This DeSoto looks fantastic inside & out! Mr. Dales definitely found the right car and the right people to aid in its restoration. What a treat to see. Thanks, Lou!
Another Virgil Exner masterpiece..even if it is virtually a twin of a 1960 &'61 Chrysler. Beautiful car. Love that color! Thanks for posting! Be blessed always!
All ''3,034'' DeSoto cars for the 1961 model year were built before the end of 1960, as they closed down the Brand before new years 1961. John, you have a stunning 61 DeSoto, thank you for sharing it with Lou and us car lovers.
Always nice to see local AZ cars. This is truly a very nice car and such a rare survivor. Always had a soft spot for a DeSoto. Although they ended up being squeezed out of their spot in the Chrysler lineup there had to be a lot of DeSoto buyers in the day that were very excited to be able to purchase a car above Plymouth and Dodge. I loved the early 50's light up DeSoto hood ornament, one of my favorites. .
Hi Brad, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Dads cars :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Lou
Hello again, Lou! You have come upon a very rare model! This 1961 De Soto is something you didn't see much of even when new. As the owner stated, only 911 of the car he owns were ever made, and the four-door hardtop (the only other choice) went home to 2,123 customers. A very rare model indeed. And it looks very much like a Chrysler, except for that "grille on a grille," and, if you notice, the taillights and back up lamps on the De Soto were just the opposite of where they appeared on the '61 Chrysler! The dashboard would later appear in the 1962 Dodge Custom 880, which was more or less the De Soto's replacement. Also, the '61 De Soto's had no model name, they were simply "De Sotos." The name would survive in later years on trucks in overseas markets, however. Thanks again, Lou, for another exciting video! As always, I'll keep looking for more. And whenever I have the time, I'll comment on your past videos! _(3/8/2023)_
Jury's still out on the front end, but the rest of the car is beautiful. I think in time, like a lot of other things, the upper grill could grow on you. Thanks Lou.
It's the FINS that compliment the Space Age look of this beauty and provide a magnetic draw, bringing folks at car shows to flock to it!! Though this was the 'tail end' of the awesome finned car era, Chrysler's/DeSoto's execution of it in its '61/'60 model years was nothing short of amazing. It was the Cold War and Rockets era, with us ('US') against the Russians and Mopar's automotive styling was marvelous. By 1961, when DeSoto's death knell was in the air, the iconic models Adventurer, Fireflite, Firedome, Firesweep were names of the past. DeSotos for 1961 were called just that, a 'DeSoto'. The same body shell '61/'60 DeSotos were built on Chrysler's 122" wheelbase - same as the Chrysler Windsor and Newport. The Chrysler '61 300-G and '60 300-F, along with the New Yorker, were all built on Chrysler's 126" wheelbase - the extra 4" length all forward of the firewall, seen in the front fenders. I first saw John's DeSoto about 15 years ago and have always loved its striking Formal Black over Bahama Bronze finish. Thanks for the great video, John and Lou!
The 1961 DeSoto is a fantastic car, in spite of Chrysler pulling out of promoting it in 1960. This car is the equivalent of a 1961 Chrysler Newport. I love it! Exner's last DeSoto.
Gorgeous! I'd forgotten how many different body contours this year had - the front, turn signals and sculpt around the front wheel and body side around the tail - epic styling.
Thank you for bringing us another beauty.. Today's cars have come a long way when it comes to features and reliability, but the cars from this time period truly were works of rolling art.
That 'Astrodome lite' dash was sensational, never seen it before on any other Chrysler product and certainly not here in Australia. Thanks Lou for highlighting such a rare marque at the end of its time.
I never realized that the last year for the DeSoto was 1961. I thought it was 1959 for the last year. This is a unique looking Mopar. Nicely styled, Healthy sounding engine, and a unique looking front clip,
¡Pues, si éste fue el último año de DeSoto, al menos, lo concluyeron creando una auténtica obra de arte! Las líneas del vehículo circulan de una manera muy armoniosa, terminando con ésas aletas posteriores inclinadas, y un maletero que curvea suavemente entre éstas. Un interior de lujo, desde los tapizados de las puertas y asientos, hasta el llamativo panel de instrumentos, como el velocímetro iluminado por luz solar, el reloj cilíndrico y muchos otros detalles en cromado. El sonido de su bocina estuvo simpático y me hizo recordar, al menos un poco, a un ganso, jaja. ¡Fantástico el recorrido del final con ése brillo solar; ya que hizo resaltar aún más las tomas! ¡Excelente video, Lou, y saludos cordiales!
