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Location: The Mile High City | I received an e-mail from Brad Jones today saying that his 1958 DeSoto is done and ready for enjoyment. Brad lives in North Carolina and he is going to drive to Charolett this weekend. His car is exactly like mine, only his has all the options. It is amazing what a difference all the options make in the look of the car. SMS did the interior and you can see how appealing it is especially when compared to the all vinyl interior in my car. I am very impressed! It is a lot of fun to see a twin to my car.
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Expert
Posts: 2612
Location: Parts Unknown | WOW ! I'm not a fan of the wire wheels usually, but they look real good on this car - GREAT LOOKIN CAR  |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Very nice, thorough restoration, thanks for posting the photos!
---John |
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Location: Yorba Linda, Ca | That's A "Beaute" and Doc's fav colours!!
Gary |
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Posts: 6203
Location: Big pimpin' | That is one pretty SOB.... |
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Posts: 96
Location: Glen Rock PA | Great car, thanks for sharing photos. |
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Posts: 1107
Location: Arvada, Colorado (NW Denver Metro Area) | Mike, Brad's car is very nice too. Having seen your car many times here in Denver and even to my house. Your car is hard to beat! This one may have edged you a little but both are wonderful to behold!
What part of NC does Brad live in? My parents are in Wilmington, NC and if it is close by when I visit my parents, I can see this car in person.
Did SMS supply the material or actually make the seat covers? I know they do the door panels but I thought they only supplied the material and you had to find someone local to sew them up for you.
I will be in Van Nuys this weekend for the Mopar Spring Fling. I will take pictures of all the FL cars for all to gaze upon. |
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Expert
Posts: 2244
Location: Yorba Linda, Ca | SMS did send me "Completed door panels", ready to install, all sewed up, etc etc, but they got the material in the center wrong, grrrrrrr.
As far as the seats go, they just send you the material, in my case, 3 different types, The Red Vinyl, that black "Embossed Vinyl" and the fabric.
Fortunately, I have a friend about 3 miles away, with a 59 CRL Convertible, with the original red interior, so I took a lot of pics of the interior,
so my ulphostery shop would now how much cloth, how much vinyl, etc etc to use and sew it up correctly.
They were able to do it just from the pictures, without seeing my friend's car, and they got it pretty close.
They did add a lil too much foam (Cushion) to it, but it makes it nicer to sit on.
Look forward to seeing you Saturday, John.
Gary |
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Location: Arvada, Colorado (NW Denver Metro Area) | Thanks for the info Gary, Will you be showing your car there or just taking in the sights? I will be staying at the host hotel (Altel) I get in on Friday AM and will find a shuttle up to Van Nuys and hang out at the Hotel. mY brother is driving down from San Jose area and won't be in till midnight. I will PM my cell phone to you so we can hook up at some point this weekend.
One of my best Mopar friend here in Denver has your same name. He can't come this year but has been to this show also 3 times. |
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Location: Colorado | Wow, thats a great looking car. Thanks for sharing Mike. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Lancer Mike - 2010-04-15 3:45 PM
I received an e-mail from Brad Jones today saying that his 1958 DeSoto is done and ready for enjoyment. Brad lives in North Carolina and he is going to drive to Charolett this weekend. His car is exactly like mine, only his has all the options. It is amazing what a difference all the options make in the look of the car. SMS did the interior and you can see how appealing it is especially when compared to the all vinyl interior in my car. I am very impressed! It is a lot of fun to see a twin to my car.
*************************************************************************
Mikey ~
What options does this car have that yours does not ?
By your above comments I was expecting to see power windows and seats.
I see bumper guards, fender birds, dual mirrors, basic radio with dual rear antennas, and two-tone plastic steering wheel,
passenger side ashtray, clock, and of course, the wire wheels. Can't remember if the steering wheel was optional to Firedome (?).
What is going on under the hood ?
I showed these pix to the DLI and she is *urging* me to get mine "looking like that" ! 
Beautiful car !!!! Very inspiring !!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1053
Location: Ny | That interior is exquisite. The floor mats are a nice touch. Kudos to the shop who put together the seatcovers. They look fab! Glad your friend is now able to enjoy this beautiful car! I echo Doc's sentiment... this car is VERY inspiring!
Edited by Jessica 2010-04-15 1:02 AM
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Location: Colorado, Pike's Peak | Go Tar Heels Very nice Brad. There ain't nuthin like a red convertible! Slim
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Location: The Mile High City | John, Brad lives in Greensboro, North Carolina. If you happen to be in the area, let me know and I will send you Brad's e-mail. He seems to be a really nice fellow and it sure would be a treat to see this car!
