After 10 years of waiting in a barn, this formerly restored 1956 DeSoto is looking for a new owner. Thanks to Robert R for this find, which is for sale here on craigslist in Hanover, Illinois for $8,000. The owner reports that it was driven into the barn 10 years ago after having been restored in 1983. Minor surface rust has taken hold, and we have no idea how well it was prepared for storage (although “driven into the barn” doesn’t fill me with optimism that it was prepared properly). The seller has documentation from the original owner and all subsequent owners, which to me is really neat; I love going through the old paperwork when I purchase a car! Here’s hoping someone rescues this one!
I love ’56 Desoto’s but is the interior of this one a secret? The seller should have removed the cover and hosed off the dirt before taking these few pictures.
Hi Ed, yes, but then technically, it wouldn’t qualify as a real Barn Find. I agree, if you are asking 8g’s for something ( which is still a lot of money to me), it should be cleaned up. I’m sure the interior is trashed (or there’d be a picture of it, like you say) These were nice cars, although, the early, mid 50’s hemi was a slug ( and leaked oil), but they were nice road cars.
Howard,
One thing to consider regarding the interior, some people don’t have the first clue as to how to market a vehicle for sale. As we’ve seen here many times, poor camera shots, pictures out of focus, missing critical information, and beyond believable pricing. That could account for a dirty car with a cover over it missing the most basic information in a sale advertisement too. LOL some of these “would be” sellers kill me. Cheers!
Cool car, it should be in the movies!
Way too much for a mid post ’56.
It needs to be running and driving for 8G’s. That alone may cost from 2,000 including new tires to 10,000 depending on what it needs. If that hemi needs to come apart for any reason, it won’t be cheap.
56 is one of the better years for Desoto, it was the Indy pace car that year…..I had a pace car convertible many decades ago that I let get away…..have regretted it since, mostly gold and white. They are big dollar cars today. The downside to the 56 is it was the last year without torsion suspension that improved the car greatly in ride and handeling. This one looks pretty pedestrian…….8K is a lot of money the way it looks.
It has too many doors for me.
Leaving aside the extra doors, what possesses someone to think their “hasnt run in ten years and been left in a seemingly dirt floor barn” ’56 DeSoto is worth ANYTHING much less eight grand? You want eight thousand dollars, clean it up get it running and convince me once it’s cleaned up and running its worth eight grand, Sheesh…..people.
Looking at the way the cement blocks are stacked holding the walls up I would move the car really soon. I would imagine under the carpets etc is full of serious heavy surface rust and the aroma of a closed up vehicle for all those years.
No thanks