Hi Jaime, Happy to read you enjoy this "work of art" :-) Nice that the sun was coming through the speedometer, and interesting clock for sure. Thank you for viewing and sharing the details you notice, Lou
Hi Steven, Happy to read you appreciate the looks of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this UA-cam Channel, Lou
It's funny how a person's taste changes. The first time I saw one of these '61 DeSotos I thought it was ugly. How could they have made such a car? Now I own one and I love it and I think they are beautiful! Perhaps it's also the era that these cars represent.
The brightwork on this machine is stunning... inside and out. I love how Chrysler handled the glass design back then... subtle wraparound, dome effect. So cool.
Not only do i luv that 61 Dodge DeSoto, but man I would luv to add it to my collection. What a great piece of Americana. Lou you don’t see that type of art work like that any more. You have class, personality, profile and style. You can fit five or six people in that car Lou what a time it must’ve been to do a barn find and body off frame restoration work to have done on to a Ride like That. Lou what better way to see the U S A. Sincerely Yours Truly Ivan I J😎😎😎😎
Thanks John, your car is beautiful. Thanks, Lou. I've always loved the '61 DeSoto for its beauty and captivating my interest. It's always saddened me that the beautiful '61 was the last year. I wouldn't have felt as badly had it been an ugly car. It would have been great seeing where DeSoto styling would have gone for '62, '63, '64, '65...
Man, why did Chrysler have to kill DeSoto? I mean, I know why, but image how DeSoto would look like today. This is a very beautiful car, it's even is the best car color for the sun to shine on. And that steering wheel resembles a very thin, silver version of an 80s concept car steering wheel. I love the DeSoto.
I believe I have seen this in person Lou. Did you find this somewhere near Chicago? When I saw it, I thought it was one of the most stunning vehicles I had ever seen. Thank you for sharing it.
Hey Lou. Beautiful looking car. I've never seen a DeSoto like this. I love the condition of this car. It looks brand new, like it came from the showroom. 🙂
This being a "lower" trim level than the Chrysler badge cars, by today's standards it is plenty ornate and oozes style. I like that it has the 361 V8, as those are not often preserved like the Hemi models often seen now. Great car, great story!
Hi, Lou! In this last year for the DeSoto, there were just a two-door hardtop and a four-door hardtop with no series names. There were 911 of the former, as John related, and 2,123 of the latter, for a total of 3,034. That face with the cocked headlamps and the dual grilles is pretty unusual, but yeah, I rather like it, too! The dash is also quite interesting with the sunlit speedometer (which Fords had in 1954 and 1955), the pushbuttons for the transmission and fan, and especially that rotary clock! I never knew such a thing ever existed! The rear ends of the 1961 Chrysler and the 1961 DeSoto both had the fins with wraparound lenses below, but the lenses on the Chrysler are the taillights (except the wagons still carried the boomerang lenses in the fins), while those on the DeSoto are the reverse lights, while the fins on the Chrysler hold round reverse lights, but those on the DeSoto hold the taillights. BTW, that coyote sighting would have really been something if John had been driving a Road Runner! LOL! Thanks to both of you for showing us this rare last-of-its-kind Mopar!
First off, it's a beautifully restored car. I personally think it's a real beauty in and out. The way I feel about the grill is that it's one of those designs that looks so interesting up close, but at a passing glance, looks rather awkward. It's a beautiful machine though. I would suspect that the division folded like so many branch divisions, in that they no longer filled a certain price-gap. This also happened with the Edsel. People pin it on the design, but it was all a financial issue.
I'm not an Exner fan, particularly his later years, but this car's styling and body colors really work! And generally speaking, I don't care for brown either, but on this beauty it looks right. My grandfather had a 1958 DeSoto, and this brought back some good memories. Thank you.
Hi Tom, Happy to read you enjoy the styling and color of this car :-) Glad to read this car brings back memories of your Grandfathers car. Thank you for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome, Lou
Last of the last!! I've seen maybe one or two '61s in person over all the years I have been attending car shows. And I have been to plenty. I read somewhere that once DeSoto production was ended at some point early in 1961, any remaining DeSoto orders were simply filled out with Chrysler Windsors.
The DeSoto is very much like the '61 Chrysler and yet so very different. I enjoyed this video. I own a beautiful Newport and saw the same body and engine but such a different dash and front end. Thank you for the in depth look.
Hi Bill, Happy to read you have a cool car too. Thank you for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome. I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this UA-cam Channel, Lou
Thanks for posting, Lou👍. I noticed an unusual styling feature. There's a chrome fin at either end of the dash, which matches both the headlights and the rear fins. Maybe one last flourish from Virgil Exner before Chrysler axed the De Soto brand?
