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1958 DeSoto Driveaway
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59 explorer
Posted 2010-03-29 7:53 PM (#216293)
Subject: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway


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Location: Hershey PA		Reference has been made to the 1959 Driveaway where over 90% of the DeSoto Dealers came to Detroit to view the new DeSotos



(Driveaway1(Medium).jpg)



(Driveaway2(Large).jpg)



(Driveaway3(Medium).jpg)



Attachments
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Attachments Driveaway1(Medium).jpg (87KB - 89 downloads)
Attachments Driveaway2(Large).jpg (69KB - 87 downloads)
Attachments Driveaway3(Medium).jpg (76KB - 94 downloads)
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59 explorer
Posted 2010-03-29 8:35 PM (#216306 - in reply to #216293)
Subject: RE: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway


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Location: Hershey PA		More pictures if I can figure it out



(Driveaway6(Medium).jpg)



(Driveaway5(Large).jpg)



(Driveaway4(Medium).jpg)



Attachments
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Attachments Driveaway6(Medium).jpg (69KB - 84 downloads)
Attachments Driveaway5(Large).jpg (108KB - 84 downloads)
Attachments Driveaway4(Medium).jpg (79KB - 92 downloads)
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B/G 61
Posted 2010-03-29 8:50 PM (#216311 - in reply to #216293)
Subject: RE: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway



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Location: Parts Unknown		What do you think those bags flappin in the breeze did to the paint jobs ?
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d500neil
Posted 2010-03-29 8:55 PM (#216313 - in reply to #216293)
Subject: Re: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway



Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

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Location: bishop, ca		...absolutely nothing.

Too light weight and not on long-enough to affect anything, and, Detroit is not as dusty
as the desert SoWest.

Now, if we were discussing canvass covers....

BTW, are those dog dishes, on that second car, in line?










Edited by d500neil 2010-03-29 8:57 PM
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ronbo97
Posted 2010-03-29 10:23 PM (#216331 - in reply to #216313)
Subject: Re: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway


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Location: Connecticut		So it looks the Hell Drivers switched over to Desotos for this one time event.
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2010-03-30 12:27 AM (#216348 - in reply to #216331)
Subject: Re: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway



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Location: Parts Unknown		I am wondering if those jumper cars got sold after the show.

Poor bugger that got one never could figure out why it went through tires every 500 miles !
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59 explorer
Posted 2010-03-30 8:40 AM (#216367 - in reply to #216293)
Subject: Re: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway


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Location: Hershey PA		The picture of the crowd is true Americania for the time period; men in suit and ties, women dressed up. They looked like the kind of small town businessmen who sold a few cars on Main Street in every town across the country.

Of course, the two guys in the lower right may be another story....
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BigBlockMopar
Posted 2010-03-30 10:18 AM (#216373 - in reply to #216313)
Subject: Re: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway



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d500neil - 2010-03-29 8:55 PM
Detroit is not as dusty as the desert SoWest.


...says Neil with a straight face, as he glances over the first two pictures...
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2010-03-30 10:27 AM (#216375 - in reply to #216367)
Subject: Re: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway



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Location: Parts Unknown
59 explorer - 2010-03-31 5:40 AM

The picture of the crowd is true Americana for the time period; men in suit and ties, women dressed up. They looked like the kind of small town businessmen who sold a few cars on Main Street in every town across the country.

Of course, the two guys in the lower right may be another story....


**************************************************************

The two punks right up front came to own a number of 50's Mopars and a Studebaker when
they came of driving age. Still have them forty years later !

Yes, those ARE dog dishies on car number two !!!!


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suburban61
Posted 2010-03-31 12:02 AM (#216525 - in reply to #216293)
Subject: Re: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway



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Location: Australia		what fabulous pictures! thanks for posting... imagine being able to stroll down the lines of desotos and being able to select which ever took your fancy... i have a pic of the new '61 plymouths all lined up (in the factory?) when they were having a public open day/ sale day i guess, and although it is in b/w you could just imagine all the different colours and body styles... would have been breath taking to walk amongst them when they were all fresh of the production line... adriana
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hullinger
Posted 2010-03-31 8:12 PM (#216593 - in reply to #216293)
Subject: RE: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway



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Location: Wilmington, Delaware, USA		That guy in the lower right with the shades, plaid shirt and ciggie hangin from his mouth kinda scares me! I can't image buying a car from this cat. In fact, he looks ready to 'jack-up' one of the drivers for their car!

