Viewing a thread - 1958 Desoto Convert

You are logged in as a guest. ( logon | register )

1958 Desoto Convert Moderators: ronbo97 Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page]	View previous thread :: View next thread
Forward Look Swap Meet -> For Sale - EBAY, CRAIGSLIST & OTHER FINDS	Message format

RUSTORICHES

Posted 2017-01-05 11:31 PM (#530573)
Subject: 1958 Desoto Convert

Extreme Veteran

Posts: 494
100

Location: Alberta

Make Room In The Garage;https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/desoto/firedome/1907489.html#&gid=1&pid=4

Edited by RUSTORICHES 2017-01-05 11:32 PM

(57570546-770-0@2X.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

57570546-770-0@2X.jpg (69KB - 150 downloads)

56D500boy

Posted 2017-01-06 1:30 AM (#530580 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Expert 5K+

Posts: 9893
5000

Location: Lower Mainland BC

Try this link:

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/desoto/firedome/1...

jeff b

Posted 2017-01-06 8:15 AM (#530594 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Veteran

Posts: 113
100

Wow !! Awesome!

Lancer Mike

Posted 2017-01-06 12:57 PM (#530622 - in reply to #530594)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: The Mile High City

Very nice! A true show piece!

It will be interesting to see what this fetches at auction.
Does anyone remember what it sold for last time? It seems like a dealer bought it and put it up for sale afterward around the $200,000 range!

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-01-06 12:59 PM (#530623 - in reply to #530622)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: Parts Unknown

Ah, another case of the curse of the over-valued convertible, .... flip,
flip, flip , flip, flip ......

Mike McCandless

Posted 2017-01-06 4:36 PM (#530646 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Expert

Posts: 1886
1000

Not really. It sold for 192k at auburn. That's adventurer range. I will be looking at it for sure. All the cars like this have a reserve. When it was at auburn it was no reserve.

soiouz

Posted 2017-01-06 4:53 PM (#530652 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Expert

Posts: 3480
2000

Location: Montreal, Canada

Nice car, but I still don't understand why someone would go through a complete restoration of such a car, and then install an incorrect 1957 rearview mirror (and dash) inside!...?

Car was previously discussed here:

http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=53915&...

It looks like they put the spring special trim on the trunk level, now, as it used to drop somewhat on the passenger side.

Edited by soiouz 2017-01-06 5:11 PM

(image.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

image.jpg (50KB - 106 downloads)

Lancer Mike

Posted 2017-01-06 8:48 PM (#530668 - in reply to #530646)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: The Mile High City

Mike McCandless - 2017-01-06 2:36 PM

Not really. It sold for 192k at auburn. That's adventurer range. I will be looking at it for sure. All the cars like this have a reserve. When it was at auburn it was no reserve.

Aha! I think a dealer bought it at Auburn and then put it in Hemmings for about $240,000 (a quick $50,000, he hoped). I don't know if it ever sold from there.

Lancer Mike

Posted 2017-01-06 8:52 PM (#530669 - in reply to #530652)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: The Mile High City

soiouz - 2017-01-06 2:53 PM

Nice car, but I still don't understand why someone would go through a complete restoration of such a car, and then install an incorrect 1957 rearview mirror (and dash) inside!...?

Lots of '57 parts, interior and exterior! It is kind of a best of both worlds car.
This would have been a great one for Doc's '57 side trim and two-tone treatment!

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-01-06 10:56 PM (#530673 - in reply to #530669)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: Parts Unknown

Does anyone know this car's as-built history ? Was it really a
green car like this ? Were the decklid bars added ? Where did
it spend it's life ? Where was it found before restoration ? So
few of these exist. Always interesting to know the back stories.

christine-lover

Posted 2017-01-07 6:18 AM (#530679 - in reply to #530673)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Expert

Posts: 2996
2000

Location: Sept. 1958

Doctor DeSoto - 2017-01-06 10:56 PM

Does anyone know this car's as-built history ? Was it really a
green car like this ? Were the decklid bars added ? Where did
it spend it's life ? Where was it found before restoration ? So
few of these exist. Always interesting to know the back stories.

http://forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=55431

hemidenis

Posted 2017-01-07 11:12 AM (#530691 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Expert

Posts: 3887
2000

Location: Northen Virginia

wow another Doc's car, is that radio original? looks like a 7 pushbutton...

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-01-07 5:42 PM (#530724 - in reply to #530691)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: Parts Unknown

Denis,

This is a Firedome. Mid-line model. Mikey could tell us how many
are known to survive. For some reason, more of these survive than
Fireflites. Firesweep convertibles survive in numbers around 20. I
know of six surviving Fireflites and eight Adventurers. Been a while
since I reconfirmed those numbers. A few might have been found in
recent years ???

