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Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | As several of you know, Bob Schmidt is a master at restoring DeSotos in particular but does a number of other makes too right here in Branson, MO. Recently I became a member of his team and am having a ball working at the shop - a dream come true for sure!
Since I am hosting the DeSoto National Convention next August, the plan is for the group to visit his shop What a deal. In addition to DeSotos he does other makes as well. He currently has the '56 Fireflite convertible as seen in the pictures but there is a '61 Cadillac, a '59 300E convertible, a '57 and '58 Adventurer, 2 '60 Dodge Polaras, and a '57 Fireflite Explorer wagon all for restoration plus several DeSoto parts cars - 3 '56 Fireflites and a '57 Firesweep.
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Location: North Australia | I think you have my dream job too.
Well done, you are obviously well connected! What you need to do is get permission from the boss to post more pictures here. I would love to see the 300 E and the 60 Dodges just to start with!
Are there any more positions available? I can clean and cook and run the lathe and the milling machine, pick up parts and beer etc 
Steve.
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Posts: 1886
| That's awesome! More pictures |
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Location: The Mile High City | Wonderful! Congratulations. Yes, more images please! |
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Expert 5K+
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Location: Newark, Texas (Fort Worth) | It's great to see a true fan of Forward Looks get to restore these fantastic carriages every day! Marc. |
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Expert 5K+
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Location: So. Cal | Looks great, but is that carpet on the floor? I can't think of a worse floor covering for a garage. |
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Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | Powerflite - 2017-10-11 4:24 PM
Looks great, but is that carpet on the floor? I can't think of a worse floor covering for a garage.
Correct you are but this is NOT a garage. And the carpeting makes it a whole lot more comfortable to work on the projects. However, most of the floor space is cement which makes it easier to roll things around.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 406
Location: Hilltown, PA |
Congratulations on landing an awesome job!
I recently had to turn down a position at a fairly local super high end (think million dollar plus 1 of 1 antiques and exotics) restoration and engine shop, mostly because my household budget wouldn't work with the pay cut I would have taken by going there. It was a very hard decision to make, so I'm a little jealous of you (but in a good way). I'm hopeful that once I get the kid out of college and pay down some bills I might be able to revisit the opportunity - jobs like the one you've landed are rare and hard to come by. It's doubly awesome that you've managed to find one where the cars you're interested in make up a big part of the clientele - you must be looking forward to spending some wonderful work hours there.
The carpet thing actually makes perfect sense for what they're doing. At the place I interviewed the floors were of course spotless, but were either painted concrete or linoleum of some kind. When parts were removed from a vehicle they were always placed on cardboard or something soft - nothing was ever placed directly on the floor for fear of damaging the finish. Large carpet remnants would be relatively inexpensive, easily replaced when soiled, soft, and as you said comfortable to work on.
That was one of the interesting things I learned during my interviews. All work is done with the cars on jackstands - there are no lifts. This means the staff spend a lot of time on their hands and knees, or sitting on those little mechanics wheeled stools. When I asked why no lifts the G.M. explained that when they expanded the building a few years ago there was a lot of discussion of putting in one or two lifts, but ultimately the decision was not to. He put it this way - you drop a 1970 Chevelle off a lift and that's bad - but probably something that can be recovered, even if it means replacing a frame, etc. Drop one of these cars (referring to the 7 or 8 cars in the shop at the time - an early 60's Ferrari with racing history, a gullwing Benz, and 5 or 6 others that were singular examples of their kinds) off a lift and you've possibly irrevocably destroyed an irreplaceable piece of history.
Once he said it, it made perfect sense.
Congrats again, and good luck - it's always great to see someone find a job like that and be excited about it!
Gregg
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Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | Hey - thanks guys for the wonderful comments and support. Yes I feel very lucky indeed especially at my age (75) to be able to enjoy liesure working and getting paid to boot. Almost like profesional golfers but I get my hands dirty and get to see first hand what all has been accomplished. Nothing like it! Standing back and admiring beautiful pieces of machinery regardlesss of what stage of progress they are in.
Just for clarification, all body, paint, and interior work is sourced so there is only disassembly and assembly which makes it even better. But with the number of cars in progress, not all are at the shop at one time. For instance, the '57 and '58 Adventurers are out, as are the two Polaras at this time. The Adventurers are expected back within a couple of weeks and the two Polaras are enroute from Canada but some of the parts for them are already in the shop. There is a '56 Pace Car on its way too along with another '56 Fireflite convertible that will be Plum and Lavender like the one in the pictures above. The '59 300E is in the shop getting ready to be sent for body and paint but it can be seen in the background of one of the '56 DeSoto pics above. I'll post more pictures from time to time.
