The 1959 model year was a big one for DeSoto. The company had a huge celebration to recognize its 30-year association with Chrysler. Though more than 46,000 DeSotos were built in 1959, that was fewer than in 1958 (a recession year), and far ahead of the 26,000 in 1960. Seeing the handwriting on the wall – and with a sluggish start in 1961 – that was enough for Chrysler, and DeSoto folded before the 1960 calendar year was done. It was a matter of one too many brands in Highland Park. The seller has a 1959 Sportsman, likely a Firedome or Fireflite, and it has been subject to the whims of Mother Nature for quite some time. Located in Rochester, Washington, this needy Mopar is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $1,200.
1959 was also big for DeSoto as their lifetime production finally reached two million units. The cars were in their third year of a three-year cycle that began in 1957. As a result, the autos were bigger and bolder than ever, with tailfins that reached halfway to the sky. The Sportsman was the two- and four-door hardtop versions of what DeSoto had to offer. Firesweeps came with a 361 cubic inch V8 while all the other series got 383 V8 engines. Dual 4-barrel carburetor setups could be ordered on any DeSoto (they were “Adventurer Powered!”).
If this Sportsman is a Firedome, it’s one of 2,862 produced in 1959; if a Fireflite, the number was 1,983. So, these hardtops weren’t lurking at every street corner, and hardly at all now that 67 years have passed. This rather weather-beaten Sportsman was listed at $3,500 initially by the seller, but a lack of activity has brought the number down to $1,200. It has the dual-quad arrangement, which would have been rated at 350 hp when it was last moving. The hardware atop the engine has been removed and sits on a blanket on the ground. The transmission is in the trunk.
This DeSoto has had the same owner since 1985, the last time it was licensed for highway use. The body is likely rough, but it’s the last year before they switched to a unibody platform. The interior is equally rough, so if you have a restoration in mind, be prepared for an expensive scavenger hunt for parts. Would you tackle this old DeSoto? Our thanks to “Zappenduster” for the tip.
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