1961 Desoto - Cool, Fun and Weird 2 of 2

[@jamesfox2579]

I'd proudly own AND drive this Car over ANY Car built today!!💕

[@p47thunderbolt68]

If it were 1961 and I was an adult looking to buy a car . I wouldn't even consider this car . Today I would love to have it .

[@mikeb46]

WOW! She's a beauty. Has to be rare by now. I'm glad someone like you found her and saved her.

[@osocool1too]

You are very lucky to have such a beautiful car...I would be as proud as punch driving it as you are. 👍

[@jackluckhurst7628]

My dad is selling his.

[@glennweaver3014]

Beautiful car this last of the Desoto's. Love all of it's space-age designs and looks. The fins and chrome era is my favorite. Happy motoring with it and thanks for posting.

[@pmr413]

All of those quirky items make the Desoto so cool compared to todays cars. Keep up the fun videos.

[@hullinger]

Thanks so much Pat. I've got another video on the Desoto that's in the works now and I'm hoping my vision for it translates into an enjoyable video. Keep an eye out for it in a week or so. Also, I'm looking forward to your next truck video update. Can't wait to see the wrenches turn and the project start to take shape. -Chris

[@life02ab]

So cool that you are caring for this last of the DeSoto year car. My very first car ride - home as newborn from the "hospital" (actually a large house being used as the hospital was being built) - was in grandpa's 1955 DeSoto Convertible in the classic Pink / White / Black tricolor. Grew up with DeSoto's and Chryslers through the 70's as were his favorite brand. Great Videos!

[@amx907]

Left hand thread wheel nuts on the driver's side (left) of the vehicle was done to reduce the chances of the wheel nuts working loose, this is more common on commercial vehicles where wheels are run in pairs. You must get rid off all the swarf from the threads & nuts as it will damage them, a bit of Copperslip helps to prevent this occurring & stops the threads from rusting. Great video & the '61 Desoto is fabulous!

[@ronaldhuff635]

or silver anti seize

[@raymundbrown2644]

May have been one reason, however at the plant where they all were made the machine used to put the lug nuts on would swivel around from one side to the other (thus no need for two machines). It did not have reverse on it so on one side they had to use reverse threads. All Mopars for decades used the lefty/righty lug nut threads...

[@mrjuliusjohnson4619]

I really like the 50s Chrysler cars especially the 57 Desoto and the 59 Dodge Coronet. We had both and I loved them!!!

[@ToyKingWonder]

Correction. The transmission lever to the carburetor is for kick down, and adjustment thereof does not make it more aggressive. If you want more aggressive, faster (and less smooth) shifts, vendors came out with "shift kits" that are installed in the transmission itself. The throttle rod adjustment by the carb is to make it so that when the carb is wide open, the lever is in its farthest back position, signaling the transmission, if at an appropriate RPM, to downshift one level. So say if you are going 45mph in 3rd gear (Drive) it would pop it down to 2nd to give you additional acceleration. Same with 2nd to 1st. If the throttle rod is not pushed back all the way during wide open throttle, it won't downshift properly. If it is adjusted too far the other way, you will hit the throttle rod stop before the carb is fully open, inhibiting the wide open throttle. It is rather a precise adjustment to get it right. Typically, adjusting it as I stated is all the adjustment you need and the car should down shift fine at WOT. Slight adjustments can be made if you have some wear in the system linkage.

[@JuniorFan08]

Hard to believe that our streets were filled with cars like this 55 years ago.

[@hullinger]

Thanks for watching and your comment. I can only imagine a world were there were so many unique and cool cars, in a kaleidoscope of fantastic colors and how cool it would be to see a Corvette, a Chrysler 300, a Square-Bird, Lincoln.... cruising down the street. -Chris

[@seed_drill7135]

Technically, not. The '61 DeSoto is almost as rare as the '60 Edsel or a '58 Packard!

[@debonairecatalina6570]

It's sad that they aren't around the roads as often, but its probably for the best. For preservations' sake, your 61 Desoto is immaculate and I bet you enjoy every moment you can get behind the wheel! What i love about these late 50s-mid 60's cars is how smooth they ride, attention to detail and the quality of their building materials! I got my 65' Catalina convertible about 4 years ago as my first car, right now I have it in pieces and I'm getting front end body parts for it while I'm rebuilding and modernizing the numbers matching 389. Keep us posted!

[@zelphx]

They WEREN'T.

[@ronaldhuff635]

very rare and cool, almost as rare as this

[@gojoe2833]

Hi Chris I know time was limited but another feature of your DeSoto was the fact that it is a 4 door hardtop...no center post. Back in the day all American car companies offered hardtops, but today none of them do. Today only high end European cars offer them...

