In the late 1950s, Chrysler and Ford learned an important lesson. The said lesson was that the market had become saturated and there was little interest anymore in the long-standing DeSoto or the new Edsel. Both cars would be gone by 1961. The seller has a 1958 DeSoto Fireflite that looks to have been stored in a big shed for ages. Likely needing everything, this Mopar is offered as a project or for parts in McDonald, Kansas. Available here on Facebook Marketplace, the seller is hoping to collect $2,000 for his/her treasure. Accolades go to “Zappenduster” for another dusty tip!
DeSoto was no stranger to car shoppers since it had been around as a mid-tier Chrysler since 1928. From 1955 to 1960, the Fireflite held court over the likes of the Firesweep and Firedome models, but the Adventurer was where the money was. The 1957-59 DeSotos were treated to the “Forward Look” styling that set new standards for flashy cars that decade. 49,445 DeSotos were built in 1958, down from 1957, and they would continue to drop annually until Chrysler pulled the plug early in the 1961 season. 12,120 of the ‘58s were Fireflites (3,284 hardtops like this one).
The seller is light on details regarding this DeSoto. The color is said to be tan, but the photos also seem to reveal some faded red (primer?). The interior is also “tan” and looks to be in rough shape (one window is missing, providing a portal for woodland creatures to enter). We’re told the Fireflite needs floors, and the to-do list is probably longer.
Assuming an engine is there, a 361 cubic-inch V8 is likely, paired with a push-button automatic transmission (a Chrysler staple in the 1950s and 1960s). The odometer is said to read 55,000 miles, but could it also be 155,000? If you’re into these wildly winged Mopars, this car could be an uphill climb. The seller was planning to do a body swap, but has too many other irons in the fire.
A rare find indeed, but unless your pockets are lined like the shelves in a bank vault this may be a losing proposition. `58 DeSotos of any model are scarce, and like I always say “buy the very best example of a particular car that you can afford”. You could get half-way done restoring this and have it still need $75K. This Fireflite will need the right buyer for sure. By the way–the headline reads “DODGE” Fireflite? Those were the Firesweeps with the Dodge front clip on them.
Facebook marketplace only has major manufacturers to choose from when posting a listing. Likely Desoto wasn’t an option
Depending upon what is under the hood, this could be a great parts car. A complete factory AC system would be worth the price to a DeSoto guy..
$2000? There’s at least that in parts. If you’re a Desoto person, this is a steal. Sure, total restoration of a non-convertible is probably a non-starter, unless you can do your own work…and a lot of it. If I were the owner trying to sell, I’d have contacted the Desoto Club (I’m sure that there must be one).
All I see is a very rusty parts car. The drive train, some interior parts, the bumpers and steering wheel. Trash the rest.
The front windshield intact? The back window intact? The instrument panel? Perhaps the side glass and chrome. Perhaps the seat structures. The right side headlight bezel, the rear taillights housings and plastic. The trunk, the hood, all of the chrome trim. The rear quarters on both sides? The front fenders look salvageable. The entire drive train TBD. Lots of parts for someone doing Desotos.
@Eric_13cars
The windshield is cracked, the two passenger side windows look busted out. The rear glass is intact. The steering wheel has about7 or 8 cracks in it. The headlight brows always rusted out on these cars.
I’d hate to see it as a parts car because the “forward look” was a great look for ’57 through ’60 Mopars.
It’s sad that car owners let cars deteriorate to this point before offering it for sale.
Perhaps so, Steve, but who knows the circumstances for the owner now or at any point in their ownership history.
@Eric_13cars
Eric i think what Steve is saying is that MOST owners of classic cars have the intension of fixing them up but after years and years of life getting in the way and neglect, they should have offered it for sale long before it got to this state.
Sure we don’t know if he got sick, had financial problems, wife problems, whatever, if the car has sat for years MAYBE you should get rid of it before this state.
@Eric_13cars
Eric i think what Steve is saying is that MOST owners of classic cars have the intension of fixing them up but after years and years of life getting in the way and neglect, they should have offered it for sale long before it got to this state.
Sure we don’t know if he got sick, had financial problems, wife problems, whatever, if the car has sat for years MAYBE you should get rid of it before this state.
Sadly this has deteriorated to the point of being a parts car in my estimation. In restored condition they are not inexpensive. But the cost of restoration these days is astronomical. To do it correctly would be financially impractical. FWIW, I belong to the National DeSoto Club. It’s a very active group and so is our local chapter. The seller would probably garner some interest from the NDC.
The front fenders over the headlights look rusted through to me. Maybe I need new glasses.
I hate to see another Desoto get parted out, especially since it’s a four door hardtop. This car looks to be very restorable to me if someone can do some of the work themself and that’s the direction I would like to see it go. I see more than $2K worth of parts on it but I hope that’s not what someone buys it for. We got a new 57 Desoto when I was 16 and it was a beautiful car and I have been a Desoto fan ever since then. Well, good luck to buyer and seller.
Russell: looks like a 2 door hardtop to me, not a 4 door hardtop.
Thank you. I’m not sure what I was thinking since it obviously a two door. At least I did get the hard top part correct LOL.
1957 was the last year of De Soto.
The name plate owned by Dodge was carried on through 58.
2200 were made, not all sold.
If you want a rare piece of history? There it is.
@Dave Neff
Actually, Dave, I think 1961 was the last year for DeSoto and it wasn’t even a full year, just a couple of months.
I was thinking Hudson.
I had to look at the wall and read what I wrote on the inside of the hubcap.
”Needs work.”
We had a 57 Desoto when it became known that Desoto would be discontinued. The dealership in Savannah, Georgia at the time was Jolly Motors. Jolly was not a frame of mind, the owner was Mr. Jolly, LOL. He told my dad that after the announcement that he could sell all that he could get, as long time Desoto owners wanted to keep driving Desoto’s. It was a small old time dealership that only sold one brand of cars as I remember it, and Mr. Jolly was always there.