Chrysler Corporation had widespread strong sales for the 1957 model year...however the quality suffered which had long-term consequences. DeSoto sales tanked in 1958, losing more market share than other Chrysler divisions. The Chrysler Division introduced a shorter 122-inch wheelbase Windsor in 1958 which shared the basic Dodge body with the cheaper DeSoto Firesweep. Sales of DeSotos further declined in both 1959 and 1960 due to rumors that the DeSoto division was to be discontinued. Then an executive decision was made to introduce the cheaper 1961 Chrysler Newport which was a basic replacement for the DeSoto. Production of the 1961 DeSoto ended on November 30, 1960. There were too many mid-priced full-sized cars in the late 1950s....and Chevrolet, Ford, and Plymouth moved upmarket with the Impala, Galaxie, and Fury. The newest market niche that was rapidly growing was in smaller cars.
Good day Lou, Yeah only a face a mother will love, no issue with me I actually find it beautiful. The whole DeSoto is beautiful from front to rear. Cheers Louis Kats your number 1 Fan in Australia. 👍 🇦🇺 😀 🇺🇸
Love your videos Lou :) The upclose and personal style while keeping it simple, with no fancy editing :) I'd just love for you to start shooting in 4K, as it would make for a tremendous difference in quality while watching on a big screen!
Hi Baby Benz, Appreciate the kind words. I'm working on getting $ for 4K camera. feel free to help too by 1) Watching the commercials, 2) supporting on Patreon (link provided) 3) Send $, Thanks in advance, Lou www.patreon.com/MyCarStoryWithLou?fan_landing=true
@@loucostabile You'd be surprised at how good of a result a simple iPhone (from the 11 Pro) could actually achieve! Believe me! The iPhone's dynamic range, stability and just overall quality on video recording is quite insane for it being "just a phone" :) Try using one for a video just as a sample... see the public's reaction to it ;)
Love thus Style in Dodge and Desoto and Chrysler. Same exact interior as my ‘61 Dodge. Different back panel then the engine turn on the dash but same wheel, and dash.
Great car, and great presentation as always Lou. I agree with your preference for cars kept in stock condition, and for the same reason: They take us right back to the time they were built. A candy apple metallic red Model T doesn't do that!
Looks like Virgil Exner had his hand in the design of this beauty. Love the translucent speedo...way cooler than the digital screens we have today. Nice ride!
The old design rule "form follows function" as applied the cars means that with the best styling there should be a functional reason for every panel, every bulge, every crease in the bodywork. This insane beauty is a prime example of how Virgil Exner was not too familiar with that rule.
I was excited to see this video as I knew your detail would be excellent. Loved the Rotary Clock and the space ship dashboard! End of an era...last year for Desoto. Have you ever seen the 1962 DeSoto Prototype? It was downsized and just did not look that good. This was an excellent looking car, but then it was too similiar to other Mopars of that time..maybe that's why it wasn't sucessful.
Hi Brian, I agree, the rotary clock was different and interesting. Have not seen the 1962 DeSoto Proto. Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Lou
Hi, If you like this video, please click on SUPER THANKS ❤ with the $ in the middle which is the SUPER THANKS button under the video. Thank you! Lou
ua-cam.com/video/VSaDPc1Cs5U/v-deo.html
This DeSoto looks fantastic inside & out! Mr. Dales definitely found the right car and the right people to aid in its restoration. What a treat to see. Thanks, Lou!
Hi TheGunfighter45acp, Happy to share this "treat" with you :-) You're welcome, Lou
The dashboard is probably the most impressive part. What a work of art!
Hi Mark M, Happy to read you are impressed by the dashboard on this car :-) Lou
Another Virgil Exner masterpiece..even if it is virtually a twin of a 1960 &'61 Chrysler. Beautiful car. Love that color! Thanks for posting! Be blessed always!
Hi Gerry, Happy to read you enjoy this "masterpiece" :-) You're welcome, Lou
Very modern design for 61....maybe a touch too modern for then. I love it, especially the side view. Thanks Lou,
Hi Mike, Happy to read "I love it" :-) You're welcome, Lou
Just a Beautiful DeSoto in a great color ! What's not to love? Thanks for posting Lou !
Hi Rudy, Happy to read you enjoy this "Beautiful DeSoto" :-) You're welcome, Lou
Any car in bronze is a winner! Those fins could poke your eye out. Can imagine seeing it in 1961 Palm Springs!