[@hullinger]

Great point man on the four door hardtop model. That open roof with no center posts was something unique that has disappeared.

[@richrare6329]

This Desoto looks a lot like the 61 Chrysler . My family had a 60 New Yorker in the same blue and it looks similar also but the Desoto is much more of a eye catcher. The 60 New Yorker also had the radio dial on the floor....so cool. They just don't make vehicles like this any more; quiet, great ride, fun to drive, plenty of power Etc.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

That's partly because today's cars, ChryCo excepted, are all in the Japanoid mold - small, cramped, rough-riding, ugly .

[@bbt5358]

An incredibly beauuuuuutiful car!♥️♥️♥️

[@pontiacgrandprix733]

Really Clean car, beautiful colors, it just looks rite, enjoy it

[@stantaylor3350]

My dad bought one just like this one in the spring of 1965. My dad graduated with his master's degree in education in the spring commencement in late May. Many of my dad's brothers& sisters came for the occasion. Mom was planning a big party & wanted to get back home, so she & my sister's took off. We lived about 150 miles from the University. My brother and I wanted to ride with Aunt in her Cadillac. Her husband, my uncle, rode with Dad in his Volkswagen. When we got out of town we could see the blue beast up ahead & my brother & I encouraged our aunt to step on it, to catch up with Mom. She sped up to 80 mph & could gain on mom, in fact mom was pulling away. The speedo was broken in the DeSoto. When we got home, we were quick to tell mom. She was shocked & said she just wanted to get home to prepare for the party & must have been pushing to hard on the accelerator. She said " I hope I didn't hurt the old girl". My brother and I went out a raised the hood. Blue smoke was coming out of the oil fill cap, & the exhaust manifolds were kinkling from cooling off. She said don't tell your father, which we did as soon as he got home. He got rid of the car shortly after that. Thanks for the memories!

[@hullinger]

Great story and thanks for sharing that!

[@Oscarphone]

First of all, left hand lug nuts/bolts (depending on the year) were used on Chrysler products for a very long time. It was a safety feature. The wheel/tire rotatng assembly on the left side of the car rotate in a counter clockwise direction. This counter clockwise rotation will loosen the lug nuts/bolts an was quite common in the old days. Reversed or Left handed nuts/bolts on the left side of the vehicle prevent this from happening. Take a trip through KZbin, there must be a zillion videos of wheels coming off of trucks or cars or trailers. Most if not all are on the left side. Second, you talk about the Desoto brakes like it was a Desoto problem. All cars has drum brakes back then and they all had the same problems. Love your drive around portion. The music, the camara, great stuff.

[@bradhampton6457]

Big comfortable boulevard cruiser. Love em. My Grandpa was a Chrysler corp dealer for many years. Started out in 1948 selling DeSoto and Plymouth.

[@davesnothereman7250]

There was a belief that the lug nuts could loosen up as the wheels rotated. This is the reason for the left hand threads on the left side. Quite a few cars had them....but I thought this was gone by the mid 50's. Very cool car!

[@emjayay]

Pretty much only Chrysler cars though, I believe. All of them.

[@seed_drill7135]

Didn't semis use reverse threaded lug nuts back then, too?

[@josephlacerra8433]

I worked on cars back then. All the Chrysler cars had the lefty threads. They also had different brake wheel cylinders. This 1961 DeSoto is a real beauty!

[@MartinSage]

Has the car ever gone fast enough to shift intob

[@JimmyConway60]

Davesnothere Man I had a 1970 Challenger and it had reverse threads.

[@flymasterA]

50's and early 60's- Detroit cars with real class and character. 👍👍👍👍👍😉.

[@peterjeffery8495]

I LOVE this car. Styling wise its like the last 50's built in '61. It really does use a ton of stainless which is a great feature but must have added a lot of cost, Its harder to tool but there is no secondary finishing operation so that is a trade off. Those Desoto Engineers were ahead of there time, mostly.

[@hankaustin7091]

gorgeous... GORGEOUS... G O R G E O US Automobile!!! The music while driving was a perfect compliment to such a fantastic car!! Thank you for posting this and for part 1 !

[@Bubbles991]

Every part can be reconstructed.. As they are Mechanical... Awesome.. Cars nowadays come with Software assistance.. After submerging in water.. They are gone.. Thanks for sharing valuable info.

[@vladandlaika]

Thank you for the second video of your DeSoto! I know that it is a quirky car with unusual design features but it is beautiful when in motion. I guess that was part of the success of the Forward Look!

[@JuniorFan08]

Looks great on the road!

[@dannmarceau]

I was one year old in '61, a friend had a '58 Firedome Sportsman in High School, cool car.