Edited by hullinger 2010-03-31 8:18 PM




(Driveaway3(Medium).jpg)



Attachments
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Attachments Driveaway3(Medium).jpg (76KB - 84 downloads)
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d500neil
Posted 2010-03-31 8:20 PM (#216595 - in reply to #216293)
Subject: Re: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway



Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
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Location: bishop, ca		Herman, I wouldn't be surprised if some of that 'dust', in those photos, wasn't enhanced, in the photo lab, for
dramatic effect.

However, you've apparently never visited the Southwestern U.S., if that amount of 'dust' impresses you!..lol.





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suburban61
Posted 2010-03-31 9:10 PM (#216601 - in reply to #216293)
Subject: Re: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway



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Location: Australia		did you know that the heading says '58 desoto, when infact they are 59's? adriana
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roadkillontheweb
Posted 2010-03-31 10:05 PM (#216612 - in reply to #216601)
Subject: Re: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway



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suburban61 - 2010-03-31 8:10 PM

did you know that the heading says '58 desoto, when infact they are 59's? adriana :)


The actual driveaway program was held September 22-23, 1958 in Detroit (Monday and Tuesday)
Here is an original paper BBQ apron from one of the events.
The dealer that gave these to me said the lines were too long so they did not go and the aprons were folded up and put away. I donated one to the National Desoto Club and kept the other for myself. I also have the umbrella that they gave away and some of the drinking glasses. I am trying to talk another dealer out of his centerpiece from the banquet dinner that carries the same theme. I also have the magazine and the special issue Desoto retailer magazine from the event.

Edited by roadkillontheweb 2010-03-31 10:11 PM




(apron 001.jpg)



(29-59.JPG)



Attachments
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Attachments apron 001.jpg (42KB - 86 downloads)
Attachments 29-59.JPG (50KB - 84 downloads)
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sparky7
Posted 2010-03-31 11:33 PM (#216618 - in reply to #216612)
Subject: Re: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway


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Am I right to assume that the "drive-away" event concluded with the dealers choosing a car . . . and then driving home with it?

The photo with the banner saying "So long . . . go safely" with the cars all heading out made me think so.

Wasn't the actual unveiling to the public held sometime in October?

Sparky

Edited by sparky7 2010-03-31 11:35 PM
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suburban61
Posted 2010-04-01 12:20 AM (#216620 - in reply to #216293)
Subject: Re: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway



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Location: Australia		ah, i see... very cool... love the apron! glad its in safe hands... i find it so amazing that things like this survive... adriana
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toddst
Posted 2010-04-01 6:24 AM (#216628 - in reply to #216293)
Subject: Re: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway



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Location: Some Island called Prince Edward		That's what the drive aways are. I went to one when I worked at a GM dealer (except it was for the all inspiring Sunfire). You spend the day eating lots of food, driving new cars and finally you leave in the new model (my case being the all-exciting Sunfire). It was a good time. This was before the GM collapse. I don't think many companies do drive aways anymore.

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59 explorer
Posted 2010-04-01 8:16 AM (#216630 - in reply to #216293)
Subject: Re: 1958 DeSoto Driveaway


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Location: Hershey PA		The Driveaway was highly structured. The dealers arrived over the weekend and went to their respective hotels in downtown Detroit. On Monday the new DeSoto was introduced to the dealers by a Broadway type musical show. The wives were treated to a fashion show at Hudson's featuring the latest from New York and Paris. That night banquets were held at the hotels where the dealers listened to more hype. On Tuesday they boarded buses and toured the various plants and facilities including the, new for DeSoto, Jefferson Plant and then onto the fairgrounds.

In addition to the glasses and umbrella they got a lighter with the new logo. As a sign of things to come, the lighter was made in Japan. DeSoto was celebrating their 30th anniversity forgetting that they celebrated their 25th in 1953.

The cars at the fairgrounds were not for pick one and drive it home. Dealers had to provide license plates in advance so they would be coordinated for a specific car

The formal introduction was a month later
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