1955 Desoto Firedome Woods Find! - Weekend Restoration
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- Опубліковано 7 лип 2020
- Found this gem on a family members property and been thinking about it for a few years. We finally made it happen and picked it up.
Still taking New Shop Build donations - gf.me/u/yfmyg4 - Авто та транспорт
Wow what a find what a find don't worry about the floor pans they do make them and they're not that expensive or you could punch them out yourself can't wait to see that 2-door what a ride what a ride guys stay safe stay well and as always God bless
Magnificent line and length looking at fabulous examples in good order-owned 54/55 De Sotos in New Zealand with the 262 Cubic inch V8,s and Auto on the Dash. No Park.
Wow! Great Find, Very Rare!! 55, ooo Miles!
Crying shame how people leave stuff outside and even worse when they have a structure to have stored it in glad u got it hope you get it going again
Agree. He could have sold that for a lot more money and a lot less work to the buyer.
I am trying to put into words my heart is trying to deliver to my waiting brain as to how this car would come together with such supernatural simplicity....Does anyone else watching this have a creepy kind of "overwhelming cool alert" sorta wisping about as it is about to be extracted out of obscurity and into 2020? This one has got Angel's buzzing around keeping an eye on it....
I’ve got two 1955 DeSoto Hemi Engines one is in my 1929 Ford Coupster other one is in my basement torn down waiting to be built
You just gave me a flashback to the movie "Christine" when the car was magically taken and straightened out right before your eyes....Jesus- yes this car is worthy enough!
Very nice DeSoto find.
Hemi is 291 for 1955. std 3 speed used 1954 DeSoto steering wheel, may have std steering also. Have NEVER seen a single side trim '55 that used the sport tone upper trim, usually had totally different single trim. The emblem on roof pillar indicates a 'Special' low cost Firedome model. My Dad was a good friend of the local DeSoto-Plymouth dealer, we were at the dealership a lot, yet never saw one trimmed this way, should be rare. Dad bought a fully loaded Fireflite in 1956, it still is original and looks and runs as new, parked in my garage. DeSoto in '55 won a speed trial at Daytona Beach as the fastest sedan in it's price class, (110+ mph in the flying mile) it was a black and white Fireflite, hope you restore it
Yes, I was thinking the same regarding the side trim. Maybe they did that for late 55 Firedome Specials ?
Larry Foster: Larry, That car you have that your dad bought, would be a beautiful and very rare car, fully loaded like that. I’m assuming it probably doesn’t have air conditioning, but remember how the a/c on those ‘53-‘57 DeSotos and Chrysler’s had a single large vent on the rear package shelf that blew frontwards towards the headliner? They also had fresh-air scoops on both quarter panels to bring in fresh air if desired. Took a good bit of space away from the trunk for that rear evaporater and blowers mounted inside there. Those are about as scarce as hen’s teeth! Would love to see a pic of your loaded ‘56 DeSoto!
@@Phonejag1 It did indeed have the a/c, and dual rear antennas that leaned FORWARD on the sedan DeSotos and Chryslers in 1956. Dad did not like all the accessories, and one by one removed many, including the a/c (and scoops) and antennas in 1958. If you drove at 100 mph in 100 degree weather the a/c had problems, I have photos with and without. When I retired, I kept my business email address from the detail side of my auto restoration business, it is email me there so I can email pics (can send pics of my '66 Imperial Crown, loaded, including DUAL a/c, which I do NOT plan to remove). What are your cars? Send your email to mine for pix.
Man that thing is gorgeous!! I bought and imported to Europe, where I live a '58 Plymouth, which I'm now restoring... This old 50's american cars really have style.
What a great find! A rare car. Looking forward to future videos on this car. Good Luck!
Wow! What a find!
Weekend Restoration Wow a Hard Top coupe a rare car and a Early Hemi with a Rare 3 speed stick trans WOW Great find can hardly wait to see the work start.
Greetings from Scotland. Know nothing about desoto , but what a good looking car for 65 years old.. hope you’ll be able to bring it back to life
Man that's one beautiful looking car! I can imagine it in show room condition!😎👍
Good find I hope that you can restore it. Very good video, you guys need to keep them coming
What a find .
