OWNER'S COMMENTS
WE ARE PLEASED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO DeSi DeSoto

A 1960 DeSoto Fireflite, an Original Survivor

On February 19, 1960, a 52 year-old hardware store owner from Los Angeles, California finally realized a long-held dream. At MARSHALL-CLAMPETT, a local DeSoto - Plymouth - Studebaker dealership, George bought his first brand new car.

He vowed to cherish and pamper this car, a Yuma Yellow DeSoto Fireflite 2-door hardtop, that he lovingly named DeSi, for as long as he lived. A man of his word, George kept his promise.

Even after he was no longer able to drive, he faithfully paid the annual registration fees for the DeSoto and his neighbors saw him frequently in the garage, cleaning and waxing his pride and joy.

43 years and 41,000 miles later . . .

George passed on, at the ripe old age of 92. The DeSoto was liquidated by the executors of his estate. We bought it from his estate in May of 2000. One of only 3,494 Fireflite 2-door hardtops built, one has to wonder as to how many have survived, considering that these cars were built to be obsolete by the next model year. And, among those few survivors, how many:
Still wear their factory paint? plus
Have been spared any rust or rust repair? plus
Have traveled less than 1000 miles annually, on average? plus
Have always been garaged?

We are certain we are talking about a mere handful. Quite possibly, the car for auction here could be the best unrestored 1960 DeSoto Fireflite left on the planet.

Proudly displaying its original black and yellow California license plates, this is a special automobile indeed! The 1960 DeSoto design was finalized when Chrysler Vice President Virgil Exner was at the height of his influence in Highland Park. Having gained fame first in 1954 with the introduction of Chrysler's 100 million Dollar Forward Look, Exner proved to be a master in the art of sprucing up the corporation's offerings. The DeSoto for auction here is no exception. Of course, it possesses the corporation's tried-and-tested engineering features, such as

361 cubic inch, 295 hp V8 engine
Torqueflite 3-speed automatic transmission
Unibody construction
Torsion-bar front suspension

But it is the sculpture-like Exner design that made the DeSoto stand out among its peers, and that makes it so highly collectible today.

The low-mileage car for auction here redefines the term SURVIVOR. The modernistic interior presents itself in outstanding condition. Seat upholstery, door panels, and dash are all original. Note the original antenna adjustment instructions still hanging under the dash. The rear parcel shelf is spotless.

The three-tone cloth and vinyl upholstery contrasts with the car's exterior color harmoniously, and the high-back driver's seat is typical of cars of this era.

Space travel was popular fiction back then, and the dashboard's design reflects the Buck Rogers theme. Push-button controls for transmission and heater were a Mopar specialty.

George and his wife Lorraine weren't cursed . . . uhhh . . . blessed with children: The rear seat looks unused.

A classy touch, typical of upscale cars from the 1960's, is the center rear ashtray. The cover of the ashtray displays the star design as seen on the seat backs and door panels.

The perforated cardboard headliner (obsolete today) is perfect. Note the beautifully preserved sun visors, and the fully operational ceiling courtesy lights.

The door panels still appear as new.

The clean lines of the DeSoto are beautiful to behold. Despite being over 215 inches long, the car looks lithe and nimble. DeSi is wearing the optional roof stainless trim, and front fender ornaments.

The original owner's manual is in the glove box, along with an old AAA road map of Southern California, and one of Los Angeles. Earl Noonchester of MARSHALL-CLAMPETT was responsible for the DeSoto's mechanical care in the early days. His business card is still stapled to the manual. DeSi's new owner will receive all the literature in the above picture, including the stack of registrations from years past.

The DeSoto's mighty grille is very impressive and clean as a whistle. The body is as straight as an arrow! The Yuma Yellow paint is still very glossy. Note the original dual outside rearview mirrors.

There is a lot of chrome and stainless trim, and apart from a crack in the rear license plate surround, it is in excellent, pit and dent-free condition. Even the glass is pit-free and in great condition.

The engine compartment is as stock as it gets. It is in beautiful condition, completely correct. The big V-8 runs fantastic, acceleration is almost scary and with power steering and brakes, the car is easy to maneuver in any traffic condition. We have driven the DeSoto over a 1,000 miles since re-commissioning it after its long hibernation, and we are in awe of its performance and handling. Of course, the gas tank has been cleaned, the carburetor rebuilt, the radiator flushed, and new hoses, thermostat, filters, spark plugs, points, condenser, and battery have been installed. Apart from possibly replacing a couple of dried-out shock-absorber bushings, we can not think of anything this car would need in the mechanical department. Every light, switch, gauge, and lock works perfectly.

Two stickers on the door jamb volunteer very illuminating information: Left, a SEARS label dated 2-19-75 at 29,343 miles, for a new set of tires. We replaced those narrow white wall tires, with a correct set of Goodyear wide white wall tires. They only have 900 miles on them. On the right, a service record dated 9-26-84 at 39,240 miles. The car has been driven only two thousand miles since. The odometer presently shows only 41,485 original miles. DeSi has an "A" box title.

One of the new Goodyear Custom Super Cushion tires and a sculpted hub cap . . .

The enormous trunk still houses the original spare wheel with its original Goodyear wide white wall tire and original jacking. Even the original wooden safety wedge is still under the spare tire! The tire looks to have less than 200 miles on it. The trunk mat and cardboard side covers are as nice as the rust free trunk floor. The excellent condition of the weatherstripping is nothing short of astounding; mute testimony to the fact that this car has spent all its life garaged, away from damaging sunlight and ozone. On the right, note the original, optional rear antenna. The DeSoto is equipped with its factory-installed TRANS-AUDIO AM tube radio; it works flawlessly!

Seemingly straight out of American Graffiti, the chrome-bedecked, tail-finned, V8-powered 1960 DeSoto is a true, fully functional museum piece par excellence. This Fireflite is a perfect icon of the post-WW II American Dream and captivated not only its original owner, but all who lay eyes on it. Hopefully, the DeSoto will find a new owner who is as enthusiastic and faithful as its first.

Of course since the car is 43 years old it is not perfect, and does have a few expected flaws. One of the tail light lenses is cracked and missing a boomerang. There is an area 2" long on a high edge of the trunk lid where the paint is thin. There are a couple of small areas on the carpet where the carpet is getting thin, both areas are under the floor mats. Overall the carpet looks great. Even though these items are barely noticeable and do not detract from the beauty of this magnificent car, we thought it worth mentioning. There may be other minor imperfections on this amazing survivor, but they are so small and insignificant that they don't stand out.

Owner
Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.A.
Status: not an ad
Tags: 1960 Desoto Fireflite yuma yellow, car, coupe, AUCTION REPORT