Doc, I was mainly referring to the bumper guards, wire wheels, stone deflectors, two-tone steering wheel, and cloth interior. My car has none of that fancy stuff. Once yours is done, it will truly have all the options.
However, I do have the "optional" Pathfinder hood ornament! 
By-the-by, Brad is very interested in a '58 DeSoto convertible rally. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | MorePar - 2010-04-16 7:23 AM
There ain't nuthin like a red convertible!
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.... except all the other red convertibles !
Such a rare car as a 57-58 DeSoto convertible in an original red and white paint is stunning in itself.
35,000 57 Chevys, Corvettes, and assorted auction queen repaints have (sadly) made the look a bit cliche.
Is this an original red and white car ?
I we could only get all surviving 57-58 DeSoto convertibles together in one spot ! 
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Location: Parts Unknown | Mike, does your car have Solex glass ?
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Posts: 1287
| Doc --
ALL Corvettes (including my '65 F.I. 375 horse/327 CID convertible) are red -- the rest are just mistakes!
You shoulda seen my '65 Sport Fury 2-dr hardtop: Medium Red Metallic with matching interior plus the 365 horse/426 Street mill and 4-speed with Hurst shifter.
Joe
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 452
Location: Southern California | Fintabulisticly beautiful! Thanks Mike! |
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Location: The Mile High City | Howdy, Doc -
Brad knew this was coming!
I believe this one was originally white with a blue sweep. Brad and I talked about the color more than once. He looked at all the original brochures showing off the Holly and Pearl combination for the Firedome convertible and went for it. It appeared to him that Holly and Pearl was the "showcase" color for a 1958 DeSoto. I think he made a very good choice!
My car does have solex and I couldn't quite tell if Brad's did or not. I suspect that Brad's may be a non-solex car.
Fintabulistic! Couldn't agree more! |
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Posts: 118
Location: Nawth Kerolinuh | OK - I should check in here.
Long time lurker, first time poster.
The car was originally white with a white sweep/ blue interior. Red when I got it, just the wrong shade and a poor repaint and interior. We drove it for a few years, took it to Carlisle once, then decided to make it a bit nicer.
3 years and 4 months later, here she is. It was a one owner car when I got it - solex glass, dash clock, chrome package (front and rear bumper and fender tops), deluxe steering wheel. The only change in equipment during the restoration was moving the antenna from the front fender to duals in the rear.
Door panels and fabric are from SMS - and yes they took a while. Had to wait a long time for the fabric to be made but in the end, it was worth the wait because it came out very nice. Seats were sewn locally.
Yes, I knew the red and white would raise the ire of the faithful, but we tried spraying a few panels in another color and just couldn't get it to look right. Red was second choice and turned out to be right on the money.
Thanks for the nice comments - I've corresponded with a few of the vert owners off the board, and Doc even though we haven't talked I've learned a lot over the past few years from your posts about the equipment and resto work on yours. And yes, getting all the girls together in one place would be a great idea someday. Heck of a photo op.
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Location: The Mile High City | Way to go, BSoto (Brad)! If my spreading false information nets a new ForwardLook member, it is all worth it! I think you told me once, but how, where, and when did you find this beauty? I think you told me it was a darker shade of red (burgundy?) when you bought it. How long did it take to restore?
Mike |
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Veteran
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Location: Nawth Kerolinuh | Mike... It was actually out in your neck of the woods. An original SD car, bought new in Rapid City. Made its way to Colorado and it was in very decent drivable shape -- much drier out there than here in the South. A one family car when I found it. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1107
Location: Arvada, Colorado (NW Denver Metro Area) | shoot! I am hearing of a lot of Fin converts that use to be in Colorado but have since fled to new and proud owners! I am going to have make sure no more Fin Converts leave the state! They can come in... But not out!
Of course my Plymouth fin convert came from the prairie of North Dakota, but it always wanted to be here. LOL
Greensboro is the opposite direction for me when I fly into RDU (Raleigh-Durham), Brad's location is one hour west of RDU and my parents are two hours Southeast on the coast.
Brad you have a super Fin convert! Good job! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Brad,
Thanks for the reply and sharing this car with us. So, the car was originally all white with a blue interior ?
That is a new one for me !
I may give folks sh!t about the red and white paint, but don't take me too seriously.
