After some dabbling with fins in 1956, Chrysler went “all in” with fins across its brands for the all-new Virgl Exner-penned 1957 redesigns. This flashy 1957 DeSoto Adventurer in Hardy, Virginia flicks its tail fins at the world, punctuated by dual rear-swept radio antennae. Running and driving after a fuel-system flush, the once-repainted beauty seeks a new owner here on eBay, where bidding has eclipsed $27,000 without meeting the seller’s Reserve. To expedite your ownership of this specimen, one of the 100 or so remaining ’57 Adventurers (according to the seller), simply click Buy It Now and, for $42,000, make the seller’s day.
Though designed for quad headlights, not all states allowed them until 1958 so you may occasionally see a ’57 with singles. While sharing a family resemblance with other Chrysler products, the DeSoto gets my vote for best grille that year. The seller describes this paint job as looking fine from 10 or more feet away, a “ten-footer.” A host of undercarriage pictures show mostly solid metal, and the listing describes areas requiring attention.
Check out that original interior! Aside from the carpeting, what you see here came with the car in ’57. Only offered in varieties of white, gold, and black, the Adventurer theme carried over from the previous generation DeSoto, paying homage to explorer Hernando De Soto. Regardless of which limited paint combination you chose, your Adventurer came with this interior. Power windows? Of course. While other cars featured antiquated levers to change gears, DeSoto offered gear changes at the push of a button.
Chrysler’s now-famous Hemi cleverly hid the spark plug wires beneath metal shrouds running the length of the valve covers. The Adventurer delivered DeSoto’s most powerful version, 345 HP from the dual four-barrel V8 displacing 345 cid. Developing 1+ HP/cubic inch seems like child’s play today, but that milestone was something special in the ’50s. The seller graciously discloses an intermittent valve noise, perhaps a sticky hydraulic lifter. These early hemi engines look fantastic in a ’30s street rod where their elegant design can be enjoyed from both sides. Would you like to own this hemi-powered Adventurer?
What a beauty!!! Yes, we’d own that without a second thought; sticky lifter? Easier to get to than anything on most any new car. Headliner need attention? More than a few shops around here would have it fixed in a day. Add a little octane boost to the gas with some kind of lube for the valve stems (or get a pilot buddy to get some good avgas?) and sail on down the road.
Cool car.
Great find, Todd!!!
I owned a Z-1 in the mid 80s, and became convinced that avgas would solve all of my problems. The truck jockey said that he needed a valid tail number, something I couldn’t do. I told him that I only needed five gallons and he rolled his eyes and said “Save yourself a lot of trouble and just buy some Turbo Blue.”
I would run Amoco (BP in some states) premium with octane booster and lead substitute.
The Z-1 was really only happy at WFO throttle. I was using it as a touring bike.
Thanks, Dave-I’ll give the Turbo Blue a try; there’s a 1984 KZ1000 in my garage (“P” model) that will most likely do best on that, as there are no BP/Amoco stations out west that are north of Tijuana..I do have a friend with a Cessna 182 at the local airport but I don’t want to put him in an awkward position by asking him to fill a couple 5 gallon Jerry cans.
Z-1 as a touring bike? That made for some very fast touring on your part in its time IMHO!👍🏻
Theres BP stations all over Oregon…
Good to know, grant-for whatever reason they weren’t indicated on the map I was looking at on the web..Good excuse for a road trip later!
Now that’s a car!
Andy. It’s so over the top that it’s GORGEOUS!!
Cadillac supposedly won the “tail fin contest” in ’59. But, in my opinion, DeSoto got it earlier. I actually liked the 4 doors better. Just me. Yeah, I’d like to have one of these. But,at these prices, I’ll see ya later.
If I were to add a 50’s cruiser to my (admittedly theoretical) collection, it would be something like this: gorgeous, rare, and in fabulous colors.
‘57 was the first year to have both the Torqueflite a727 transmission that debuted in ‘56 and Chrysler’s new for ‘57 Torsion-Aire suspension a combination that would carry them for two decades and a definitive difference from other domestic manufacturers.
Since this is 1957 (and trans does look correct from what little i see in the pix), this DeSoto sports the original NON-‘heavy-duty’ Torqueflite A488 design first intro’d in later 1956.
Separate Torque Converter Housing and Case, all cast-iron (not 1-piece aluminum like A727). Also, this era uses a Cable-shifted Manual Valve, not lever-shifted.