G'day very cool Desoto Firedome 👌
Sweet find brother.
HEMI 😍 that's awesome. Like you said, it's rare that it has a 3 speed manual. I've seen quite a few old Dodge and Desoto cars in my neck if the woods. They ALWAYS have autos though 🤔
Cool car, I’d like to see what it looks like after a bath. Hopefully it’s save able.
It’s terrible to see a 65 yo car like this being just left to rot. Hopefully it can be restored but with an enormous amount of work.
I hope it’s restorable, Nice find !
Keys (with dealer tag) above the visor sitting in the field. Bet it has an interesting story to tell. Maybe even an illegal one. Very sweet car....
Please do a decent restoration and don't turn that DeSoTo into a 'rat rod', 'gasser', or some other stupid project.
DeSoto was a separate division of Chrysler.
I learned to drive in a 1957 Chevy Nomad 3 on the tree on country backroads in 1965..
Pretty neat old cars
Factory stick behind the Hemi in a 2dr. is a pretty rare car. I don't think I'd be parting it out. Hope you re-think that. The body was shared with Chrysler. Most all had a 2 speed Powerflite trans. Save it.
11111,,, .. m
Yes, the same 126-inch wheelbase as the Chryslers.
It's too far gone unless you want to spend 80 grand on it....lol
@@jimd2101 The money spent depends on a couple of factors: Can one do their own rust repair and drivetrain rebuild? How close to a 100 point concours car do you want?
Appleman1964 : Oh, and it depends if you don’t mind spending 80 grand on a difficult car to restore (hard to find body parts, floors, interior parts, trim, etc). Some parts will have to be reengineered/remanufactured. Engine is not the problem, but THEN what have you got? A car worth maybe, possibly 50 grand on its best day? I don’t know guys... but doesn’t seem like this one is a good one to rebuild/restore. You could get a good buck parting it out though, with the few good or rebuildable items it still has. I just believe that you’ll put far, far more in this particular car that it would ever be worth to Anyone. Perhaps I’m wrong.
Desoto Was a Division of Chrysler, And that being 1955, it was only made from 1955-56 W/ 4 Different Trim options That i know of it's a pretty rare car... I've always wanted one but i have better luck finding Hudsons. It's on my wish list. Great find.
The DeSoto coupes from 1955 were not rare when new...but the convertibles were rare when new because General Motors was more successful in selling them.
What a beautiful car hope you can save her . You just don't see those car's around
Nice car love it
I really like that one!
That’s the radiator core support that’s rotted, much more easily replaceable than a crossmember. The front crossmember itself is a massive thing- now if *that* is rotted, it’s done for.
Nothing is ever done for. No limitations if you a are determined and have skills.
The rot in the roof is the most troublesome ...a 126-inch chassis from a donor DeSoto or Chrysler 4-door sedan is always possible. Coupes should rarely be parted out.
Had to Subscribe you guys worked hard to get her out of there 😁😁😁😁
Thank you for your support. More cool finds to come
It looks as though the rust termites have just about eat it up. Your going to spend a lot of time & money to repair all the rusted pieces,but it can be done with a lot of patience. Super rare find with all the pieces still intact,plus original hubcaps & original keys. Hope you have good luck restoring it.
291 cubic inches, 200 horsepower and 274 ft pounds of torque at 4400rpm. DeSoto was their own brand, under the umbrella of Chrysler Corporation. Remember the Ed Sullivan Show? Brought to you by Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler and Imperial.
ron haynes Groucho Marx’ You Bet Your Life show was sponsored by DeSoto.
Desoto was a division of Chrysler Corp. They offered this car with a three on the tree as standard equipment, however they offered an automatic as well. Most cars were three speed on the column in the 40s and 50s, but high end cars were automatic, and costly. Chrystler corp did put fluid drive transmission in cars up until about 52/53. I drove a 1949 Desoto with fluid drive for awhile. Also had black lights for dash lights. Pretty cool. Regards, Solomon
Looks a nice old motor buddy
The custoniser favorite grille
Wow that’s rare I’ve never seen anything like it
Congratulation very good especial car
Send this mail from Brasil
Que lindo..! Cuántos recuerdos..!! Mí papá tenía uno igual ,de color verde..con el que vivimos momentos inolvidables....!!! muchas gracias... por compartir..☘️
Alright! Will See ya
again one saved thumb up guys!