So, lets review, .... how many 58 DeSoto convertibles remain in the US that we know of ?
I do not pay close attention to the Sweeps, but we have 4 Firedomes on this list
Gidman, Sutherland, Faltus, and this one.
Are there any list members with Sweeps ????
I know of only one Fireflite that was in the US (last time I checked) besides mine. It was in MO and in trashed
condition.
How about Adventurers ? Tom White's old car ? Any others ? Let's plan a Colorado get together !!!! |
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Veteran
Posts: 118
Location: Nawth Kerolinuh | I know of one more Firedome, and rumors of another. That would be five confirmed, possibly six. There's at least one more Adventurer vert too. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I come and check this thread every morning just to see that top photo. Puts a little fire under
me all day to get the job done and get on to the next one. Gotta get the $$ to finish this shop
and get my car looking that good !!!
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Location: The Mile High City | I know! That top photo is spectacular!
Here are the '58 Firedome convertibles I know of still in the USA:
1. Faltus, Seafoam and Pearl - restored
2. Gerrard, Spruce and Willow - restored AACA winner
3. Gidman, Black and Pearl - original
4. Jones, Holly and Pearl - restored
5. Sutherland, Holly and Pearl - restored
There was a 6th in New York (I think Bill K. may have owned it briefly) it was a basket case and went to Europe a couple of years ago.
'58 Fireflite convertibles I know of still in the USA:
1. Burger - in restoration process
2. Last name starts with G - Montana basket case
'58 Adventurer convertibles I know of still in the USA:
1. White (formerly) - restored EFI auctioned last year in FL
'58 Firesweep convertibles are more difficult - I know Garry (member Finns) has one in Florida. A guy named Davis has a Holly and Pearl '58 convertible in Texas, I suspect that may be the Firesweep auctioned at Barrett Jackson in 2008 - but I can't tell for sure. In all models, there must be many more. Brad already knows of one more Adventurer and maybe other Firedomes and Fireflites. |
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Location: Upplands Väsby, Sweden | Fantastic DeSoto renovaiting BSoto! I love it, you have do a very fine work. Lucky man! |
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Posts: 2996
Location: Sept. 1958 | Your car is awesome...a 58 Desoto senior body convertible, the ultimate in FL styling!!!!! So few left but the most beautiful! |
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Expert
Posts: 2244
Location: Yorba Linda, Ca | John, guess where my 59 Dodge Convertible came from? Yep, Colorado. The seller I bought it from found it in a field in Colorado and in pretty wasted condition.
No engine, trans, interior, etc etc,. He bought it and He and his Son restored it--or put it back together with the help of several Doner cars. It too was originally a White Coronet, with a blue top and the "Snowflake" interior. They used parts from a Custom Royal to piece it backl together, and it was pretty much a "reborn" cistom Royal, when I bought it. It had the gears around the parking lights, but still had the Coronet Eyebrows, The seller had 2, but one was broken in half so He brought those along, when He brought the car down to me. My friend Aivar got me the other eyebrow off Ebay for $77(such a deal. My friend Kent (Sweden) sent me a piece of trim I needed to install the new eyebrow. I redid the interior with the Correct CRL interior--well almost, SMS goofed on the door panels.
Anyway, not trying to steal the thread, but it seems "Colorado had a thing for White FL Convertibles"--alto the car was sold new in Pennslyvania.
It will be at the show tomorrow!, along with Aivar 300 C Black Convertible---We look forward to seeing You there!!
Will you "Desoto Guys" welcome a Dodge on the FL Convertible Get Together???
Gary
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Location: The Mile High City | I wish I was going too! I hope you all will post pictures - it sounds like fun. And not to worry, my '58 Dodge convertible was sold new in New York! I don't know how it eventually made its way to Colorado! |
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Posts: 2244
Location: Yorba Linda, Ca | We will post some pics, and I will put up some more videos of us out crusing the Calif Freeways.
Gary |
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Location: Parts Unknown | In the quest to tally 58 DeSoto convertibles, Tim ***an of Ft. Wayne had a number of them in
various states of disrepair and one very over-restored all-white Sweep that he put the full Spring
Special trim package on. We were tag team members of the Model Year Coordinator squad in the
NDC for years, but I have been out of the proverbial "loop" for so long, not sure what Tim is up to
these days. Ed Petrus might know ???
On a different note, the weather has turned and things are in bloom. I just closed a deal and got
a few bucks in my pocket. Time to get working on that shop ! That photo is driving me nuts !
