Looking at the number of comments that each type of car gets here on Barn Finds yields some surprising results. Some of our most commented on finds are cars with low financial entry points that are what could be charitably called “driver quality.” If you are looking for a seemingly solid and original project for relatively little cash, head on down after the storm to Saint Petersburg, Florida for a look at this 1947 DeSoto for sale on craigslist. With an asking price of $4,500 for this Fluid Drive favorite of the big car set, is this the kind of smooth-running project you could see yourself in? Thanks again go to reader T.J. for letting us know about this original Mopar.
The description on this distinctive DeSoto is that it is an original car down to the spare tire. The seller claims that only the four primary tires are new to the car. It does have surface rust and the description states that it needs a loving restoration. Considering that you would have no hope of coming out money ahead on a full restoration of this DeSoto, the pictures raise the question of just how useable the car is as it sits. Could this car be cleaned up and put back on the road with minimal expense?
The body appears to be in very presentable shape, and the paint may actually take a shine if it were carefully polished by a professional who specializes in bringing back original finishes from the dead. Some of these folks are absolute artists at what they do, and this DeSoto is a good candidate for their attention. The pictures of the interior, which are inexplicably taken through the dirty door glass instead of through an open door, show surfaces that don’t look too bad. Smell-O-Vision may indicate that the interior served time as a last resting place for a herd of vermin, but we haven’t added that option to Barn Finds yet.
The seller tells us that the car also comes with a perfectly functional duplicate block. While we assume that the seller means an engine block, it would be nice to have some more detail added to clarify exactly what is meant? Is this a block with all the trimmings from the fan to the rear freeze plug? Or is this a bare block without even an extra bolt attached? We are told that several boxes of parts and a set of original seat covers are included in the sale.
Looking carefully at the information we have; one cannot help but wonder if this was an inherited car now owned by someone who isn’t exactly a car enthusiast. This car had to have been garaged until fairly recently. St. Petersburg’s salty air has not been kind to the finish, but this car certainly doesn’t look like it has sat outside for decades in a coastal Florida city. Is this a diamond in the rough? Is this car worth a call on, considering that the storm doesn’t drop a tree on it? The ad does say that it has to be sold soon.
What do you think of this forlorn DeSoto? Is this a bargain diamond in the rough or not worth the $4,500 admission price? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Shooting through dirty glass and no engine pic… that’s a one, two photo fail.
I hope he didn’t work on his own car.
No edit button. Jokes aside, this is a cool car and may be worth a look in spite of the camera work.
I like the looks of this. I would check it out if it were closer, but it’s 1900 miles away and it’s in Florida. Best of luck to those folks right now!
Thanks Todd. I would suggest avoiding any reason to come down here to what is sometimes known as “Sunny Florida” for at least for a few days.
Wow. Talk about a pre-flood sale of a (potentially) really nice car…hope seller doesn’t find him/herself under water on this resto…
That’s a sad but true observation. Lot’s of old classics down there. Hopefully, the owners took heed. If they could.
There won’t be anyone looking at this
car right now anyway given the fact that Ian is about to flatten a good part
of Florida. I sure hope this car doesn’t get lost in the storm.
Surprisingly solid for it’s age. Lower quarters look good, and what I can see of the interior it was treated well in years past, anyway. Clean it up, get it running “as is”. It’s one for your “coffee & cars” gathering!
Looks like a reasonable asking price for a complete, unmolested antique driver. I agree with the clean it up, tune it up and drive it comments. It’s a good looking 2 door original car, and should be dead simple to work on.
Terrible time to put it up for sale in Florida, but hopefully it survives another week, after making it 75 years!
Poor car is smack dab at ground zero of Cat 5 Ian! Wonder today looks lke for its fate???
Nice write-up Jeff. I wonder how many people get the Smell-o-vision reference ! Nothing like the smell of mold, mildew, and rat leavings in an old antique vehicle, and now with the hurricane…OY!!!
Back when I was a young whipper snapper, I hated these cars, especially the grill. Now that I’m older that grill is distinctive and you can’t miss knowing that’s a DeSoto. Very cool car. In great shape and shouldn’t take much to get it rolling, except for Ian. I really hope the hurricane doesn’t ruin this car.
Didn’t these come with hidden headlights for a year or two? Probably the upper etchilon model.
Only the 1942 De Sotos had the hideaway headlights.
Thanks, Denny. Those are the DeSoto I like. Of course, they had to be produced during a shortened year due to World War ll, so they’re probably really scarce.
I would love to look at it this. I live in Florida, but there is no way I would drive to where it is on the map. I hope it didn’t get flooded in the storm.