Hi Rob, Happy to read you enjoy this "winner!" :-) Lou
All ''3,034'' DeSoto cars for the 1961 model year were built before the end of 1960, as they closed down the Brand before new years 1961. John, you have a stunning 61 DeSoto, thank you for sharing it with Lou and us car lovers.
Hi Chris, Thank you for sharing your knowledge. You're welcome, Lou
Always nice to see local AZ cars. This is truly a very nice car and such a rare survivor. Always had a soft spot for a DeSoto. Although they ended up being squeezed out of their spot in the Chrysler lineup there had to be a lot of DeSoto buyers in the day that were very excited to be able to purchase a car above Plymouth and Dodge. I loved the early 50's light up DeSoto hood ornament, one of my favorites.
.
Hi Allen, Happy to read your thought on this "truly nice car" :-) Lou
My Dad was a DeSoto man. He owned 3 of them.
Hi Brad, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Dads cars :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Lou
That dash is Jetsons like. Beautiful car! 😍😍😍😍😍 Thanks Lou!
Hi motorTranz, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this "Beautiful car!" :-) You're welcome, Lou
Such a beautiful vehicle, and that 361 is an excellent engine .
Hi Gary, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this vehicle :-) Lou
It sure was. But a 413 or 426 Wedge would have moved it even better
Bubble top & fins give it that mid century modern look. Nice piece!
Hi Richard, Happy to read you enjoy this "Nice piece!" :-) Lou
What a beautiful big car. The golden age of automobiles.
Hi Steven, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this "beautiful big car" :-) Lou
Hello again, Lou! You have come upon a very rare model! This 1961 De Soto is something you didn't see much of even when new. As the owner stated, only 911 of the car he owns were ever made, and the four-door hardtop (the only other choice) went home to 2,123 customers. A very rare model indeed. And it looks very much like a Chrysler, except for that "grille on a grille," and, if you notice, the taillights and back up lamps on the De Soto were just the opposite of where they appeared on the '61 Chrysler! The dashboard would later appear in the 1962 Dodge Custom 880, which was more or less the De Soto's replacement. Also, the '61 De Soto's had no model name, they were simply "De Sotos." The name would survive in later years on trucks in overseas markets, however.
Thanks again, Lou, for another exciting video! As always, I'll keep looking for more. And whenever I have the time, I'll comment on your past videos! _(3/8/2023)_
Hello Know Bodies Full, You're right. You don't see this one today. You're welcome, Lou
Great fins on this car and the front end is interesting. Thanks Lou for another amazing car.
Hi Advisorit, Happy to share this "amazing car" with you :-) Lou
The era of rocket cars was amazing. So sad it's over.
Good news! You can see all those cars from that era right here on this UA-cam Channel ZbyszekStefaniak83 :-)
Jury's still out on the front end, but the rest of the car is beautiful. I think in time, like a lot of other things, the upper grill could grow on you.
Thanks Lou.
Hi Mighty Lonesome, I think you're right :-) You're welcome, Lou
Gotta agree about the '61 grill design... I never cared for it.
But that's still a beautifully preserved car!
A beautiful winged warrior and the last of a legendary car line. Thanks for bring it to us Lou.
Hi Jimmy, My pleasure sharing this "beautiful winged warrior" with you :-) You're welcome, Lou
Very nice DeSoto- a real icon of the era.
Beautifully presented.
Thanks Lou!
Hi Jeff, Happy to read you enjoy this "Very nice DeSoto" :-) You're welcome, Lou
It's the FINS that compliment the Space Age look of this beauty and provide a magnetic draw, bringing folks at car shows to flock to it!! Though this was the 'tail end' of the awesome finned car era, Chrysler's/DeSoto's execution of it in its '61/'60 model years was nothing short of amazing. It was the Cold War and Rockets era, with us ('US') against the Russians and Mopar's automotive styling was marvelous. By 1961, when DeSoto's death knell was in the air, the iconic models Adventurer, Fireflite, Firedome, Firesweep were names of the past. DeSotos for 1961 were called just that, a 'DeSoto'. The same body shell '61/'60 DeSotos were built on Chrysler's 122" wheelbase - same as the Chrysler Windsor and Newport. The Chrysler '61 300-G and '60 300-F, along with the New Yorker, were all built on Chrysler's 126" wheelbase - the extra 4" length all forward of the firewall, seen in the front fenders. I first saw John's DeSoto about 15 years ago and have always loved its striking Formal Black over Bahama Bronze finish. Thanks for the great video, John and Lou!
