1958 DeSoto Shopper Station Wagon! First Look! Obsolete Automotive MoPar Chrysler Forward Look Car

1 of 1,303 built! 1958 DeSoto Shopper 6 Passenger Station Wagon. This is a very rare example of a Forward Look MoPar.
This is a short and quick first look at the car since several folks have asked to see more of it! A longer in depth video will come in the future.
I roll down to Alabama to pick up this finned beauty. Then after unloading the car back home in North Carolina the first step is to raise it back up to factory height and put some correct hubcaps on.
Enjoy!
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[@therusyn]

So satisfying to see those lowering blocks removed.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Big improvement to me

[@Chris-bz6wl]

@@ObsoleteAutomotiveyup!

[@ryanwitman8672]

To each their own I suppose

[@therusyn]

It’s a thing of beauty when a well engineered system is brought back into spec. @@ryanwitman8672

[@terrencegiordan9812]

Lowered cars are clapped out garbage.

[@danielulz1640]

It is a Desoto, a wagon and it is green. I LOVE IT! I do not even care that it is a Dodge in Desoto clothing.

[@johnkendrick7304]

Hubcaps look absolutely fantastic instead of those plastic bolt covers

[@carlmichael5592]

What a great video for this American car obsessed Brit! No music either, amazing how peaceful it is to watch videos without daft music over them.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

@@carlmichael5592 I’m glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for commenting!

[@sporty547]

Definitely putting it back to stock ride height was in order. I like the trim rings with the dog dish hubcaps. I like this one you bought, a great looking wagon.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Been saving these dogdish caps for a long time. Finally got a use for them!

[@r1lark]

Neat car, looks much better raised back up. 🙂

[@oliverw3646]

Getting the car so you could use your set of '58 DeSoto hubcaps was utterly brilliant.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Meant to be!

[@olikat8]

Nice score, Austin

[@exploringhistory5796]

Nice wagon. Glad to see you raised it up to its proper height! Can’t wait for the next video!

[@eugenepiurkowski5439]

My dream car, since I was a kid, is a 58 Fireflite Sportsman in red and white....a four door hardtop, please. Never found one. Love your wagon. Your colors were very popular. I have a Johan Fireflite hardtop promo that our salesman gave me when Dad traded in his 53 DeSoto.... for a Plymouth Belvedere sportsman in 1958. It was a recession year, so we couldn't afford the DeSoto.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

That’s pretty cool that you got one of the promos directly from the dealer!

[@olafthiemer5759]

There are two 58 Fireflite 4dr htp here in Hamburg/Germany, both in very nice condition. The one is blue/white, the other is red/white.

[@eugenepiurkowski5439]

@@olafthiemer5759 Wow. Spent a few days in Hamburg a couple of times. One of them there were many Smart cars on the streets.

[@stephenholland5930]

That's a cool old rig, Austin. Glad you finally got her.

[@06acc]

You find really good cars/vans etc really good condition for their age. I just got done watching your 79 Dodge van from California road trip. I would have loved to pick up that van for a beater Home Depot runner. I live in California and makes me wonder how many of these types of vehicles exist sitting in someone's garage or backlot.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

They are still out there! I love finding old original vehicles that haven’t been messed with!

[@joshuakhaos4451]

Lucky score man. I'd love to get my hands on a late 50s desoto, Especially a wagon

[@cjdesign5700]

My favorite one so far Austin....I'm a wagon nut. Yes, Rare to begin with and I'm sure the rest were beaten into the ground...like MOST wagons.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Survival rate is probably quite low. 1 of 1303 makes this a very rare MoPar!

[@garymckee8857]

I want one 😊 I like that you try to keep them original

[@dcformee123]

I have not watched the video yet but let's see if you're reading my mind I hope you put it up to stock Rinehart height again? Also get rid of them funky lug nuts and trim rings and put the stock hubcaps back on it then she'll be looking good.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

That’s exactly what I did.

[@michaeladamo1188]

You already improved it 1000%!

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

I think so too!

[@jeremiahboria4512]

I never knew they made Desoto wagons until today It mustve never crossed my mind but seeing this thing with that long minty green 2 tone pattern is almost hypnotizing to see

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Green is one of my favorite car colors. This car looks excellent in two tone.

[@jeremiahboria4512]

@@ObsoleteAutomotive I personally think most 50s and even 60s cars have the body lines to pull off a green really well Car looks 1000x better on stock suspension height

[@opera93]

Yes. Just like Dodge Coronets loaded, appears like….( ours was 1959 Coronet’s)

[@randyhoepker5528]

Love this DeSoto wagon. My family had anew 58 Plaza that I still remember.