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Location: Parts Unknown | Honestly, the ever-diligent PC override sensor is a little too much sometimes ! 
The name was "F a g a n".
Let's see if it gets starred-out again ?
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Location: The Mile High City | "several" wow! I think you had mentioned Tim's name in another thread. I do not believe that he is in my current NDC registry, but I will check. I know he is not listed as owner of an Adventurer, Flite, or Dome.
Doc, it is my job to post these '58 DeSoto convertibles just to light a fire under your butt. We all know you have the wherewithall, you just temporarily lack the facilities. That will be cured in a few months though. |
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Location: The Mile High City | Brad, if you are still checking in on this thread, what is the wire hanging down under the dash? It almost looks like a phone cord... |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Lancer Mike - 2010-04-18 8:28 PM
Doc, it is my job to post these '58 DeSoto convertibles just to light a fire under your butt. We all know you have the
wherewithall, you just temporarily lack the facilities. That will be cured in a few months though.
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IMHO - .... there is no post-war car ever built that was as good looking as a 58 DeSoto Fireflite convertible.
Some come close, but for me, this beats the NY'er and all the rest and this is why I hunted so hard to find this car.
Brad's car is about as close as I have seen to my own car for exterior appearance, with its added doo-dads and wire
wheels, it is paint colors and a couple minor trim adjustments to the front fenders from being my car. So, to see it in such
*sparkly* condition like this really does get my fire going !
You just go on posting pix of all the different paint scheme convertibles you can find. It makes my day !
BTW - what tires are you running on your car, Mike ? Radials ? Note how the 15" wires and taller/skinnier period bias-plys
change the stance of the car ? I lowered mine a bit from where Brad has his, but it still had that "look". It will be interesting to
see how this plays out when I set it back on the frame with a solid body this time.
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Veteran
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Location: Nawth Kerolinuh | Wow - gone for a few days, and this has turned into quite the thread...
Windsor 59 - thanks for the credit on the work, but the restoration was done by Ron Osborne, who's a long time FL expert and knows these cars better than anyone. It's not only good to have him as a resource, but also within 20 minutes of my house! His knowledge and craftsmanship are unmatched, and I knew that if this car was going to turn out as nice as it should be, he would have to be the one doing it. So thanks, but the credit for sweating the details goes to Ron.
Lancer Mike - the wires under the dash are from the radio. I took the pics the day it came home from the garage, and I still had to replace an inline switch, so the wires were hanging down. On the regular (5 button) radio, I tapped off the volume/on-off switch with a toggle so I can go from radio to another input. I have a Highway Hi-Fi that was in it previously but I haven't put it back in yet. You can also use the alternate input for a portable CD or MP3 player. Once repaired, those cords get tucked away.
Doc - tires are Diamondback radials on the 15 inch wires, so they do sit up. But the rear isn't raised or anything, I just put stock springs back on it about 8 years ago. Actually made by Detroit Spring Co. (I think) who made them for the car originally. They have settled a bit, but its just back to a factory ride height there. Then the front, when we had it aligned and set up, we went to a guy who has been doing these cars for a long time. Again, use people who understand the car ... not just a guy at the local alignment shop. He spent a long time re-shimming the front end to get it set up, and we dropped it about 1 1/2 in. to give it a little rake. Spent a long time looking it over from all angles to make sure it had the right stance. I'm going to have a set of bias ply tires and wheels eventually, but for now it's on radials. I'm a big fan of the Diamondbacks too, had this set on there for years and put a lot of miles on them with no complaints at all.
And thanks for the nice comments from everyone too - when you're in the middle of a project and bad things happen or parts get held up or problems arise, it can really work on you. But to finally see the fins in the sunshine and hear from people who love and respect these cars makes you forget the rough spots along the way. |
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Location: The Mile High City | Brad, is this your car before the restoration? I found this photo on Flickr.
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Veteran
Posts: 118
Location: Nawth Kerolinuh | You got it Mike - from Carlisle in 2004. My son and I drove up there and it was a trip of a lifetime. Lots of great cars with fins and I got to meet Dave and some of the other folks who hang out on this site. Saw Tom White's Adv. vert up close too and that was worth the trip. The car did really well on the way up and back in the blistering heat ... til about 2 hours from home on the return trip. Started to get vapor lock, so we pulled over, let it cool down and started again. Had to do that about a half dozen times to make it home - but it was about 92 degrees and the heat from the highway was a bit too much.