Hi Noel, ALWAYS a treat to read your comments. Thanks for viewing, and adding your knowledge. You're welcome, Lou
The 1961 DeSoto is a fantastic car, in spite of Chrysler pulling out of promoting it in 1960. This car is the equivalent of a 1961 Chrysler Newport. I love it! Exner's last DeSoto.
Hi Dejael, Happy to read you enjoy this "fantastic car" :-) Lou
Gorgeous!
I'd forgotten how many different body contours this year had - the front, turn signals and sculpt around the front wheel and body side around the tail - epic styling.
Hi Jerry, High praise :-) Lou
It’s gorgeous! A shame to see Desoto go away, but it made sense at the time. Truly one of a kind! 😎👍
Hi drippinglass, Happy to read "It's gorgeous" :-) Lou
Thank you for bringing us another beauty.. Today's cars have come a long way when it comes to features and reliability, but the cars from this time period truly were works of rolling art.
Hi GMP NY, My pleasure sharing this "beauty" with you :-) Lou
That 'Astrodome lite' dash was sensational, never seen it before on any other Chrysler product and certainly not here in Australia. Thanks Lou for highlighting such a rare marque at the end of its time.
Hi Mike, Happy to share this rare treat with you :-) Cheers, Lou
Beautiful restoration, and a very stylish automobile.
Good morning, Lou!
Good morning Dave. Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Lou
extraordinary machine
:-)
What a beautiful car
Hi Brock, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Lou
I never realized that the last year for the DeSoto was 1961. I thought it was 1959 for the last year. This is a unique looking Mopar. Nicely styled, Healthy sounding engine, and a unique looking front clip,
Hi Michael, Happy to read you enjoy this "Nicely styled" car with you, Lou
59 was the final year DeSoto offered a full line(e.g, convertible,wagon,etc.)and more Edsels than Desoto's were sold in 1958.
¡Pues, si éste fue el último año de DeSoto, al menos, lo concluyeron creando una auténtica obra de arte! Las líneas del vehículo circulan de una manera muy armoniosa, terminando con ésas aletas posteriores inclinadas, y un maletero que curvea suavemente entre éstas. Un interior de lujo, desde los tapizados de las puertas y asientos, hasta el llamativo panel de instrumentos, como el velocímetro iluminado por luz solar, el reloj cilíndrico y muchos otros detalles en cromado. El sonido de su bocina estuvo simpático y me hizo recordar, al menos un poco, a un ganso, jaja. ¡Fantástico el recorrido del final con ése brillo solar; ya que hizo resaltar aún más las tomas! ¡Excelente video, Lou, y saludos cordiales!
Hi Jaime, Happy to read you enjoy this "work of art" :-) Nice that the sun was coming through the speedometer, and interesting clock for sure. Thank you for viewing and sharing the details you notice, Lou
Looks like a plane from the side when you stepped back half a mile to fit it in the frame.
Hi Rudolph, Thank you for sharing what you see....when I stepped back 1/2 a mile :-) Lou
Fins lovers dream car 😍 Love it Lou. The opening scene it looks like a spaceship going down the street 😁
Hi David, Happy to share this "spaceship going down the street" with you :-) Lou
I love the whole car, the colors inside and out are perfect 👍👍
Nice :-)
A real head turner, I'm a big fan of this classic. Thanks guys 👍
Hi Bruce H., Happy to share this "head turner" with you :-) You're welcome, Lou
What a Beautiful Automobile The Chrysler Corporation's DeSotos are! I would love to own a 1957 392cid HEMI Convertible DeSoto Adventurer!
Hi Steven, Happy to read you appreciate the looks of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this UA-cam Channel, Lou
Black on copper pretty cool combo. It’s not the best looking of my beloved DeSoto line but I like it a lot. Nice restoration too
Hi Jeffrey, Happy to read "I like it a lot" :-) Lou
It's funny how a person's taste changes. The first time I saw one of these '61 DeSotos I thought it was ugly. How could they have made such a car? Now I own one and I love it and I think they are beautiful! Perhaps it's also the era that these cars represent.
Hi Randy, Cars have an amazing way of getting better looking with age. Lou
5 stars ... Sweet 😄😄
High praise :-)
The brightwork on this machine is stunning... inside and out. I love how Chrysler handled the glass design back then... subtle wraparound, dome effect. So cool.
Hi apexerman1, Happy to read you enjoy "this machine is stunning" :-) Lou
Fantastic Desoto...love the style...especially the nCanted headlights! Thanks so much John and Lou.