Lancer Mike

Posted 2017-01-07 11:33 PM (#530764 - in reply to #530673)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: The Mile High City

Doctor DeSoto - 2017-01-06 8:56 PM

Does anyone know this car's as-built history ?

I have seen the cowl tag, it was originally a gold car with a charcoal or black sweep, if I remember correctly.

So I know next to nothing about how many Firedomes survive. I know for sure 519 left the factory. I think I know of about eight or nine in operable condition and maybe threeish more in non-operating condition. Those (to me) are the known knowns.

As Donald Rumsfeld says: there are the known knowns (12ish), the known unknowns (507ish), the unknown knowns (other people know more than I do), and the unknown unknowns!

Edited by Lancer Mike 2017-01-07 11:45 PM

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-01-09 12:47 AM (#530867 - in reply to #530764)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: Parts Unknown

Yeah, ... I was thinking there were about twice as many Firedomes surviving
as Fireflites. I would think these two cars would survive in similar numbers, but
it just isn't the case. I wonder if the ratio is similar for 57 ?

57desoto

Posted 2017-01-09 5:53 AM (#530874 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Expert

Posts: 1488
1000

Location: New Castle PA

If we're talking just convertibles, in my 1957 database, I know of 22 Fireflite convertibles that exist, and 17 Firedomes. I also know 22 Adventurer convertibles, so I'd say that's a pretty even distribution.

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-01-09 11:20 AM (#530891 - in reply to #530874)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: Parts Unknown

Ed, for 58, convertible production was:

Firesweep - 700
Firedome - 519
Fireflite - 474
Adventurer - 82

Yet survival numbers are oddly dissimilar:

Firesweep - 20-ish
Firedome - 12
Fireflite - 6
Adventurer - 8

I would expect more high and low end cars to survive. Low end,
because more were built, high end because they were more likely
to be saved.

I guess this is semi-true for 58. I am just surprised that double
the number of Firedomes survive, compared to Fireflites.

How many Adventurers do you show for 57 ?

Lancer Mike

Posted 2017-01-09 1:52 PM (#530913 - in reply to #530891)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: The Mile High City

I did include one Firedome that has been converted into an Adventurer in my "operable Firedomes" number. So there may be some double-counting!

57desoto

Posted 2017-01-09 4:47 PM (#530933 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Expert

Posts: 1488
1000

Location: New Castle PA

Doc, I know of 109 1957 Adventurers "for sure", and possibly a handful more that "supposedly" are there, but I don't have an owner's name, location, picture, or anything to actually confirm things. As I said above, 22 of those 109 are convertibles.

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-01-12 1:43 AM (#531137 - in reply to #530933)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: Parts Unknown

Sorry, Ed. I had my brain in 58 gear when I should have been
thinking 57. I thought the last number was for Firesweep, which,
had I been thinking, would have realized that no ragtops were
built in 57 !

FINS!

Posted 2017-01-14 11:47 AM (#531338 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Elite Veteran

Posts: 943
500

Thanks for posting the known survival numbers. Are there really only 8 1958 Fireflite convertibles known, out of 474 built? That's a tiny number, sad actually.

Edited by FINS! 2017-01-14 11:48 AM

Lancer Mike

Posted 2017-01-14 2:48 PM (#531343 - in reply to #531338)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: The Mile High City

Jeez! Hemmings is awash with '58 De Soto convertibles right now! They are coming out of the woodwork! Common as ketchup!
Move over 1957 Chevy, here we come! Mustangs, there is a new sheriff in town!

It strikes me that the owner of this car is asking just about the same money that would buy the BJ '58 Adventurer convertible.
If I had $240,000 burning a hole in my pocket, it would be the Adventurer, hands down, no contest.

Edited by Lancer Mike 2017-01-14 6:01 PM

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-01-18 2:12 AM (#531637 - in reply to #531338)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: Parts Unknown

FINS! - 2017-01-15 8:47 AM

Thanks for posting the known survival numbers. Are there really only 8 1958 Fireflite convertibles known, out of 474 built? That's a tiny number, sad actually.

===========================

I have six as the known number Fireflite of survivors, eight Adventurers.

Greg P.

Posted 2017-01-18 12:49 PM (#531663 - in reply to #531343)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Elite Veteran

Posts: 769
500

Location: Oley, PA

Lancer Mike - 2017-01-14 2:48 PM

Jeez! Hemmings is awash with '58 De Soto convertibles right now! They are coming out of the woodwork! Common as ketchup!
Move over 1957 Chevy, here we come! Mustangs, there is a new sheriff in town!

I like the color combination of this one:

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/desoto/firedome/1891542....