Edited by Viper Guy 2017-10-11 8:46 PM
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Expert 5K+
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Location: So. Cal | So I guess they don't do any cleaning, scraping, welding, grinding, painting or cutting.  It seems that's all I ever do! |
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Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | Powerflite - 2017-10-11 6:57 PM
So I guess they don't do any cleaning, scraping, welding, grinding, painting or cutting. It seems that's all I ever do!
That's part of the disassembly and assembly process. Engines, transmissions, brakes, steering, suspensions, etc, etc, etc, all have to be addressed along with tires, wheels, batteries, wiring, windows, seats, top assemblies, etc, etc, etc. Yeah, you're right, plenty of that stuff. For instance, I just stripped a complete steering column assembly down to basically nothing so it could be completely restored including the power steering gear and pump from a '56 DeSoto. I believe it had every spec of dirt, oil, and other crud it had collected since the day it left the factory. From your comment about "That's all I ever do", I think you definitely know what I mean. But golly, somehow it's fun!
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| Carpet is AWESOME for a reassembly room what every you drop doesn't bounce away, scratch etc
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Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | Smitty's office.
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Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | It's been said several times, but I'll echo it. Final assembly of show cars is done on carpeted surfaces, so that finished parts are not damaged during assembly. |
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Posts: 1157
Location: D-70199 Heslach | Yes, great to see how it looks on "professionals"
I have keen interest to see the 57 Explorer |
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Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | '58 Adventurer just back from body and paint ready for assembly. Every nut, bolt, screw, as well as everything else will be totally back to factory specs. This automobile is destined to be a 100 point car when finished but probably will never be driven. But to each his own and I truly hope this baby does get driven at least ocasionally.
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Location: Georgia | Oh my! I agree, kind of a shame not to actually drive and enjoy such a wonderful car. But wow!
Thanks for the photos!
Pete |
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Location: North Australia | I am struggling to believe this place actually exists. Only in America (go big or go home).
I see the FL restoration dedication in the Nordic States, but this is shaping up to be the Home Grown major league.
Nice to see!
I do get disappointed to be told a car wont be driven, but I guess some of them are destined that way. I also guess these cars are part of the fleet of reference cars for the future.
And that is important to us right?
Steve.
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Expert
Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | Here is a teaser - not yet ready for publication. This is a barn find, 20 years in storage, 27,000 miles, purchased new by the family that owns the car. Now at Smitty's but trying to decide whether to restore it or leave as is in factory original condition. Will be for sale.......................????????
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Expert
Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | Getting closer to posting pictures of this great and highly desireable DeSoto. Corrections though - only 21,800 miles - not 27,000 and last driven/licensed in 1971. So far only clean up is being done but unless someone wants it unrestored, there is a fair chance it will at least get partially repainted and some chrome replated as age has taken its toll during storage. Some of the front seat fabric and foam padding in the seats will be replaced. Door panels are near perfect, headliner is perfect as are the carpeting and kick panels. Absolutely no rust or damage anywhere and is 100% factory original and complete except for the owner's manual we can't find. Also, the engine needs rebuilt as it has frozen up.
Stay tuned...........................
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1155
Location: somerville mass | that fireflite is so nice I wouldn't even breathe on it let alone drive it! and its not even finished. when all these
rolling pieces of exner art are done.... wow.. trailer queens for sure!!!!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1155
Location: somerville mass | that barn find... hardly driven...clean it up new tires fluids take it out on the interstate pedal to the metal listen to it roar!
THESE CARS WERE BUILT TO BE DRIVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | Viper Guy - 2017-11-01 8:27 PM
Getting closer to posting pictures of this great and highly desireable DeSoto. Corrections though - only 21,800 miles - not 27,000 and last driven/licensed in 1971. So far only clean up is being done but unless someone wants it unrestored, there is a fair chance it will at least get partially repainted and some chrome replated as age has taken its toll during storage. Some of the front seat fabric and foam padding in the seats will be replaced. Door panels are near perfect, headliner is perfect as are the carpeting and kick panels. Absolutely no rust or damage anywhere and is 100% factory original and complete except for the owner's manual we can't find. Also, the engine needs rebuilt as it has frozen up.
Stay tuned...........................
With such a survivor car, the best idea is to repair, replace or repaint the least possible. Only the absolute essential should be done to it, especially if they want to resell it. Then you let the future owner that would keep it decide what to do, instead of making irreversible decisions.. It's only original once, as they say. |
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Location: Branson, MO | moparsteve - 2017-11-02 6:18 AM
that fireflite is so nice I wouldn't even breathe on it let alone drive it! and its not even finished. when all these
rolling pieces of exner art are done.... wow.. trailer queens for sure!!!!!