High praise CJ Design :-) You're welcome. Lou
Not only do i luv that 61 Dodge DeSoto, but man I would luv to add it to my collection. What a great piece of Americana. Lou you don’t see that type of art work like that any more. You have class, personality, profile and style.
You can fit five or six people in that car Lou what a time it must’ve been to do a barn find and body off frame restoration work to have done on to a Ride like That.
Lou what better way to see the U S A. Sincerely Yours Truly Ivan I J😎😎😎😎
Hi Ivan I J, Happy to share this artwork with you :-) Lou
It is not a Dodge.
Love DeSoto! Thanks for posting Lou. 👍
Hi Pete's Taint, Happy to read you "Love DeSoto!" :-) You're welcome, Lou
Thanks John, your car is beautiful. Thanks, Lou. I've always loved the '61 DeSoto for its beauty and captivating my interest.
It's always saddened me that the beautiful '61 was the last year. I wouldn't have felt as badly had it been an ugly car.
It would have been great seeing where DeSoto styling would have gone for '62, '63, '64, '65...
You're welcome discerningmind. Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-)
Probably would have looked like the 62-65 Dodge 880s.
What a beautiful car. The color scheme would look good on a new car today.
Hi Dave, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Lou
Outstanding but scary too with so many irreplaceable parts. The practical side of me would say it belongs in a museum. So nice!
Hi Craig, Happy to read your thoughts on this car :-) Lou
Man, why did Chrysler have to kill DeSoto? I mean, I know why, but image how DeSoto would look like today. This is a very beautiful car, it's even is the best car color for the sun to shine on. And that steering wheel resembles a very thin, silver version of an 80s concept car steering wheel. I love the DeSoto.
Hi I Am A Car, You're on the right UA-cam Channel for you :-) Lou
I believe I have seen this in person Lou. Did you find this somewhere near Chicago? When I saw it, I thought it was one of the most stunning vehicles I had ever seen. Thank you for sharing it.
Hi Edmund, I think this car came from IL so it's possible. You're welcome, Lou
Wow, Lou! You have really a fine treasure here! Great looker and thank you for sharing. Love the color!
Hi Carroll, Happy to read you enjoy this "treasure" :-) You're welcome, Lou
Hey Lou. Beautiful looking car. I've never seen a DeSoto like this. I love the condition of this car. It looks brand new, like it came from the showroom. 🙂
Hey Jason, Happy to read you enjoy the looks and condition of this car, Lou
I never really noticed that until you pointed that out Lou, there are two grills on that DeSoto front end. Very unique classic - love it, thanks Lou!🤟
Hi Andy, Happy to share this "Very unique classic" with you :-) You're welcome, Lou
Did you also notice that the steering wheel hub echoes the design of the upper grille? Brilliant!
Beautiful car and it's so cool to see that Ford wasn't the only one to make a speedometer back lit by sunlight.
Hi Josh, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) That back lit speedometer is pretty cool, Lou
Love the fins. Beautiful car.
Hi Pete, Happy to read you "Love the fins" :-) My pleasure sharing this car with you, Lou
Гарне авто! Дякую!
Hi Сергій Шамін, Happy to read you enjoy this nice car :-) You're welcome, Lou
This being a "lower" trim level than the Chrysler badge cars, by today's standards it is plenty ornate and oozes style. I like that it has the 361 V8, as those are not often preserved like the Hemi models often seen now. Great car, great story!
Hi soyounoat, You're right, plenty of style here. Happy to read "Great car, great story!" :-) Lou
Love it !
Hi Larry, Happy to read "Love it !" :-) Lou
Love all your videos Lou. Sharp classic Mopar, the grill and headlights look like something out of a 58 to 60 Lincoln playbook!
Hi Michael, My pleasure sharing with you :-) Happy to share this "Sharp classic Mopar" with you, Lou
P.S. Make sure you watch the commercials (or at least the ones you can) as that's how I get paid so I can keep sharing with you.
Reminds me of an Eldorado in the rear. A blast from the past. Desoto. 1st one I've ever seen!
Hi Tom, Happy to share this "blast from the past" with you :-) Lou
That one brings back memories of my '60 Fireflite coupe... Mint green with a white roof.
Hi Slick, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
I'd like to see the rejected versions of the front end the stylist considered before deciding on this one.
:-)
I missed out on the chance to buy a 1961 Desoto from my grandfather's next door neighbor years ago. It is my dream car.
Hi Galen, Happy to read this is your "dream car" :-) My pleasure sharing this one with you, Lou
what a more than wonderful car, the dashboard is supreme, realy great!