The piece that is rotted in front is the radiator support. My uncle had a "55 Desoto, with automatic. I believe they only came with a hemi engine, a small cubic inch. The ignition key and trunk key are made of aluminum. I see the car was painted a few times and different colors. It looks like the original color was either black or red.
I am looking forward to Restoration videos on that baby. Lol
Also I subscribe so I can get notification.
for many years now, one was in plain view from highway, rusting away near Tillsonburg, ontario
Damn that was a fine vehicle in the day....bet she was a peppy cruiser and would have picked up some fine tail back in the Rock N Roll era! Go cat go!
However it was mostly older people who bought Desotos. I remember a friend of mine had a research profile on the buyers of contemporary vehicles, and it basically said that the Desoto was an old man's car. It was actually bought by people who could never really afford a nice vehicle during their working days, but decided to treat themselves to one later in life. I never ever recall knowing a young person owning one.
@@L1V2P9 Randall, Thanks for the insite, I guess that is one of the attractions for me, I have always liked olds man cars; Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Crown Vics, etc...so fits right in for me!
Surprised you didnt try to free up the brakes and put some tires on that hold air. A hook and drag was risky for something you care about
If you guys are planning on keeping that DeSoto for a period of time I would highly recommend joining the National DeSoto Club. You can meet other DeSoto owners and go to the National DeSoto Convention in Brookfield, WI next year. You can be a member anywhere in the world. desoto.org/membership/
So what was in the barn?
Probably 155 thousand look of the driver seat , back in the 60 s. Looking at every trip to Jacksonville two studebaker coops sitting just off right a way 2020 the right way was cut and the studebaker s still there.
If it’s the original engine it’s a 291 Cu In Hemi S-22 for two barrel or S-21 for a four barrel S-# is Stamp # on engine block and vin # of car
Some of the image of this car is burned into my psyche. My Dad bought a brand new ‘52 or ‘53 4-door, brown. that is all I remember, I am afraid. I was only 2 when we bought it.
You could've unhooked from the trailer then pulled it
'Hemi' hemispheric heads came out in 1950 when Chrysler applied their military know how.
Desoto was a Chrysler division.
Fun project
mericaenterprises 1951. Chrysler and DeSoto both were using flatheads in 50’.
@@armitage1950 you are right that the hemispheric heads were released in '51 but they were designed, built, tested and driven in '50 for the release in '51
Had a 331 in a 51 New Yorker. Nice heavy car. Thanks for the video. Good luck with the DeSoto.
My aunt had a 1950 Chrysler New Yorker with a straight 8. Last year for that engine.
There is no thing as a 271 dodge hemi. That car has a 291 4.8L hemi.
Some friends bought a deep copper with black roof '55 single side trim 2 dr ht, it was the straight back trim as earlier. What I suspect is possible lower body damage, repair, and repaint. What I did find in an old issue of 'People and Places' (the magazine DeSoto div sent to owners) 'The new Firedome Special coupe, available in single color or solid body color with contrasting roof.' nothing about a two tone lower body, if factory.
only one engine used in a 55 firedome 291 v-8
I bet that car was cherry when it was parked.
I doubt it, it was parked for a reason, maybe it wouldn't run, the clutch went out too much to replace it.
I bet there was a reason to park it
@@bertgrau9246 Let me clarify, I mean cherry as in body and interior.
@@ecannon649 It did look like someone brushed on white paint on the lower bouts on each side, prob in the 60s...Still pretty fair shape for a field rotted car...will cost a fortune to restore - may be possible to score a parts car to harvest from ?
My grandma drove a '55 DeSoto. I loved that car. Sadly, it's now in the same condition as my grandma's rotting corpse.
Not a 261 Hemi, doesn't exist. early 55 is 276 late is 291 Desoto only.
With a FACTORY 3 speed transmission,not a 2 speed Powerflite automatic
All 55 Desotos had a 291. Firedome had a 2bbl carb. Fireflite had a 4bbl WCFB.