[@jeffsmith846]

Looks 100% better at proper height. Cool wagon

[@DSP1968]

What a nice, honest old car -- it's great!

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

I like cars that haven’t had too much monkeying done to them.

[@steves9905]

What a great car. Super cool. looks way better at normal ride height. I love all the forward look cars, but 57-58 Desotos are the best lookers of the lot

[@brianochs2297]

Awesome car really, really nice brings back.A lot of memories used to ride To school in one of those😊

[@debbiebermudez5890]

Mr. B. Here ! 🍩☕️👀😎👍. Very cool , I have 1958 Olds Super 88 holiday coupe !

[@waterbourne9282]

Looks way better at standard ride height and hubcaps. Nice looking old wagon- nice clean looking grill. Sad the geared starter hadn't been born yet. Very cool.

[@dasbof]

I had a 1958 Desoto Firedome convertible 1 of 519 made. Bought from the original owner in the early 1990s with original paint. It was very valuable and I eventually sold it for over 30,000 but now worth easily double that. Loved that car. Nice wagon!!

[@T-41]

Thanks for showing your DeSoto. It is always enjoyable to see a nice survivor from the era.. 1958 was the first year for that B block. If memory serves, the longer produced 361 version appeared in 1959 . It looks like you've got a very nice car to start with. Good luck and enjoy it.

[@oliverw3646]

Pretty awesome and rare Mopar, Austin. Congrats! Thank you for restoring the suspension to normal height.

[@bozodog428]

Great buy. These were rare when new.

[@johnmccann3964]

Man I love everything about that car! I'm glad to see you raised it back up and put the dog dish hubcaps on it. Can't say I've ever seen one before viewing it here.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

They are super rare cars. I’m glad to be able to own it!

[@user-ip1ro6qx2b]

Austin, Another gem!!! I love it. My Mom's first car and her favorite was a 1947 DeSoto Coupe. It was gray and she named it Betsy. My ex wife would say about your wagon that "it's green, it's old and it's ugly!" Boy was she wrong. My current wife loves it. It's a wagon and is one year newer than I am. I love it too. I sure do enjoy your channel and can't wait to see more. Thank you for sharing. --Dick.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I love the ‘47s!

[@Ziegque]

What an amazing find, especially since it is so rust free! Restoring it to the correct ride height with stock wheel covers is a definite improvement. My preference is to keep cars stock, but that’s me.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

It’s stock for me! Not big on customs.

[@danielulz1640]

I like the look of the hub caps and trim rings, especially if the wheels were the lighter, accent color. But, 58 Desoto wheel covers are good looking too. The hub caps ARE rare, I have never seen them before. Congratulations, Austin, on a fabulous find.

[@edwardallan197]

What a rare and charming old Mopar!

[@bensonsspeedshop1191]

Had a '60 Dart Pioneer Wagonback in the early '80s Awesome Ride!!!

[@PecanRanch]

She’s a beauty

[@johndonlon1611]

That's a really nifty and rare classic. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheDejael]

1958 DeSoto Firesweep Shopper wagon - very rare model now. A DeSoto in a Dodge body, the lower priced Firesweep series was only three model years, 1957-1959. Firedome was mid-series and Fireflite was the top of the line with the rare Adventurer super high performance sports model.

[@marklevine-es2br]

Magnificent car it’s the worth effort you put into it !!! This car is a work of art…. Can’t wait to see what you are going to do with this bird….

[@ironcladranchandforge7292]

YES!! Thank you for restoring it back to it's original ride height!! I absolutely hate it when people lower classic vehicles, especially pickups. That's a duel headlight beauty!! Love duel headlight cars and trucks. I have a 1960 Chevy Apache pickup with duel headlights. Love it!! That is one looong car. Plenty of space when you go "shopping".😉

[@terrencegiordan9812]

Well said turns cars into clapped out garbage

[@grantberecry]

Nice find, that's a keeper for sure and yes to dual quads on the 350.

[@haroldrogers6083]

Love the look of this wagon great combo of looks and motor !!

[@joemazzola7387]

I never heard of a shopper edition probably marketed to suburban moms in the 50s I Love it keep the beauty rings My dad's 59 galaxy had those seat covers you sweated in the summer and got the chills in the winter

[@oldyellow8120]

Love it. Great body style and colors. Much better without being "lowered" (why?) and with it's original hubcaps.

