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Location: Iowa USA | I found out why Raffaele has not been posting on his progress lately.
He was in Iowa visiting me and one of the other past owners of his car.
After many un-answered calls I was concerned that Marilyn Schmidt was not going to be home but we made the trip to Ottumwa IA anyway just so Raffaele could check out the old stomping grounds of the Adventurer. When we arrived at Marilyn's house there was no answer at the door but then I noticed there was a fire burning in the fields behind the house were the horses are kept and there she was. We had a good opportunity to meet with her and ask questions and Marilyn was more than glad to share stories of when she owned the car and remembers the car fondly. You can see the passion in her eyes when she talks about the car, was the observation Raffaele's wife made after our visit.
We also visited with the great nephew of the guy that I bought the car from and got a little information from him.He said that the property had been cleared of cars and sold but we took a drive anyway. The red barn in the background of the photos is still standing and could be used as a reference point for were it once was but indeed all of the cars and most of the buildings were gone.
Marilyn also gave us a glimmer of hope that someday she may be able to get some vintage photos of the car back when Marilyn owned that her daughter is in possession of?
The first photo is of Raffaele his wife and son with Marilyn
The second adds the big guy (me) so three owners of the same car together (two past one current)
And the last photo is Raffaele in my 1960 Plymouth Fury JR body in case he was missing his full size 60 Fury at home.
They are on their way to Columbus for MoPar nationals now and then on to home. I am glad that the car is in his hands and receiving the care it so deserved!
Edited by roadkillontheweb 2013-08-06 6:19 PM
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Location: central Illinois | Lee, it's awesome that you're taking the time to do some foot work and help Raffi with the history of his now, historic Adventurer! This thread and this automobile will be referred to by future generations that think a car may be too far gone for a proper restoration. And how people of different backgrounds and cultures can be brought together by a common interest. |
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Location: Torino - Italy | I do not know how to describe the happiness and excitement of this wonderful day spent with LEE Exline that took me by Marylin he remembered perfectly all the details of adv,I saw his emotion in his eyes when he spoke of his adv, lee showed me also the possible areas in ottumwa where the car drives me also showed a big junkyard in the zone ... lee you are a great friend .. rather big friend!... thank you Lee
now much more 'desire to finish this work to see the adventurer finished at Marylin asap.. |
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Location: USA - KY | 
Glad to hear that you had such a great trip, Raffy!
It's wonderful that you got to meet Marilyn and Lee.
That Lee is one good egg!
BTW - your little boy is very cute!
Now get back to work!  
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Location: Iowa USA | Raffy, did you get that set of front bumper guards I told you about?
The seller contacted me today and said that he had sold the guards, hope you got them? |
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Location: Torino - Italy | roadkillontheweb - 2013-08-20 1:09 AM Raffy, did you get that set of front bumper guards I told you about? The seller contacted me today and said that he had sold the guards, hope you got them? hi Lee .. no i dont find at Mopar Nats .. only 60- 70s mopar parts ... you have good news ? |
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Location: Torino - Italy | Guys i need a advice ... im almost ready for install the dashboard ...im undecided connect the harness on the dash and istall...... or connect the harness after dash installed .. i think the first is better ...someone know ? |
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Location: D-70199 Heslach | Hi Raffael,
ask Torbjorn where you've bought the wire harness. He own a 58 DeSoto, and should know in which order is best.
Edited by ToMopar 2013-08-20 6:41 AM
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Location: Torino - Italy | ToMopar - 2013-08-20 12:40 PM Hi Raffael, ask Torbjorn where you've bought the wire harness. He own a 58 DeSoto, and should know in which order is best. Thanks Tom .. i have decided to install before |
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Location: Torino - Italy | the black cover is from ebay .. but i have modified for install ..  [/IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us [/IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us
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Location: Iowa USA | Looking fantastic!
Sorry I do not have good news on the bumper guards. I emailed the seller that was parting out the 57 on the Craigslist ad I sent to you and he told me he had already sold the bumper guards. I had hoped that he sold them to you?
Did you get that piece I sent home with you posted on the wall yet? |
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Location: Iowa USA | I posted an ad on Craigslist in SE Iowa looking for family of one of the past owners and in hopes that the story of the hubcaps that were hanging up in a barn or shed might be found and reunited with the car. The ad was a success in one manner. I have been discussing the car by email Cloyd Hagedon's son Larry and grandson Robert. They don't hold out a lot of hope for the caps being found but I am in hopes that they can share some more history of the car and possibly a photo or two?? It's a long shot, but nothing ventured, nothing gained! I have directed both of them to come to this thread and check the progress the car has made from when I found it until now. |
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| Hi Raffaele,
From what I am told, I used to own and drive this car.
If this indeed my old 57 Golden Anniversary Desoto Convertible, I do know a few things bout it.
Yes, it was originally white. It is my understanding that a bad boy wannbe from New York got the car from his parents, didn't like the color and had it repainted black.
In Fairfield Iowa, there was Parsons College where kids came to party, not study. This guy liked that idea and came to Fairfield to drink and chase women.
Somewhere along the line, he got in financial trouble and sold the car to a buddy of mine, probably for $500.00.