No price listed. I'm sure it's way out of my range, but still would be interesting to know what they want for it.

(58 Firedome Convert.jpg)

(58 Firedome Convert2.jpg)

(58 Firedome Convert Interior.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

58 Firedome Convert.jpg (92KB - 109 downloads)
Attachments

58 Firedome Convert2.jpg (129KB - 107 downloads)
Attachments

58 Firedome Convert Interior.jpg (119KB - 114 downloads)

Lancer Mike

Posted 2017-01-18 1:02 PM (#531665 - in reply to #531663)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: The Mile High City

That's one of my favorites too!

These two Firedomes are probably within spittin' distance of the Adventurer price. Whether or not you like this color or that color, the intake manifold and the nameplate make the Adventurer the obvious choice (all prices being equal). If the Firedome was half the price, that's a totally different story.

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-01-18 1:59 PM (#531670 - in reply to #531665)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: Parts Unknown

While I recognize the hobby paradigm that go-fast = greater desirability,
personally I would prefer a better looking (more period unique colors and
interior fabrics) over a mandatorily equipped white car with a brown interior.
I really don't give two sh!ts if it has dual quads. In fact, I think it is a demerit,
not an asset. Dual fours give terrible fuel economy, and I want to drive my
car across Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado without requiring a trust fund
to do it.

I would much rather have an aesthetically appealing car without the go-fast
than an less aesthetically appealing car WITH the go-fast.

But in a Barrett-Jackson generated hobby paradigm, I am the weird one.

hemidenis

Posted 2017-01-18 5:23 PM (#531692 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Expert

Posts: 3887
2000

Location: Northen Virginia

Doc you are right about those hubcaps.. Man! the guy who designed them was not very inspired that day...

ToMopar

Posted 2017-01-19 5:48 AM (#531740 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Elite Veteran

Posts: 1157
1000

Location: D-70199 Heslach

Is that particular 58 Firedome Conv the one from Max / Austria ? [parat11] (I know he sold a lot of his cars.....)

http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=44854&

Edited by ToMopar 2017-01-19 5:50 AM

soiouz

Posted 2017-01-19 8:13 AM (#531746 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Expert

Posts: 3480
2000

Location: Montreal, Canada

I like a lot of cars, often say that this one or that one looks great, but not often will I say this: I think that black and turquoise Firedome convertible just might be THE most beautiful car I have even seen. Period.

mikes2nd

Posted 2017-01-19 10:07 AM (#531760 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Expert 5K+

Posts: 5006
5000

That green on green fireflight is close behind. I heard these were like driving Ferrari/Corvette or like a Hellcat back in the day. These cars were something that stood out as special, the convert Desoto was rare and expensive even back then.

Lancer Mike

Posted 2017-01-19 1:17 PM (#531784 - in reply to #531740)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: The Mile High City

ToMopar - 2017-01-19 3:48 AM

Is that particular 58 Firedome Conv the one from Max / Austria ?

One and the same!

"I think that black and turquoise Firedome convertible just might be THE most beautiful car I have even seen. Period."

David, now there is a statement! You could start an interesting new thread on that one!

Edited by Lancer Mike 2017-01-19 1:20 PM

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-01-19 1:27 PM (#531786 - in reply to #531784)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: Parts Unknown

All these cars shown are Firedomes. Fireflites are externally identifiable
by the side trim running all the way forward to the headlight and an orange/
red medallion over the upper stainless bar toward the rear of the fender.
For an easy to see example, go to the current Adventurer thread. Adventurers
used the Fireflite trim.

Of course, the "Fireflite"/"Firedome" scripts kind of give it away too !

The Adventurer

Posted 2017-01-19 11:44 PM (#531831 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Elite Veteran,, James Passed away March 2021, He will be Missed

Posts: 1028
1000

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Doc Tim Faygan (the forum wont let me spell his name correctly ) from Indiana built this car and used all the 57/58 Trinkets items he liked as a personal choice . Like the seats are fireflite , spring special trunk mouldings , hood ornament and other items . None of these were original .

Edited by The Adventurer 2017-01-19 11:45 PM

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-01-20 12:30 AM (#531833 - in reply to #531831)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: Parts Unknown

Which car are you referring to ? I know Tim, but years ago
he was all about his all-white Firesweep. I once sent him $300
towards a $1500 Firedome ragtop he wanted to sell, but never
followed through after finding my Adventurer. At the time, he
had a rustbucket/basket case Fireflite as well. Not sure what
he ever did with any of these cars after I bugged out of the NDC.

56D500boy

Posted 2017-01-20 1:39 AM (#531837 - in reply to #531833)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Expert 5K+

Posts: 9893
5000

Location: Lower Mainland BC

These Desoto photos got my brain going back to the late 1950's.