@@ronwaters478 Except the early production ones like mine that got the left-over 276 from the previous year.
...you will probably have to install a new headliner
Imperial, Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge, Plymouth was the pecking order. The hemi first appeared in a 1951 Chrysler then each division except Plymouth got a smaller version. Do what you can to restore this gem. There aren't many like her left
🇺🇸😎The 2 door is rare. The Stick shift is very RARE. THE HEMI is Very desirable. If you restore it I think you can use a floor from a 4 door donor car. Some one WILL RESTORE it. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Good job it wasn't weighed in and crushed
Dodge, DeSoto & Chrysler engines were all completely different engines. Dodge had the smallest at 241 CI, DeSoto had the mid size engines & Chrysler had the largest. Very few interchangable parts.
The production of 1955 DeSoto Firedome Sportsman and Special Coupes was 28,944 so it was fairly popular. The Special Coupe was a detrimmed version. Actually a 291 V-8 with 185 horsepower and 2-Barrels... DeSoto's last 6-cylinder was in 1954. The DeSoto shared the big 126-inch wheelbase chassis with the more expensive Chryslers. Horsepower increased in 1956 but Mopar sales declined for the model year. The 1955 and 1956 Mopars had better build quality then what came afterward. This example should never have been abandoned 40 years ago because these coupes had collectible appeal even then.
Undercoating wasn't widely in use in mass production. .
If you take your time whether I'm sure you'll be all together unlock a little bit of transmission fluid and Marvel Mystery Oil usually does the trick so it has always been good for me
What interesting about this car,it still looks good,it was put out there to waste...
Might of not hurt to act a little sooner as this is long time gone.... mind you can be done, but is the money right for the objective. That standard trans made my heart leap as thats money and really extremely hard to find. My guess would to be find a "Dodge" of the same year and graft till it had the desired effect of a DeSoto .... I drove a few of them and they were just different... the looks then were "too ugly for my yard" or worse but now they came or went full circle and are loved by many. I personally hope that you at least try.... don't know why but thought that was the 256 engine
“Dodge DeSoto” 🙄 Dodge did not make a DeSoto... both Dodge and DeSoto were separate makes just as Plymouth and Chrysler were, despite a commonality of parts.
Thats why i said i wasn't sure. Dont k ow much history on dodge vehicles more of a chevy guy muself
They were all a part of the Chrysler Corporation, that's why so many parts would interchange
Not sure if you said it but why was it parked way out there and sweet find
No clue actually
@@weekendrestoration1498 sad
Got the title?
Yes we do
You can't save everything. Must have been a pretty car.
Agreed
Super cool old 2 door hardtop
Worth saving if not too far gone
The Boys up north, at Coldwarmotors Chanel would love to as this to their collection
They’d get that motor going 👍🎯🧨
Plymouth and dodge shared platforms
Chrysler and DeSoto shares platforms.
Early dodge 6 shorter than DeSoto 6
I could tell by your “accent” and especially when you said “dickin’ around”, that you’re from W. Pa. I am too, and I would love to buy that car! Have you decided what you’re going to do with it?
Hahah we are going to fix it up hopefully make it look good again.
99% of the time the rot will alway be worse then you expect when its rockers deep in the ground
In the dirt..
How rotten is the frame?
I’m still pissed off that I watched this entire video and didn’t get to see a shot of the engine.
Chill out its coming in the next one
That would make a great sleeper,keep original and get a small supercharger or turbo for that Hemi!
It was made by DeSoto not Chrysler or Dodge desoto's the first one to come out with a hemi
If only the car was stored a couple feet away under the shelter barn. Why? It doesn't take long for the weather to work on corrosion. It's amazing a metal that a car is made from comes from the earth as a mineral. Then when cars rust away the metal returns to the earth.
I mean, do you guys realize how many 10s of THOUSANDS of dollars that car is going to take to RESTORE? I hope you guys have really deep pockets! So many comments...”Gee, I hope you can save it,” “So rare, restore it”, “A shame to part it out,” etc. Yes, of course, you can restore anything, if you have enough time and money! Whether it’s worth it or not, can only be decided by the owner. I agree, it would’ve been a nice car to restore bcuz it’s a coupe, and has a rare 3 speed on column, but wow! Other than the glass, there’s not a lot of good bones left. I don’t believe that is even a power steering car. Hemi-head “Firepower” engines came on higher priced Chrysler products (DeSotos and Chrysler’s) until ‘58 I believe. Would have been a beautiful car in that color combination, back in the day. But tons of money to do! Best of luck, regardless what you decide.