Happy to share this "wonderful car" with you :-)
What a gorgeous stunner,Lou.There must be only a handful left.
Hi Keith, Happy to share this "gorgeous stunner" with you :-) Lou
There are only a few left, simply because people didn't know how good they had it back then
Looks cool its got a smiley face now im in love with desotos
You're right :-)
Thanks for this video, i almost passed on it because Desoto is before my recognition but this car is awesome!!
Hi Jensen Interceptor, Happy to read "this car is awesome!" :-) You're welcome, Lou
Hi, Lou! In this last year for the DeSoto, there were just a two-door hardtop and a four-door hardtop with no series names. There were 911 of the former, as John related, and 2,123 of the latter, for a total of 3,034. That face with the cocked headlamps and the dual grilles is pretty unusual, but yeah, I rather like it, too! The dash is also quite interesting with the sunlit speedometer (which Fords had in 1954 and 1955), the pushbuttons for the transmission and fan, and especially that rotary clock! I never knew such a thing ever existed! The rear ends of the 1961 Chrysler and the 1961 DeSoto both had the fins with wraparound lenses below, but the lenses on the Chrysler are the taillights (except the wagons still carried the boomerang lenses in the fins), while those on the DeSoto are the reverse lights, while the fins on the Chrysler hold round reverse lights, but those on the DeSoto hold the taillights.
BTW, that coyote sighting would have really been something if John had been driving a Road Runner! LOL! Thanks to both of you for showing us this rare last-of-its-kind Mopar!
Hi iswc27, My pleasure sharing with you this "rare last-of-its-kind Mopar!" :-) I like the Road Runner comment :-) BEEP BEEP, You're welcome, Lou
Wonderful DeSoto John, thanks for sharing with the rest off Forward Look nuts! :)
Hi Steve, Happy to read you enjoy this "Wonderful DeSoto" :-) Lou
First off, it's a beautifully restored car. I personally think it's a real beauty in and out. The way I feel about the grill is that it's one of those designs that looks so interesting up close, but at a passing glance, looks rather awkward. It's a beautiful machine though. I would suspect that the division folded like so many branch divisions, in that they no longer filled a certain price-gap. This also happened with the Edsel. People pin it on the design, but it was all a financial issue.
Hi Joseph, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Lou
A rare beauty.
Happy to read you enjoy the looks and appreciate the rarity of seeing this car :-)
I had a 59 fire flight sportsman DeSoto, what an amazing car…!
Hi Jeff, Sounds like you had a great car. Think you'll enjoy this one, Lou ua-cam.com/video/JeKSWiwSPTc/v-deo.html
All I can say is SWEET!!!!
NICE !!!!
I'm not an Exner fan, particularly his later years, but this car's styling and body colors really work! And generally speaking, I don't care for brown either, but on this beauty it looks right. My grandfather had a 1958 DeSoto, and this brought back some good memories. Thank you.
Hi Tom, Happy to read you enjoy the styling and color of this car :-) Glad to read this car brings back memories of your Grandfathers car. Thank you for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome, Lou
chingon car mr lou
Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car mr chon
Thanks!
Hi Scott, SUPER THANK YOU FOR THE SUPER THANKS! I appreciate the support, Lou
Last of the last!! I've seen maybe one or two '61s in person over all the years I have been attending car shows. And I have been to plenty. I read somewhere that once DeSoto production was ended at some point early in 1961, any remaining DeSoto orders were simply filled out with Chrysler Windsors.
Hi AMCmachine, Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Lou
Just saw that this was done in Arizona. Thanks Lou.
You're welcome Edmund.
The DeSoto is very much like the '61 Chrysler and yet so very different. I enjoyed this video. I own a beautiful Newport and saw the same body and engine but such a different dash and front end. Thank you for the in depth look.
Hi Bill, Happy to read you have a cool car too. Thank you for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome. I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this UA-cam Channel, Lou
Thanks for posting, Lou👍. I noticed an unusual styling feature. There's a chrome fin at either end of the dash, which matches both the headlights and the rear fins. Maybe one last flourish from Virgil Exner before Chrysler axed the De Soto brand?