[@brianmoore6306]

First time watching one of your videos. Loved this car. A real treat. I have heard of a Desoto Firesweep...but never the Shopper model. Thanks for sharing.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

The shopper nameplate was only used on the 6 passenger wagons. So seldom seen.

[@johnkendrick7304]

I absolutely cringed when I seen that car so low in looking all worn out. It was so refreshing to watch you saw those stupid things off. Too busy doing that to make the car run right with proper choke as well as that cotter pin. Thank God you have that car that's all I can say

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Definitely looks way better now!

[@sheldonlentz]

You are living my dream! I’m a wagon man myself looking to buy one soon nevertheless love the new wagon you acquired! Greetings from Las Vegas.

[@johncornell3665]

Nice wagon. Great find!

[@FoundonthestreetUSA]

Congratulations on your Firesweep, love it, its been on my bucket list since the 1970;s

[@michaelwhite2823]

Great job. I hope you got a great deal. Thanks for saving it.

[@daviddisandro821]

love those wagons. one cool ass car!

[@ricknel76nelson54]

That's a cool wagon!

[@MichaelJustice-ng7by]

You can never go wrong with a dog dish hubcap

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

My sentiments exactly!

[@errorsofmodernism7331]

Beautiful car.

[@gasser66]

Now that's a nice grocery getter. Thank you for the lowering delete lol.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Yea I use my cars so lowered ones do me no favors.

[@sergeitupolew9736]

That's a beauty! I love the color. 👍

[@danielweith1075]

Nice survivor and a wagon too; YEAH!

[@ryanwitman8672]

I’m just starting to learn a little bit about cars, This channel is so awesome. It’s really cool to get to learn about mopar stuff and see how things evolved over time

[@scottguthrie8074]

She's a beauty!! Great video!!

[@MichaelJustice-ng7by]

I'm with you buddy I don't like those lowered cars

[@MichaelJustice-ng7by]

Love your videos and your car's and Vans

[@allan-mw7op]

That car is so awesome !!😎😎

[@seed_drill7135]

Great car. 58 was the beginning of the end for DeSoto. The Eisenhower recession really hurt sales of mid tier models and Chrysler didn’t sell enough cars to warrant 5 makes.

[@briandjordjevic9969]

Another great find

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Love the wagon!!!!!

[@MichaelJustice-ng7by]

I would leave the patina go to vice grip garage and order you some of the shine juice

[@arthurmccarron4379]

You are very. Lucky these. Beautiful. Mopar s. Thanks

[@Mitkawatch]

Very jealous! That’s a fantastic vehicle! Love the green

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Green is one of my favorite car colors. And it looks great on this one!

[@Mitkawatch]

It’s just great! I’m stuck with my Italian project cars, but I need a winged Chrysler product at some point!

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

@@Mitkawatch They are great cars. You’ll enjoy owning one I’m sure!

[@rickrice3221]

That thing is sweet!

[@dginia]

What a treasure!

[@jasonadams371]

Good looking car

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Nice 😊

[@jamesgudgeon4868]

A Very Rare Car 3:05

[@OnkelPHMagee]

I love it.

[@gojoe2833]

My Uncle had a 58 Plymouth Suburban...same car

[@cliffordrobinson6525]

Don't let anybody tell you about using your Swiss Army knife you use it all you want

[@JamesAllmond]

Dang, I just thought I had a sidecar problem! (4)

[@arthurmccarron4379]

Real. Beauty

[@glenbo2464]

Very cool car ! I think it would look better without the beauty rings myself. They get lost with the big white walls. If you had black wall tires it would look fine with rings and caps.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Left them on since the wheels are scratched up with them being mounted. Whenever I repaint the wheels I’ll likely leave them off. But we’ll see.

[@CoastalAutoReactionCAR]

Love it man where do you find all these and I have to ask how do you fund your habit lol. Love it.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Others go so others can come in. Otherwise I’d keep them all. I’m by no means rich. Ha

[@caspaabriel4794]

Excellent vid. Just subscribed. Like to follow this Shopper.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Will be more videos on the car in the future. Thanks for subscribing.

[@rogerwalker9191]

..Looks 10x better raised.

[@opera93]

Ps: cannot remember or find:: 1958-59 Engines “”RED RAM”” 325 ‘s CI, (**WIKIPEDIA), our 1959 Coronet was strong engine, reasonably sure not Multi CARBS ((** I tried to avoid driving our 1959 WAGON, ETC)

[@The528692]

Sombody was making the cardboard headliner at one time, I'm having difficulties finding the vender.

