Desoto Deluxes pop up here on Barn Finds from time to time, but these Desoto Suburbans are not as common to find. Discovered in a barn, this Desoto is a one owner survivor that is incredibly original with futuristic third-row seating. Appearing in great shape this Desoto truckster is offered for the buy it now price of $4,500. Check out this Barn Find here on eBay out of Olympia, Washington.
The original flathead inline 6 turns over smoothly and does have spark. The seller says that the engine is close to firing. Many of the engine components are covered in surface rust, but with some careful cleaning, and double checking of grounds, I would bet this beauty could be revived in a few weekends.
The interior is quite wonderful and is really an awesome selling point of this Desoto. In the above image a white seat cover can be seen, but in the next image, you will the original upholstery in place and in good health.
With suicide doors and a third row to seat the kids, this missing link looks to be a spacious and comfortable ride for everyone. Although imperfect, I am still quite impressed by the condition of this Desoto.
Throw your classic suitcases on the roof and hook up a classic Airstream camper and you too can live the American dream! Despite some minor surface rust on the hood and driver fender, much of the original paint remains. Most if not all of the trim is accounted for, and the nicely designed roof rack is a neat touch on this Suburban. The overall condition, rarity, and uniqueness are all a draw for this Desoto. Hitch up a classic camper and you are sure to make a lot of friends at the car shows and campsites. Have you seen one of these Desoto Suburbans before?
A super cool ride, not surprised it is gone already.
Neither am I. These old bombers seem to be getting hotter every day, especially the ones with that big smile on the front.
Hey! It’s Mr. Cuttingham’s old Desoto!!
I remember the episode where the Fonz soups up the DeSoto so Richie can drag race some guy. Richie says, “Fonzie, you wouldn’t hurt my dad’s car, would you? If I wreck it, he’ll ground me for life!”
Fonzie’s response: “Richie…if you crack up in that rod, there ain’t gonna be nothing left of you to punish!”
I like the 1963 issue Pierce County, Washington license plates. Looks like the car has been in the South Sound region for most of its life.
This is nice – a friend’s family had one when I was a kid – called it the “bus.” We all loved riding in it even though it was pretty dated and “uncool.” Would make a great unrestored driver, I’d think, for a couple of K in mechanical costs.
Howard Cunningham called. He wants his car back.
We had a metallic blue ’47 Suburban when I was learning to drive. It had the Tiptoe-Matic four speed column shift transmission. I would have loved to buy this Barn Find, it would have brought back some wonderful memories
My first toy and antique car purchase to be used as such was a 42 Dodge sedan purchased in 1974 for 200 dollars and was a virtually rust free 4 door sedan with working factory radio and heater and what was classified as a useable interior. I don’t remember the exact cubic inch the 6 cyl engine was equipped with the 3on the tree fluid drive tranny that gave te option of basically driving as an automatic. My question is in response to the comment made to attach a vintage trailer and hit the road, were all these old mopars, Chrysler, Dodge Plymouth and Desoto basically equipped with the same 6 cyl engine. I know there were optional 8 cyl straight 8’s offered in the Chryslers but in all of the models there were varying wheel bases and models from coupe to2dr sedan to the long wheel base version like this in Desoto and the Limo’s in the New Yorker and Imperials of Chrysler which often were the larger8 cyl. The 6’s being basically the same how did they perform on these larger cars and were they very often used totow trailers and such equipment. It would seem even when new they would be over taxed and under powered. I know they were durable and when not abused and cared for ran many miles and very dependable. I know like Ralphie’s father Darren McGavin in “Christmas Story being an Oldsmobile Man” my dad was a”Chrysler Man” but as we always drove a 10 or 15 year old “well Usedmodel” we usually got there but I doubt we would have ever made it far across country pulling a “Vintage Sparton” LOL I do remember and have “pix” somewhere after WWII late 40’s of him and my Grand Dad on his farm usingthe well used 35 Ply mouth 4dr sedan in the Corn Field at crop gathering time with the rear seats removed both rear doors open and the Mule and wagn already loaded with all the one Mule Power could handle. sitting next to it and the Plymouth with every ear of corn that could be loaded leaving driver room only. What I most fondly remember was the part where when he started to traverse the terraces to the Barn it was a bit too uch and it got lodged and stuck on the terrace!!. That is where the One Mule Power was unhitched and tied to the bumper to rescuce the Plymouth. But it got there and the seats were back in and it swept out and washed down in time for us to put on our best and make it to Church on Sunday Morning. What times andit made it on until about 1952 or 53 when it got repaced with an equally well used 42 Plymouth 2dr that made it until the mid 50’s when coming from work my Mom approaching a Red light hit the brakes which hit the floor and to avoid taking out half the small town she quicly veared right and wedged it between a 2 ton Propane delivery truck parked on the street and an Oak tree Think that was one of the few times I never heard my Dad take her to task about driving LOL. That was the beginning of my love affair of cars as it was parked in the back yard and became my make believe daily driver. That was also the beginning of my Moms owning her first car in her name and non Mpor, a 53 Ford v/8 which subsequently in58 brough tme to the real love when I talked her into the purchase of a newly traded15k mile 57 283 power packed Chevy Belair with duals and that got me into many troubles another long but funny story. So I still wonder how many of those old mopar 6’s hauled more than Pple and Corn
Ron,
The venerable Mopar ’40’s & ’50’s sixes came in five variants, 218, 230, 236, 251, and 265 cubic inches. The straight eight was 324 cubic inches. Chrysler also offered the “Spitfire” 265 cubic inc six in addition to the straight eight, and De Soto offered the 251 cubic inch “Powermaster” six.
Oh Boy, i remember these. A neighbor down the block from us had one. He drove it forever. We camped out in it once or twice. Thanks for the memory……….
Very cool and complete…the first Minivan!!
Good luck to the new owner!!!
I don’t know what is is about these old Chrysler blimps, but I love ’em all. Yeah, listing ended. My first wife had a ’38 DeSoto when we were dating. She and her sister took it to New Mexico. It couldn’t pull the hill at Raton Pass, blew the radiator hose, over-heated, and they were stuck on the road, in November, mind you, at night, for several hours, until a Colorado Highway Patrol car came along. Oh, there were 3 pre-schoolers in the car, too. The cop called for a tow truck, and gave them a ride to the nearest motel. Thye were col and scared for a few days. After that, we all had a good laugh, once in a while. And, no, it never returned.
Thanks BR I should have guessed but that is a goodly number of cubi inches over the years. We never owned any trucks other than a 53 Dodge PU which I would guess probably had the smaller cid like the smaller cars whatever the case they were all pretty effective work horses as well as passenger carriers and my Dad thought the “floating power” was the thing though I can’t attest to any knowledge of evidence there was any difference, but I guess when anything reaches a certain age the best has been sapped at some point at least that is how it is at 73 for me LOL. But at least it is nice to still nice to have things like BF to read and still learn after all these years.
Almost 78 for me. The “Floating Power” is just a sales term referring to the engine mounting pattern in rubber isolation mounts – two at the rear and one at the front, or two at the front and one at the rear of the transmission. It was nothing really special because by that time all vehicles used rubber isolation mountings.