In due time, my buddy got short of funds and sold the car to me, again as I recall, for $500.00.
I drove it for a while, replaced the top once. The original top was a gold color, but I was not able to find gold canvas and so I used white.
All of the trim was gold plated.
The front end got bad, and I parked it in my grandmothers barn. planning on fixing it later. She sold the farm unexpectedly, my uncle had always planned to buy it. and the car was sold by the new owner of the farm for junk.
larry |
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| Sure wish I could have met you guys in Ottumwa, I don't live very far from there. I could have taken you to a private dump where some of the original trim may still be laying around. It was all gold plated, so could perhaps be easy to spot, tho I also looked for it one time years ago and didn't see anything then.
larry |
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Location: Iowa USA | larryhagedon - 2013-09-02 6:43 PM
Sure wish I could have met you guys in Ottumwa, I don't live very far from there. I could have taken you to a private dump where some of the original trim may still be laying around. It was all gold plated, so could perhaps be easy to spot, tho I also looked for it one time years ago and didn't see anything then.
larry
I had been attempting to find relatives of Cloyd's before our trip to Ottumwa with no luck. The ad I placed on Craigslist was the third time I placed it trying to find family and this time I struck gold! If you have read through this thread you will know that at one time you had a very special car in your hands! The only things that were gold plated were the hubcaps and the grille screen and some nameplates so if there is gold in the dump? It may be the hubcaps? Even if they are bad I think they should be returned to the car even if just for display purposes.
The title was in your dad's name when I got it transferred over, how old were you when you bought the car?
The car had a clock in the middle of the steering wheel that had gone missing over the years, was it still there when you had it?
I know it is a long shot, but if you could find any vintage photos of the car it would be very much appreciated and I would be glad to pay for copies!
Also any stories you could share form the time you owned the car would also be cherished.
Thanks
Lee
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Location: Torino - Italy | I can not believe this news .. if I understand correctly Larry are the son of the last owner?, or you were the owner and the car was registered to your dad? if you can get more information I would be happy .. what year was stopped this car ? |
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| My recollection is that all of the trim was gold plated. The car was called a Golden Anniversary Special, and hence the gold plated trim. New, this was not a cheap car.
I believe I purchased the car in 1963. It was before I was married. Both Robert Bennet and his wife and I and my wife started our honeymoons in the car. He owned it when he married Alice, and I, or my dad, owned it when I married JoElla.
I would have been 17, so perhaps I was too young to register the car in my name. My dad had to sign for me to get married, at 17. I, or my dad, owned the car then.
I probably parked the car in the barn in 1965 or 66. I had taken it in to an alignment shop, for their 25 dollar inspection. Of course then they told me, a gullible kid, that I needed a thousand dollars worth of repairs. So I parked it, assuming it was too dangerous to drive. Now, I am sure they were scamming me.
I have no recollection of a clock In the steering wheel, nor an empty space.
I still think the hub caps went to the auto scrap yard with the car.
My kids, and a niece, will all be looking for pics. They have tons of old family pics on their computers. If they find any, I will certainly email them to you.
By the by, I don't recognize the pics of the Schmidts as anyone I have ever seen before.
larry |
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Location: Iowa USA | Raffaele
Can you check the old titles for the car and see if my memory is failing me? I am pretty sure it went from Clark and Marlyn Schmidt to Cloyd Hagedon?
Larry
Since you said you used the car on your honeymoon this potentially improves the chance of their being a shot of the car in old photos albums. (excited)
Do you think there is any chance of Robert Bennet's family having any photos? Are they still in the area?
The car was not an anniversary edition but it was a limited production high performance special often called the Golden adventurer. It was definitely not a cheap car, you could have purchased a couple 1957 Chevrolets for what it cost new. The gold color top you talked about replacing was the original top and the carpet has gold flecking through it. The speedometer went to 150 instead of 120 that the other models had.
Needless to say, I am very glad to have found you and so very glad that you are willing to share your history of the car on this forum.
