Projects First Desoto builder I have seen

Ran across this one recently out West.
The drive train is missing and I was not able to look long but it was pretty cool to see in the wild. Owner said it was available whole, only. I do have a soft spot for the Forward design Mopars.

 

When I think about the Desotos I robbed of their grilles, I can appreciate someone who wants to keep it complete.

 

That has a lot going on for it visually. Definitely worth saving and wrenching on.

 

Good home for a Gen III hemi or I hate to say,,, an LS....

 

...now go wash out your mouth.....still plenty of Early Hemis available.

 

There are not many early hemi's out there that make 700hp and will set and idle at a traffic light with the AC on while listening to the radio...

 

I don’t think that is a “forward look” style. I believe those came in mid fifties with the beginnings of sleeker, longer, and “finny” cars.

 

yup, how boring would that be?

 

Careful, Moriarity lurks in the shadows!

 

Someone logged into the wrong website

 

A couple of guys I know have these and they can sure be kool. That looks like a pretty decent start.

 

Dagnabbit, would somebody, I say would somebody please rescue that vehicle ( restore that is) .

 

Cool!Nice 55 De Soto and it still has it's grill!

 

And I have a '56 Torque Flight trans for it too. The 330 engine is in my 'Dodge Brothers Tbucket style roadster

 

I believe a '55 is in the mid-50s.

 

Deep pockets required , my cut off year is 1952.. simple design , little chrome , flat glass , parts interchange ease..

 

There is a really cool one in red and silver at Louisville every year. It has a slight chop and sits right. I always enjoy looking at it.

 

"Good home for a Gen III hemi or I hate to say,,, an LS...."
Did he mean a Slant Six?

 

Hello Poly.

 

Think the @Bird man is teasing us ..... Yeah its available ....located West somewhere. .... Price?

Sadly I would not restore it, too deep for my pockets.
318 or a 360/ automatic trans modern rear end ... rebuild the front end & brakes.
Let my wife drive the wheels off of it while I drive the 49 Dodge truck.

 

Yep, remove side trim, nose & deck, French the headlights, a simple tail light treatment along with a nice burgundy or root beer paint job and call it done.


.

 

You are a wuss if you don't buy it.

-Abone.

 

That’s cus you can’t chop curved glass

 

I'd put a big block Mopar wedge in it with a torqueflite. I think it looks good in the original paint scheme. You don't see a lot of these around.

 

I'm buggered if I know why you'd chop it? Looks just right the way it is. Chop it and it would like an elephant sat on it.

 

Uh, tell that to the guy with the red and silver chopped one. It's at Louisville every year..

https://customrodder.forumactif.org/t1851-chrysler-desoto-1955-1956-custom-mild-custom

 

Yeah, that nose does have a lot going on now that I look again. Maybe a bit too much, but the proportion of the body to the greenhouse is spot on IMHO as is. Shave the hood ornament, flip the grille (kidding!) for enough money to get everything else re-chromed, and drive it.

 

When I was in HS in the late 50's a guy (Paul Fatland) two years older than me had a 55 Desoto painted candy apple blue. He worked at the local Chevron station in Purdy WA and eventually bought it. He would take me to the local cruze in at Busches Drive in in Tacoma on the weekends. Not sure what ever happened to that car but he instilled in me a life long love of Hot Rods and Customs.

 

Chrysler Corp branding was "Forward Look" from 1955 through 1961, and the logo lived on for another 3 or 4 years on parts.

 

That is Dustin aka @VonDust 's '55 Desoto. Bad ass car! It has its original 291 Hemi, but with a 5-speed.