Still, it was one of the best times of my life with my oldest son. We were staying in Mechanicsburg and went to Carlisle one evening for one of the night cruise ins near the fairgrounds. To this day, that drive down the turnpike with the top down on a hot summer night and the talk we had along the way is one of my favorite memories in this car. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Nothing beats driving them ! The intangible experience of sensory intake that only a
finned convertible delivers is like nothing else. The open sky, the smells, the temperature
changes, the responses from people you meet .... not to mention a good traveling companion.
You sound pretty hip there Brad. This concept is lost on many.
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Location: The Mile High City | Fantastic, Brad! That's what it is all about. You fellas out east are lucky, I have not yet been able to justify a trip to Pennsylvania for Chryslers at Carlisle - but that seems to be the place to see and be seen.
Next up for my DeSoto may be a trip to Mt. Rushmore this spring. Our trip to Yellowstone last year was pure magic.
Brad, as terrific as your car looked before the restoration, it looks more so now! I am red-hot on the idea of a rally. There are rumors (now confirmed) that one of our New York site members may have scored an undiscovered 1958 Firedome convertible! I can't wait to hear more on that one! |
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Location: The Mile High City | My brand spanking new NDC register lists four '58 Adventurer convertibles (two in Sweden), five '58 Firedome convertibles (all in U.S.), a single '58 Fireflite convertible, and four '58 Firesweep convertibles. Forum members own four of the said cars - and, of course, Doc has his! |
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Expert
Posts: 1357
Location: Iowa USA | You guys that are doing the tally on how many topless model 58 Desotos are left are forgetting a few.
This 58 Diplomat is in Iowa (sold in hawaii new) and I know of one more in France
And the 58 Firemites that I know of off the top of my head.
I have one with plastic body and a spare fiberglass body
One in eastern PA and a spare plastic body
One in western PA
Two in Wisconsin both fiberglass bodies |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 467
Location: Sweden | Brad, as terrific as your car looked before the restoration, it looks more so now! I am red-hot on the idea of a rally. There are rumors (now confirmed) that one of our New York site members may have scored an undiscovered 1958 Firedome convertible! I can't wait to hear more on that one!
----- Could it be this car?
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Location: Parts Unknown | Philosophical question :
If a Plymouth is badged as a DeSoto, is it a DeSoto or just a Plymouth with DeSoto tags ?
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Expert
Posts: 1357
Location: Iowa USA | Doctor DeSoto - 2010-04-24 4:28 PM
Philosophical question :
If a Plymouth is badged as a DeSoto, is it a DeSoto or just a Plymouth with DeSoto tags ?
The factory called it a Desoto when it was born (built). Granted it may look like one of it's cousins. But it is a Desoto!
Firesweeps were built in the Dodge plant, are they Dodges or Desotos?
The name was not placed there by a stranger! |
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Location: The Mile High City | Jorgen - that may well be it! I am waiting for confirmation. Amazing! The exterior looks to be Steel Gray with a Pearl White sweep - an interesting color combination.
For my part, a Firesweep is definitely not a Dodge and a Diplomat is definitely not a Plymouth. Both cars are not only badged as DeSotos, but also carry the DeSoto front bumper and unique styling queues. True, both cars were constructed differently than the long wheel base cars, but the basic fact is that Mother MoPar put the DeSoto name on them and DeSotos they are! |
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Location: The Mile High City | That little kid in the Firemite looks mighty happy! Johnny want a milk shake! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Lancer Mike - 2010-04-25 8:03 PM
Jorgen - that may well be it! I am waiting for confirmation. Amazing! The exterior looks to be Steel Gray with a Pearl White sweep - an interesting color combination.
For my part, a Firesweep is definitely not a Dodge and a Diplomat is definitely not a Plymouth. Both cars are not only badged as DeSotos, but also carry the DeSoto front bumper and unique styling queues. True, both cars were constructed differently than the long wheel base cars, but the basic fact is that Mother MoPar put the DeSoto name on them and DeSotos they are!
***********************************************************************
They also carried some pretty heavy styling queues from Dodge and Plymouth. In the
Diplomat's case, are there ANY same parts as those used on a full size DeSoto ?
Not sure why I have such a black-and-white outlook, but to me there are the Adventurer,
Fireflite, and Firedome, and then there are these hybrids. It probably stems from my wrecking
yard days - the Sweeps were good for very little interchangeable parts. Few people wanted
DeSoto parts. Fewer still came asking for Dodge parts. Never saw such a critter as a Diplomat !
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1958 DeSoto Firedome Convertible - East Coast