That car needs to be restored. Get in contact with Jay Lenno.He might buy it. Please don't part it out.
This 55 DeSoto has a 291 Hemi, and there is no such thing as a "Dodge DeSoto" it's just DeSoto and it's just Dodge, Desotos actually share the same body as a Chrysler.
safestrustremover.com blackcarllc.com
you may need these links. other manufacturers are making floorpans and floorpan sections for 57-60 mopar. not sure how far back they go. if you need parts i can possibly help. Also go check out the rust remover before and afters. it will save you a lot of grief.
thank you for that!
for god's sake be careful with those door handles
Have we gone from "barn finds" to "field finds?" Any car that's been lying out to the weather for years is shot. Parts at best.
Nonsense. Go watch non car related channel.
A person with talent, time, money, and will power can fix it. I've done worse than that. Don't believe it? See Cold War Motors and Jonathan Ws YT channels
t johnson - both channels I’d highly recommend ‼️👍🇺🇸🏁
It's a 354 hemi
That's what I thought too. But there are a lot of experts on here saying that it is a 291. Go figure.
@@scottlake6363 - That's because it's a 291. Google it.
@@ronwaters478 if you say it's a 291 it's a 291 .I never heard of it before . I always thought the Chrysler hemi evolutionary list was 331,354,392,426. "So the 291,.... "where does it fit in given this list is correct. I because I want to find one and add it to my collection . To me out side the ball stud hemi which most definitely is the one and only holy Grail I wish I could add to my collection but as I said they only made one so I will have to live with that . I do own each one of the four I mentioned up above and I thought I owned them all ever produced . What model and year did you say they came in ? Is it American made or from Canada? You know the Canadian manufacturers changing names and numbers all the time on vehicles have been doing it for many many years. believe me I'm not saying you're wrong or anything I just never heard of a 291 I was just curious I really thought I was kind of a expert of the subject I am now humbled and embarrassed to know that I am not no such thing. Well you learn something new everyday now don't you. "A 291 cubic Chrysler hemi. Well I will follow your advice and Google it thanks for the info.
Well Ron you were right DeSoto firedome in 1955 carried 291 cubes . And that's not all there are more displacements than that I did not know to exist thanks Ron for bringing this to light for me the search is on .
Google is not always right. There were a lot of displacements that were for industrial and agricultural use. My information comes from the Motors manuals for the 50s to the 60s De Soto started their hemi in 52 with a 276, then in 55 the hemi was standardized due not only to difficulties at the service department, in that the Chrysler and Dodge/De Soto versions were finish machined sepperatly, thus some parts weren't interchangeable from 51 to 54, but also, the introduction of the torqueflite transmission required revision of the transmission flange. The 291 was an industrial engine. From 55 to 58, the last year of the "baby hemi" all makes used the same engine.
This should be called - Weekend Salvage where is the restoration part I was looking forward to the see.
Coming soon. Just trying to get projects setup in place to be restored
"Dodge Desoto" REALLY?
Don't rat rod it it will look terrible
The car probably was stolen fresh off the lot and the person driven the car as far as he needed to go and parked the car off in the field
My first question is: WHY would someone just park a car in the middle of a field? ANSWER: Hillbillies. Glad that this Hemi jewelry is finally gonna see a concrete and asphalt road in it's future.
Looks like a bit beyond saving unless you can fit it on another frame
chevy guy who know nothing about chrysler finds a hemi desoto...that's just wrong
Are you guys are amateurs on your camera too far away all the sudden is loaded that was all crap
Just a lot of hassle we had. We will work on it. Thanks for your input
Cadillac is so overrated, Desoto was miles ahead of them in design and luxuary.
That's why Desoto has been out of business for 60 years. Think before typing.
Unrestorable. Sadly, this one is too far gone.