Maybe or maybe not a Fireflite........... |
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Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | soiouz - 2017-11-02 7:46 AM
Viper Guy - 2017-11-01 8:27 PM
Getting closer to posting pictures of this great and highly desireable DeSoto. Corrections though - only 21,800 miles - not 27,000 and last driven/licensed in 1971. So far only clean up is being done but unless someone wants it unrestored, there is a fair chance it will at least get partially repainted and some chrome replated as age has taken its toll during storage. Some of the front seat fabric and foam padding in the seats will be replaced. Door panels are near perfect, headliner is perfect as are the carpeting and kick panels. Absolutely no rust or damage anywhere and is 100% factory original and complete except for the owner's manual we can't find. Also, the engine needs rebuilt as it has frozen up.
Stay tuned...........................
With such a survivor car, the best idea is to repair, replace or repaint the least possible. Only the absolute essential should be done to it, especially if they want to resell it. Then you let the future owner that would keep it decide what to do, instead of making irreversible decisions.. It's only original once, as they say.
That's the plan as of now. The current owner wants to sell the car but is undecided as to what is best for him to do. There is an interested party in the car as he is a friend of the owner and knows the car. His interest is to buy the car as is with just the clean-up and he will take it from there. If he decides not to buy the car, it will be listed here first. It's just eating at me as to how bad I want to post pictures but until I get the green light, this is as far as I can go. As I mentioned earlier, stay tuned! |
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Location: Montreal, Canada | Viper Guy - 2017-11-02 4:13 PM
soiouz - 2017-11-02 7:46 AM
Viper Guy - 2017-11-01 8:27 PM
Getting closer to posting pictures of this great and highly desireable DeSoto. Corrections though - only 21,800 miles - not 27,000 and last driven/licensed in 1971. So far only clean up is being done but unless someone wants it unrestored, there is a fair chance it will at least get partially repainted and some chrome replated as age has taken its toll during storage. Some of the front seat fabric and foam padding in the seats will be replaced. Door panels are near perfect, headliner is perfect as are the carpeting and kick panels. Absolutely no rust or damage anywhere and is 100% factory original and complete except for the owner's manual we can't find. Also, the engine needs rebuilt as it has frozen up.
Stay tuned...........................
With such a survivor car, the best idea is to repair, replace or repaint the least possible. Only the absolute essential should be done to it, especially if they want to resell it. Then you let the future owner that would keep it decide what to do, instead of making irreversible decisions.. It's only original once, as they say.
That's the plan as of now. The current owner wants to sell the car but is undecided as to what is best for him to do. There is an interested party in the car as he is a friend of the owner and knows the car. His interest is to buy the car as is with just the clean-up and he will take it from there. If he decides not to buy the car, it will be listed here first. It's just eating at me as to how bad I want to post pictures but until I get the green light, this is as far as I can go. As I mentioned earlier, stay tuned!
I will stay tuned for sure, this is the sort of car find that I really like! |
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Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | OK, I know the suspence is killing you guys and now I have a bit of a "green light" so here it is. First though is a 1060 Dodge Polara convertible that had some interest earlier. This car just arrived from Canada for a full restoration. The owner also has a 1960 Polara 2 door hardtop that is being shipped for a full restoration. I guess you can say that we have plenty of work ahead of us.
I'll let the teaser pictures of the DeSoto do the talking.......................
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Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | Now to the DeSoto especially for David..............
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| What shipping company did he use to get the car from Canada to the States, I'm in need of recodmendations I need 2 station wagons and a 4 door all 1961 darts hauled from Saskatoon to Boise Idaho, thanks.
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Location: Branson, MO | 1960-61 dodge darts - 2017-11-03 5:49 PM
What shipping company did he use to get the car from Canada to the States, I'm in need of recommendations I need 2 station wagons and a 4 door all 1961 darts hauled from Saskatoon to Boise Idaho, thanks.
Thanks for your inquiry. I'll check with Smitty to see if he has any paperwork. The owner of the cars handled the shipping but there might be some shipping papers he can check or he'll have to contact the owner. Surely we'll be able to get the info for you.
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Posts: 3155
Location: NY & VT | Wow! 21,800 miles. I'd do as little as possible to that DeSoto, keep it original, you know the old saying.... |
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Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | firedome - 2017-11-04 11:26 AM
Wow! 21,800 miles. I'd do as little as possible to that DeSoto, keep it original, you know the old saying....
That's the plan as far as we are concerned but it's up to the current owner as to what will be done. A friend of his has the first shot at the car to buy it "as is" but no word yet as to the status at this point in time.
If it doesn't sell to the "friend", I believe it will be open to offers or there will be a set asking price as it is or just fixed up enough to look the best it can without a total restoration. We'll have to see what the owner wants done.
The car is a one in a million find so to speak and I'm sure there will be plenty of interest if it's put "on the market".
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Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | Oh my! A 1957 Adventurer coupe survivor. It doesn't get much better than this! What a car!
Geez, look at that original carpet still in place! Incredible!
