb - 2012-10-21 12:35 AM Here is a shot of it on the trailer the day it left my house.

57burb - 2012-10-18 9:49 PM I have seen '57 Adventurers both ways, although I do think they are supposed to be black according to the factory literature I recall seeing. The original press images show them body color. The original advertisement shows them black. Is there any evidence of what color they were originally? Most of the unrestored cars I've seen had them black, but restored cars are about half black and half body color. I think it's pretty evident that cars were built both ways.

earleebob1 - 2012-10-22 9:39 PM Hi Raffi --- join the club they are quite rare. I think most rusted away when they filled up with mud. I am going to fabricate a pair from sheet metal --- cant be that hard!!!? cheers Bob BTW love your work :)

raffaplymouth - 2012-10-23 5:51 AM

you speak for front bumperette ??

raffaplymouth - 2012-10-23 5:59 AM

Guys someone have email adress of GARYGOERS ?

raffaplymouth - 2012-10-22 1:33 PM

i dont see also the rear bumper  ,  Antonello Jelitro take me front and rear bumper .. is of your coupè ??

raffaplymouth - 2012-10-20 4:18 PM

Car cover look like too small

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FIN ME - 2012-10-23 4:22 PM That looks familiar, Raffey! I just obtained a really nice, very light weight cover for my DeSoto that fits well and doesn't trap water and moisture under it, if you need a link to where you can find a cover that fits. Just let me know. You're doing GREAT work! :)

57desoto - 2012-10-23 1:22 PM Raffaele, those front bumper guards are options, and only belong on your car if the cowl tag says so. NOT standard on Adventurers. Since you've gone this far trying to be as correct as possible on your car, I suggest leaving them off if they didn't come there. Look at the cowl tag and you'll know. Neil, we've had the headlight door discussion before -- I'm not aware of any 1957 DeSoto headlight doors being painted body color. The standard is black. HOWEVER, Wayne Graefen pointed out that SOME Adventurers built prior to February 1957 had argent painted headlight doors. Therefore, I guess it's possible that some Fireflites, for example, had them, too. For my money, I'd make them all black and know they are right.

Leadfoot1000 - 2012-10-23 6:12 AM Raffaele, I recommend you are very careful when selecting the door weatherstrip. I think you will be disappointed with the product supplied by the usual parts suppliers. Especially if you have already glued it in place and find out your door doesn't fit right. Try taping it in place first to check the fit of the door. I have a 57 New Yorker and the door fit was great before installing the "replacement" weatherstrip, now the doors do not fit tight at the bottom rear (see photo 1). The original door weatherstrip had 3 different profiles molded into one rubber strip (see photo 2), I'm sure the factory did this to allow the door to fit properly. But nobody that I can find makes the original style. I plan to replace mine with some for a late model car that has a similar profile, but is hollow (empty) inside so it can easily form to the different clearances between the door and jamb. Steve

roadkillontheweb - 2012-10-23 3:52 AM They did not come off of my coupe he must have picked them up somewhere else?

earleebob1 - 2012-10-22 11:52 PM yes the front ones

di_ch_NY56 - 2012-10-28 7:45 PM Hello Raffaele Big thank you for your latest picture. I like your convertible very much. It looks so wonderful like a star from the sky - or like a dream that will never become true for me. It's very hard now to imagine how your De Soto once looked when you saw it the first time and - I assume - thousands of hours you spent to rejuvenate this rare beauty. I with you very good luck for your further work. Happy Motoring! Dieter