And no Parking Pawl, its biggest criticism although that was added to this A488 cast-iron design TF in (i believe) 1960.
Just saying…
https://www.pure-gas.org/
Thank you, sir. That shows me I’ve got a station here in my town without the dreaded ethanol-a lead additive for the valve stems and some octane boost will keep the old girl running right!
Those tires. Have . To . Go!
Doc you got that right! The tires are terrible. If I were to buy it, I would stop on the way home and have them changed.
Otherwise, It’s very nice.
I just can’t imagine what it would be like driving this home for the first time back in 1957. It must have been great!
You want fins—-now that is what I call fins. Love it, a real beauty.
Got a special hankerin’ for late 50’s DeSotos. The 1st car I remember riding in was the old mans ’59 or ’60. Not near as fancy. His business partner ( for years they both bought the same cars, for some reason) always had a fancier one. His had the swivel front seats and a bunch of other stuff the old man never went for. I remember the speedo changed colors, green to like 35, yellow up to 50, red above that. The old man was a cautious driver, and rarely got it “into the red”. We always wondered what was after red. We used to lay down on the rear package tray, he’d hit the brakes, we’d go flying into the front seat back. We thought it was fun. For you youngun’s, a guy named Groucho Marx, who had a very popular tv show, and therefore a trusted man, helped sell a lot of DeSotos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8QbjpUoX40
Lord almighty. Now THIS is a car that I don’t mind having on the screen when Wifey Dear shares our home workspace. Four thumbs up!
How does this car not fly?
My favorite car from the fifties. No other car comes close, especially in horsepower, 345 c.u./345 up. Styling is futuristic, suddenly it’s 1960,not 1949. Only thing is the price, wish that I had the money and space for it in my two car garage.
I agree on all points !
I always thought the De Soto was the best looking Chrysler product. I would not mind having it. Not sure it would fit in my garage.
A little tip on using AV gas you will find any fuel line leak because it is dyed. Ask me how I know, my brother tried it in his corvette. He had carb leak and dyed the engine compartment a lovely shade of blue.
BIG! BOLD! BRAWNY! BRASH! Adventurer! How could you not feel like King of the Road driving this?!? :-)
DeSoto went out with a bang. Had many, and still have a soft top version. They are the best looking post-war car, IMO. The 58 is nearly identical in apprearance, but debuted the B-block 361/383, that went corporate wide over the next decade and beyond. The 57 Hemi is impressive, but the 383 outperforms it, and parts are easy to get and 1/10th the price. Awesome car. The tires have got to do. WTF ?
Back in1961 when I was 15 y o, My mother had the gold and white Desoto Adventurer model. The problem was she was in her 50,s when she bought the car. It really was to much engine for her with the 2 4 barrel carbs and the 345 CI block. I used to urge her to floor the car on straight always to clear the clogging up carbs. she gave it a couple second burst but not nearly enough to help the carbs. She also used to start the car, Go in the house, Then after 5 or 10 minutes to warm it up in wintertime, go out and drive into work at about 35 Mph. for 3 miles. It just about killed me even at 15 Y O to see those dual bumper exhausts blowing blue smoke and idling roughly while the carbs were chokeingi up. LOL Oh how I loved that car and still do, So much so I bought one to reminisce with. Although I bought it off of E bay, Its a 1/18 inch, ???, scale model in a clear plastic view case. LOL OH WELL.
That’s so great….Awesome memories, for sure.
DeSoto in 50’s – – 56 57 58 my favorites and I’m a 55-56-57 Pontiac /Chevy guy. If I had the coin (lottery winning) I’d be on this like stink on a skunk. Yup – – tires gotta go – – easy peasy – – and any other imperfections found dealt with immediately. What a conversation piece at car shows – – -huwever I’d study hard on the history and all knowledge about design, options, production #’s color schemes etc. before going to car shows – – -one wants to be very knowledgeable / an expert on this car first – – – like I was with my 42 Merc when some dumb ass at a car show in Picture Bute Alberta about 4 summers ago said I was full of s_ _t that there was no such thing – – – well I hope buddy saw my posting after that cause it showed how dumb one can be when one is full to over flowing with beer. His buddies were smarter and of course the argument got going amongst the group as I left – – I’d been over there admiring a few of the cars they had brought to the show. One being a 40 Ford retro rod.