Thanks for the pics!  |
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Expert
Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | 1960-61 dodge darts - 2017-11-03 5:49 PM
What shipping company did he use to get the car from Canada to the States, I'm in need of recodmendations I need 2 station wagons and a 4 door all 1961 darts hauled from Saskatoon to Boise Idaho, thanks.
Turns out that the owner lives in Canada but the cars were in Florida and shipped from there. Sorry about that as I thought they were being shipped from Canada until I checked with Smitty.
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Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | Another pic of the '57 Adventurer as it is getting closer to list if we don't hear from the present owner about selling it to his friend - still no word.
This picture shows just how nice the original paint is on the car and ZERO rust!
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Location: Branson, MO | Just put the seats back in the car today after having the front re-padded and the cloth insterts replaced. The rear seat is still 100% factory original. Believe it or not, SMS shipped the cloth material in about a week from when the order was placed. After seeing what the car is like now after clean-up and the fresh interior, the owner is considering keeping the car but has not decided how far he wants us to go regarding further restoration.
Like I mentioned before, if it goes up for sale to anyone other than his friend, it will be listed on this forum first.
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Location: Parts Unknown | Crank windows ??? This car ain't no good !
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9649
Location: So. Cal | I prefer crank windows, but now I have 2 cars with those darn electric contraptions. |
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Posts: 145
| My '57 Adventurer hardtop also has manual windows and seat. I much prefer them to the power versions also.
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Posts: 7206
Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada | Prefer crank over power windows?? What is the world coming to?!!!! ;-) |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Manual windows = parts car ! |
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Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | Doctor DeSoto - 2017-11-16 7:54 PM
Manual windows = parts car ! :laugh:
Parts sold separately would probably be six times what the whole thing will sell for. Not a bad idea Doc.........I'll pass it on to Smitty!
I believe the owner is willing to sell for $55K if anyone is interested including the restoration of paint only where needed and chrome tail light bezel replating. Would not include the mechanical reconditioning of engine, transmission, rear end, brakes, etc. The car does not run as it has been in storage since 1971 and I wouldn't trust it without going through it like fluid changes, replacing two pistions, flushing the brakes, and whatever else required. Keep in mind this is a numbers matching factory original.
Edited by Viper Guy 2017-11-16 10:43 PM
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Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | More pics and these will be the last ones until after any restoration work is done if any.
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Location: Hay Lakes, Alberta, Canada | Beautiful!!! I need to win a lottery... |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | Oh. My. God.
This is a stunner. How I would love to be able to afford it!  |
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Posts: 1886
| Weird car to value in non running condition, great looking piece though. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9898
Location: Lower Mainland BC | Mike McCandless - 2017-11-18 6:25 PM
Weird car to value in non running condition, great looking piece though.
Diamond merchants put a value on uncut stones because they know that there is value in the cut stone.
Just sayin'
Edited by 56D500boy 2017-11-18 7:56 PM
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Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | There is a lot of interest in this car from those who know the owner and/or Smitty. Judging from the $ figures spoken so far, we're looking at a low of about $45K as is and not running to around the $55K to $60K mark running and driving without a full resotoration - only the necessary paint and rechroming of the tail light bezels in addition to what has already been done with the upholstery repair. It's still up in the air with the owner but we should know something early next week (hopefully).
Like I mentioned, if it is to be offered to the general public, it will be posted on this website and the NDC website first. The best things going for the car are the low miles, basically a one owner family, and the originality from the factory. Plus the fact it is one of the best looking DeSotos ever produced and the last year for the HEMI used in production DeSotos.
Stay tuned!
Edited by Viper Guy 2017-11-18 8:18 PM
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Posts: 2002
Location: Branson, MO | Here is the latest regarding the '57 Adventurer discussed above: The owner has decided to keep the car for the time being at least and he commited to a minor restoration attempting to keep the car as factory original as possible. There will be paint touch up on the quarter panels and front fenders where needed. The interior is done as far as it will go - only the front seat cloth panels were replaced along with new foam padding. The rest is all factory original. The most dramatic updates will include the engine and transmission rebuild (car has been sitting in storage since 1971), brakes will be addressed, new exhaust, and of course the new tires have already been installed, and the engine and engine compartment will be restored to original. The job is now underway. Whether or not he will keep the car for long is unknown at this time but it will look fantastic when we are done with it.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 494
Location: Alberta | There isn't much that impresses me……….unless of coarse it's the workmanship of master craftsman which is rare these days do to the Race for $$$$$ I certainly dreamt of a shop like this the only thing I can share is the owners last name. If I ever make it to Branson on one of those Senior's Cash for Country Music tours I'll most certainly look you guys up.All the best at your dream job
Edited by RUSTORICHES 2017-12-08 10:36 PM
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Smitty's Restoration Shop