Hi Ray, You're welcome. Happy to read the details you notice :-) You might be right on that styling que, Lou
Chrysler Corporation had widespread strong sales for the 1957 model year...however the quality suffered which had long-term consequences. DeSoto sales tanked in 1958, losing more market share than other Chrysler divisions. The Chrysler Division introduced a shorter 122-inch wheelbase Windsor in 1958 which shared the basic Dodge body with the cheaper DeSoto Firesweep. Sales of DeSotos further declined in both 1959 and 1960 due to rumors that the DeSoto division was to be discontinued. Then an executive decision was made to introduce the cheaper 1961 Chrysler Newport which was a basic replacement for the DeSoto. Production of the 1961 DeSoto ended on November 30, 1960. There were too many mid-priced full-sized cars in the late 1950s....and Chevrolet, Ford, and Plymouth moved upmarket with the Impala, Galaxie, and Fury. The newest market niche that was rapidly growing was in smaller cars.
Hi SpockvsMcCoy Kirk, Thank you for sharing your knowledge, Lou
Would've been cool to have those rear bumper bumperettes as exhaust tip outlets instead. Very cool and underrated cars.
Hi John, Happy to share this "Very cool and underrated cars" with you :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Good day Lou,
Yeah only a face a mother will love, no issue with me I actually find it beautiful.
The whole DeSoto is beautiful from front to rear.
Cheers
Louis Kats your number 1 Fan in Australia.
👍 🇦🇺 😀 🇺🇸
Good Day Louis, Happy to read this one is "beautiful" car with you :-) Thanks for being my # 1 Fan in Australia. Cheers, Lou
Beautiful!
Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car Mikey B. :-)
Love your videos Lou :)
The upclose and personal style while keeping it simple, with no fancy editing :)
I'd just love for you to start shooting in 4K, as it would make for a tremendous difference in quality while watching on a big screen!
Hi Baby Benz, Appreciate the kind words. I'm working on getting $ for 4K camera. feel free to help too by 1) Watching the commercials, 2) supporting on Patreon (link provided) 3) Send $, Thanks in advance, Lou www.patreon.com/MyCarStoryWithLou?fan_landing=true
Or "SUPER THANKS" too.
@@loucostabile You'd be surprised at how good of a result a simple iPhone (from the 11 Pro) could actually achieve!
Believe me! The iPhone's dynamic range, stability and just overall quality on video recording is quite insane for it being "just a phone" :)
Try using one for a video just as a sample... see the public's reaction to it ;)
Mighty fine last year DeSoto, and in the right color combo. . . :>/
Nice :-)
😍Beautiful DeSoto!!!!👍
Nice !
@@loucostabile 👍👍
Like beautiful butterfly
Nice :-)
Love thus Style in Dodge and Desoto and Chrysler. Same exact interior as my ‘61 Dodge. Different back panel then the engine turn on the dash but same wheel, and dash.
Hi gene978, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
It’s artwork!❤
Just the way we like it :-)
Great car, and great presentation as always Lou. I agree with your preference for cars kept in stock condition, and for the same reason: They take us right back to the time they were built. A candy apple metallic red Model T doesn't do that!
Hi MDavid G, Happy to read you enjoy this "Great car" :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Looks like Virgil Exner had his hand in the design of this beauty. Love the translucent speedo...way cooler than the digital screens we have today. Nice ride!
Hi Steve, Happy to read you enjoy "the design of thie beauty" :-) My pleasure sharing this car with you, Lou
Cool how theyre going back to the push transmissions.
You're right.
I love it.
Happy to read "I love it" :-)
The old design rule "form follows function" as applied the cars means that with the best styling there should be a functional reason for every panel, every bulge, every crease in the bodywork. This insane beauty is a prime example of how Virgil Exner was not too familiar with that rule.
Hi JackF, Nice :-) Lou
You have a collector car. Sharp looking. Awesome by far. 😅😅
Happy to read "Awesome by far" :-)
The windshield washer switch under the dash looks like it’s either an optional feature, or an “afterthought.” Strange indeed!
Hi Fred, Interesting for sure. Lou
Beautiful Desoto, the last year sadly, i had a 55 Fireflite here in England UK a few yrs ago and a few American Cars ago, now ive a 56 2 door Packard.
Hi Matt, Happy to read you have a fun car, and had a past fun car too, Lou
Wicked, Lou!
Nice Stuart :-)
Love it!!!😊👍
NICE !
I was excited to see this video as I knew your detail would be excellent. Loved the Rotary Clock and the space ship dashboard! End of an era...last year for Desoto. Have you ever seen the 1962 DeSoto Prototype? It was downsized and just did not look that good. This was an excellent looking car, but then it was too similiar to other Mopars of that time..maybe that's why it wasn't sucessful.
Hi Brian, I agree, the rotary clock was different and interesting. Have not seen the 1962 DeSoto Proto. Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Lou
Very nice. I actually like it's facade
Happy to read this one is "Very nice" :-)