Did the Desotos inspire the Grin and Bear It cartoonist?

"Lichty created Grin and Bear it in 1932. Frequent subjects included computers, excessive capitalism and Soviet bureaucracy. Situations in his cartoons often took place in the offices of commissars or the showrooms of "Belchfire" dealers with enormous cars in the background. His series "Is Party Line, Comrade!" skewered Soviet bureaucrats, always wearing a five-pointed star medal with the label "Hero." "

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grin_and_Bear_It

Edited by 56D500boy 2017-01-20 8:44 AM

Lancer Mike

Posted 2017-01-24 2:57 PM (#532211 - in reply to #531831)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: The Mile High City

Chrysler Works, a car dealership in Highland California, built the green convertible for Tom Gerrard. The restoration was done under the supervision of Greg Groom.
The seat pattern emulates a 1957 Adventurer pattern, done with a green motif and 58 style fabric. It is all very well done. I like the black paint on the wheel covers too - freshens up what are known to be dull covers!
If you are going for stunningly gorgeous, the green car is mighty fine. If you are going for awesomely correct (I think the downturn tailpipes can be totally forgiven), the black car is tough to beat.

I love that Grin and Bear It comic strip! Totally De Soto! That strip must have lasted until the 1970's or 1980's - I remember it.
Somebody would get sued over that one today!

Edited by Lancer Mike 2017-01-24 3:16 PM

56D500boy

Posted 2017-01-24 3:09 PM (#532213 - in reply to #532211)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Expert 5K+

Posts: 9893
5000

Location: Lower Mainland BC

Lancer Mike - 2017-01-24 2:57 PM I love that Grin and Bear It comic strip! Totally De Soto! That strip must have lasted until the 1970's or 1980's - I remember it.
Somebody would get sued over that one today! :laugh:

I have searched and searched for a "Grin and Bear It" cartoon showing a) HERO of the Soviet Union medals on somebody and b) Russian cars looking like copies of American (FL) cars but I can't find either.

That "HERO" medal made me laugh even as a kid because it seemed (in the cartoon) that they (the Soviets) were giving them away for the slightest thing.

Lancer Mike

Posted 2017-03-02 11:22 PM (#535063 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: The Mile High City

So this car is about to go live.
You know what would stink? If it sells, the new owner will eventually find out the car is supposed to have a padded dash.
Geez! OK, I’ll order up a padded dash! The padded dash arrives and they try to install it.
Hey! Padded Dash Company! What gives? I ordered my padded dash and it’s all wrong!
Can you imagine all the confusion?

Lancer Mike

Posted 2017-03-13 1:58 PM (#535863 - in reply to #535063)
Subject: RE: 1958 Desoto Convert

Location: The Mile High City

Mike just reported it was only bid to $95,000.
That must have frightened the owner a little!
I suppose the right buyers were just not at the event.

MOPAR-TO-YA

Posted 2017-03-13 3:59 PM (#535868 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Expert 5K+

Posts: 5139
5000

Location: cornpatch county, Southwest IOA

I am familiar with a guy that "restores" De Soto's. He is very well known in the restoration business
He sells cars thru Barrett-Jackson for some mighty big bucks. He does not try to make them exactly like
the way they came from the factory. I recently helped him find a batwing air cleaner, and his expectations were not
absolutly correct for the engine or year of the car. .. Evidently , to the big buck buyers,
The best looking is more important than being "correct"..........MO

budweiser

Posted 2017-03-14 2:39 AM (#535906 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Veteran

Posts: 104
100

Location: FIN land

I raise my hat for restorer who uses their brain to solve the problem with missing parts or other problems with restoration or customizes the vehicle to their personal liking instead of being 100% OEM correct...I'm tired to listen endless crying about wrong battery cables or wrong carburetor etc... There are still restorers who build cars for themself, just to enjoy of their vintage automobile...not just to make them as valuable as possible to sell it to some millionaire.

hemidenis

Posted 2017-03-14 9:45 PM (#535966 - in reply to #530573)
Subject: Re: 1958 Desoto Convert

Expert

Posts: 3887
2000

Location: Northen Virginia

At the end the only cars with a remotely price estimate is the OEM restoration. If you change the engine, tires, dash or put a set of tiger fur Greyhound bus seats in it...Only god can tell you the price.... But something is for sure, sooner or later every car is for sale, maybe by you or your heirs...OEM is going to get the best price.

Jump to page : 1
Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page]

Jump to forum :

Search this forum
Printer friendly version
E-mail a link to this thread

* * * This site contains affiliate links for which we may be compensated * * *

(Delete all cookies set by this site)