Thanks
Lee
Edited by roadkillontheweb 2013-09-03 9:51 PM
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Location: Torino - Italy | Conkey 4-4-1961
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Location: Torino - Italy | Schmitt 4-20-1962  [/IMG]
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Edited by raffaplymouth 2013-09-04 3:54 AM
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Location: Torino - Italy | Bennett 1-22-1964
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Location: Torino - Italy | Hagedon 4-9-1964
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Location: Torino - Italy | Hagedon 4-23-1964
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Location: Torino - Italy |
Hagedon 2-17-1965
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Location: Torino - Italy | Hagedon 3-31-1994
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Location: Torino - Italy | Lee Exline 1994
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Location: Torino - Italy | Guys .. sorry for incorrect rotation ... This is all Title in sequence from 1961 to 1994 |
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Location: Torino - Italy | larryhagedon - 2013-09-04 2:42 AM My recollection is that all of the trim was gold plated. The car was called a Golden Anniversary Special, and hence the gold plated trim. New, this was not a cheap car. I believe I purchased the car in 1963. It was before I was married. Both Robert Bennet and his wife and I and my wife started our honeymoons in the car. He owned it when he married Alice, and I, or my dad, owned it when I married JoElla. I would have been 17, so perhaps I was too young to register the car in my name. My dad had to sign for me to get married, at 17. I, or my dad, owned the car then. I probably parked the car in the barn in 1965 or 66. I had taken it in to an alignment shop, for their 25 dollar inspection. Of course then they told me, a gullible kid, that I needed a thousand dollars worth of repairs. So I parked it, assuming it was too dangerous to drive. Now, I am sure they were scamming me. I have no recollection of a clock In the steering wheel, nor an empty space. I still think the hub caps went to the auto scrap yard with the car. My kids, and a niece, will all be looking for pics. They have tons of old family pics on their computers. If they find any, I will certainly email them to you. By the by, I don't recognize the pics of the Schmidts as anyone I have ever seen before. larry Larry, I'm glad all this information, if you remember anything else please write down, for me it is very important !!! Thank you very much ! that problems had the front end? the engine was ok? in 1965 the car had rust ?? body damage ??... |
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Location: Torino - Italy | larryhagedon - 2013-09-04 2:42 AM My recollection is that all of the trim was gold plated. The car was called a Golden Anniversary Special, and hence the gold plated trim. New, this was not a cheap car. I believe I purchased the car in 1963. It was before I was married. Both Robert Bennet and his wife and I and my wife started our honeymoons in the car. He owned it when he married Alice, and I, or my dad, owned it when I married JoElla. I would have been 17, so perhaps I was too young to register the car in my name. My dad had to sign for me to get married, at 17. I, or my dad, owned the car then. I probably parked the car in the barn in 1965 or 66. I had taken it in to an alignment shop, for their 25 dollar inspection. Of course then they told me, a gullible kid, that I needed a thousand dollars worth of repairs. So I parked it, assuming it was too dangerous to drive. Now, I am sure they were scamming me. I have no recollection of a clock In the steering wheel, nor an empty space. I still think the hub caps went to the auto scrap yard with the car. My kids, and a niece, will all be looking for pics. They have tons of old family pics on their computers. If they find any, I will certainly email them to you. By the by, I don't recognize the pics of the Schmidts as anyone I have ever seen before. larry Lee and me have great hope that you or your parents find some photos! |
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Location: Iowa USA | So, my mind is slipping.
Indeed Bennett was in there between Schmidt and Hagedon.
When I bought the car I did a title search and found the car was still registered to Cloyd. I had a duplicate title made and had Cloyd sign it over to me in 1994.
Because of Larry's age at the time the car must have been titled to his father Cloyd?
It is great to have another piece of the puzzle of the cars history start to get filled in.
Thanks
Lee
Edited by roadkillontheweb 2013-09-04 5:04 AM
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Location: Iowa USA | Raffaele
When we visited Ottumwa together you wanted to visit some of the same roads that the Adventurer would have driven.
The street address of 903 W Williams St, Ottumwa, IA that is on the title for Bennett
We drove right past there. We went North on S.Ferry street and when it crossed W. Williams street the house was on the left. |
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Location: Iowa USA | When Howard Conkey owned the car it was registered to the TKE house (Tau Kappa Epsilon) fraternity on the Parsons college campus.
I wonder if we might have any luck tracking down other members of that fraternity that were there at the same time? |
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| Robert, (also known as Roy), Bennett, is deceased. His widow Alice is listed in the phone book as still living at the old house at 221 N Sheridan Ave, Ottumwa, 641-682-4105. Roy Bennett Jr is listed at 1401 N Wapello, Ottumwa, 641-814-4434.
Gotta be pics somewhere of both Robert and Alice, and myself and JoElla getting in the car at the church after our wedding ceremonies. Gotta be pics of the car all decorated up with old shoes and toilet paper.
I have had that car over 125 MPH on the highway.
Ah, OK,, I never verified that anniversary bit, Golden adventurer makes more sense. |
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| That address for Alice Bennett should be 229 N Sheridan. |
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Location: Torino - Italy | larryhagedon - 2013-09-04 6:00 PM Robert, (also known as Roy), Bennett, is deceased. His widow Alice is listed in the phone book as still living at the old house at 221 N Sheridan Ave, Ottumwa, 641-682-4105. Roy Bennett Jr is listed at 1401 N Wapello, Ottumwa, 641-814-4434. Gotta be pics somewhere of both Robert and Alice, and myself and JoElla getting in the car at the church after our wedding ceremonies. Gotta be pics of the car all decorated up with old shoes and toilet paper. I have had that car over 125 MPH on the highway. Ah, OK,, I never verified that anniversary bit, Golden adventurer makes more sense. i was there a month ago ... and I could not meet you Harry .. and even Alice and Roy Bennett junior .. pity ...what age 'has Alice? ... you have pictures of car decorated ?? wow ... |
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Location: Torino - Italy | Ottumwa trip
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Edited by raffaplymouth 2013-09-04 5:18 PM
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Location: Torino - Italy | <p>15 TH Batavia August 2013</p><p> </p><p> [/IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us</p>
Edited by raffaplymouth 2013-09-04 5:26 PM
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Location: Torino - Italy | 15th Batavia in 1994
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