I am now the owner of a Desoto Firemite! It is not in the best shape but it is mostly complete and I have the resources to rebuild it from what is left! Currently only 4 others are known still in exsistence so this brings the total to 5. It has the original Vacuum formed polystyrene body that had a bad reputation of falling apart when combined with vibration from the gasoline engine and cold weather. The Robel company made some fibergl*** bodied ones that account for 2 of the 4 others known to survive. I will have to get my fibergl*** guy that does my other junior bodies to make a mold to make a fibergl*** body but at least I have a pattern. My brother just picked it up in LA and is heading home to Oceanside CA. where he will store it for me until I have time to go out and get it! Rough but rare, I am excited! Maybe someday it will look like this again? If you are not familiar with Firemites http://www.jrcentral.com is my website with lots of information!
Isn't it amazing that an image will stick in your mind from your youth and you have a desire to recreate it? You are lucky to find one and good luck with your restoration.
OK I want a DIVCO Milk truck one now, that thing is so cool....check out the pics of the milk truck on the ROBEL website. John
Actually there is no chance in hell of me driving it (6'6" 350lbs) but I can sure as hell own it and bring it to shows!My daughter and wife are my drivers! I am building a 61 Thunderbird JR now but I used to have a 67 Mustang JR that my nephew drove for me. Check out the videos! He is 6'4" but skinny! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_EvbASUgww
cool! I saw one of those 57 mercury ones a few years ago at the Turlock swap. can't recall the price. I want to say $2800.00 but could be wrong
Actually it is a 58 Desoto. And a 1957 Mercury junior with a custom turnpike cruiser pace car build recently sold for $14K at an auction in Chicago Here it is!
The last Desoto hemi was 1957 but in 58 they tried a Bendix Fuel injection system. Should in do injection on the original clinton 1-cylinder
Aint no way I am letting an inexperienced driver take the Desoto out for a spin! Too rare! way to expensive! If you can build frames? bodies etc. are available! 1957 Thunderbird JR body and bumpers made from the original factory mold! ( I also have the 58-60 Tbird mold) 1965-66 Mustang Jr body and bumpers made from the original factory molds. and lots of other parts are available also http://www.jrcentral.com/resources.html
Holy cow, I shouldn't have looked at your site. I Used to own a beetle body made of plastic, bought it at Carlisle last century. I sold it long before I had thoughts of a grandson, but a friend still has it. Would you be interested in making a figergl*** copy of it? I think I need to build one of these. Thanks.
The only Foriegn cars I deal with are my Australian built Desoto and Plymouth UTEs, But thanks for the offer!
Here is a 1959 Plymouth Fury that is getting the royal treatment and will be hitting the show scene around LA this summer! It shoudl be finished by next week and is already entered in a show next weekend registered only as a 1959 Plymouth convertible
here is the latest picture of the 1959. It will be going to it's first show tomorrow, but it is not done yet!
From the looks of the pic the finishe dproduct will have lots of old memories with it. good luck and can't wait to see progress pics
The Jalopy Journal