[@XGarage-nj2uf]

There were TWO 1958 Desoto Explorer Firesweeps 9 passenger wagons in a local salvage yard. I tried to buy them for years. The man died and his sister crushed the yard out. The wagons were saved but never saw them turn up. Would live to know what happened to them.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Oh jeeze. I’d wonder!

[@garyporter516]

I enjoy your videos. How did you become such a good mechanic? I own a 1952 Firedome sedan in good running condition. How about some Fluid Drive videos?

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Self taught mostly. Years of experience and ownership of hundreds of classic cars! There are several versions of fluid drive. You can see how it works in my ‘47 Dodge in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnS9i5qYh9aDiKs

[@danam0228]

Very cool car. I say remove the rings from the wheels

[@raymondkb2nzo788]

Wow

[@opera93]

Thanks, interesting overview……Obviously, very similar & close to my Parent’s 1959 Dodge Coronet (?)Station Wagon/9 Pass/Push Button/**Rear Facing Seat( I did not care for riding there, etc.)/PS,PB,V8(* ??, I was not interested in *Wagons,getting my 1954 Ford/2DR/V8 CUSTOMIZED in 1962)…..Us five Kiddos fitted in fine, & seemed like a sturdy Driver, & powerful (t@king my Drivers License test in it)…

[@seed_drill7135]

I just tore up my front end in my 50 Dodge because they didn’t put the cotter pin back after a brake job.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Yikes. Hate to hear that.

[@BillHickman68]

By the way. Congrats to the nice find

[@TomStarcevich-fb3qo]

Looks 😎 cool🚙🚙🚙🚙

[@jonathanmorrisey5771]

350 or 361 v8?

[@SBrown-ov9lz]

just go thru da winda.

[@philbitu]

There's no need to lower a car unless you're mexican, puerto rican or cuban. Or if you have a terrible bad taste or zero knowledge in vehicle dynamics. Or maybe all...

[@jeffreysheridan5205]

58 was not a good year for Chrysler products

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

It was not a good year for anyone. It was a recession and car sales were way down across the board.

[@BillHickman68]

You said all fwdlook 57-59 wagon bodies are the same kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3WWd6Zvq6tkfqM. Thats NOT true. Fireflite and NYer wagons have different roof !!

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

Incorrect. The 57-59 basic body is the same. 1959 had some unique stampings but still the same basic body. The senior series Chrysler and DeSoto used bolt on aluminum window frames on the doors but the body is otherwise the same basic body.

[@BillHickman68]

@@ObsoleteAutomotive I don't want to argue, but you're wrong. I didn't mean the doors with the aluminum frames - that's not a significant difference at the body. I meant the roof line in the area of the C post. Compare that ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4OadXt_ed9jobs) with your body and you will see that senior bodies are different. The roof rail is continuous on the "small" station wagons while on senior wagon as fireflite and nyer it is interrupted and the gutter goes down to the belt line. So, most of the people even the owners itself didn't noticed that, but the fact is, different bodies on short wagons and senior wagons.

[@ObsoleteAutomotive]

@@BillHickman68 It is not an argument. You’re “right” that there is a different roof and I know what you’re trying to say but the basic bodies are still the same as I’ve stated. In fact the Chrysler wagons use the roof you’re referring to on the Windsor as well as the NewYorker wagons with a drip rail that curves around the back door instead of straight across the roof line. So there’s no difference there between “short” and “long” wagon roofs for Chrysler. So I guess I could say you’re “wrong” there. The quarter panels are the same part number for replacement. (Look it up!) The glass is the same, The tailgates are the same, etc. etc. The roof being slightly different on the Fireflite and Chrysler wagons doesn’t change the fact that between 1957 and 1959… Other than trim and the 1959 Plymouths unique quarter panels the bodies between wagons are the same. The tailight housings swap between them all (except 59 Plymouth of course). This is why the Plymouth which otherwise would be a 118” wheelbase has a 122” wheelbase wagon. It’s the same body as the rest. The “longer” 126” wheelbase DeSoto/Chrysler wagons get their extra 4” in the front clip. The basic body as I’ve said is the same between all the wagons with minor variations of course. It is not a totally unique body for any of them so to say the body is different as if it’s a totally unique shell just isn’t true.

[@BillHickman68]

@@ObsoleteAutomotive For me they are two different bodies. It's like they said a 1957 Firedome 2 dr hardtop with a small rear window and a 1957 Fireflite with a large rear window were the same. Of course everything is almost the same. But only “almost”. This makes a huge visual difference in the coupe, and the same applies to the station wagon. So I stick to my opinion.

[@alanmize5627]

get rid of that stupid aircleaner