[@jupitr2]

What a beautiful car! Never saw one. I love the Jazz music there too. Thanks for the tour and ride!

[@jamesbrent1809]

That's quite a beauty! Both sets of Grandparents were DeSoto loyalists. The paternal side drove a '56 model and the maternal had a '57 before Granddad bought the '60 model he kept for eight years. Had the brand continued he'd have bought another but instead went to Chrysler Newport. Much enjoy your videos.

[@johnclemente9168]

Hello Chris, great videos for your '61! It's too bad that Chrysler blundered on marketing which helped hasten DeSoto's demise, as well as rendering the '60 and '61 senior Dodges anemic in sales. DeSoto didn't even make it into calendar year 1961. I saw my first (and last) '61 DeSoto in person in Montreal (!) at a car show in 2011, a yellow and black 4-Door. It, too, was all original! It was beautiful! The movie, "Mississippi Burning" featured a pink and white '61 coupe. The forward look body actually lasted until 1964. When Chrysler offered no real full size models for Dodge and Plymouth in '62, Dodge screamed loudly and received the Dodge 880, a '62 Chrysler with a '61 Dodge front clip. The '63s were once again '62 bodies, but with a uniquely-styled front clip. The '64s, which I like the best, received brilliant squared-off rear styling. This was the last vestige of the '60 Exner bodies. Thanks again for the videos!

[@hullinger]

Hey John, thanks so much for your comments and for checking out my Desoto video. Man, I loved that car. She was sweet looking and driving too and summarizes everything I adore about late 1950's cars. I did move on from her though and she went to a new home. I'm certain she's being treated with the utmost love and care too. Thanks again! -Chris

[@emjayay]

I had forgotten about the 1964 Dodge 880. Chryslers had a new body in 1963-4, but still an Exner one, wrapped around the original 1960 structure (same windshield). The 1964 Dodge 880 continued the 1960 body but with newer (1963) front end and new rear. That rear was no doubt directed if not personally designed by Engel at that point.

[@seed_drill7135]

There was a big recession in the late 50's. In addition to hurting DeSoto, it helped cause the Edsel's still birth as well as ending all full size Studebaker production. Of course the Chrysler Newport moving down into the DeSoto price range didn't help, either.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

@@emjayay The 1963 Chrysler was based on the 1960 Chrysler but now all models used the short 122 inch wheelbase. Engel masterfully toned down Exner's wild and poor selling creations...like the big 1963 Plymouth and Dodge which have an instrument panel and front end designed by Exner and a C-pillar and rear end designed by Engel.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

DeSoto's demise was mostly the result of Mopar's poor quality in 1957 which resulted in Chrysler Corp declining market share in the following years. With fewer sales, cuts had to be made and DeSoto was Mopar's weakest division. There were DeSoto/Plymouth dealers who had to be converted to the familiar Chrysler/Plymouth dealers of later years. Senior Dodge sales in 1960/1961 were poor for 3 reasons: Mopar's poor quality reputation, the cheaper Dart, and lousy styling. Lynn Townsend and Elwood Engel sorted out the mess of the early 1960s by the 1965 model year.

[@johnellis2347]

Bought 59 DeSoto in 66. I needed a second car for my girl friend and found this red convertible on the back row of the car lot. Salesman said it didn't run and I could tow it away for $100 bucks. It looked okay to me and cranked over smooth. So I gave him the hundred and ask him for a screw driver. I reset the points it started right up and I drove off. Boy was he upset. Turned out to be a great car. We towed boats and trailers all over Idaho no problem.

[@jtp585]

I`ve always loved the 61 DeSotos for their cool & crazy front end that looks like is has been customized by the factory. Nonetheless, they have much, much more to give for the owner and on-lookers.

[@hullinger]

Thanks for your comment on my Desoto. Man, I love this car! Crazy styling, crazy interior and just so distinctive! Exactly what I think of from a late 1950's type car. Thanks for watching and commenting! -Chris

[@jtp585]

@@hullinger Next November I will join otthers with individual cars as I buy a 73 Imperial LeBaron 4dr ht. Happy motoring to you!

[@detcarguymichigan4021]

I used to have a 1938 DeSoto, Touring Sedan. The front seat track was the same angled track that made the seat higher as you got closer! My car was all original, never restored.

[@peterprzekop9608]

We had a 1959 DeSoto station wagon with secondary air conditioning in the roof. Growing up in South Carolina, whether sitting in the back or front, it would freeze you out! Even our dog loved putting her nose up to one of the roof vents, tongue hanging out and loving the breeze! They continued in other Chryler wagons through the 60s as an option. It wasn't until 1980s minivans that this truly became a norm. Also, Chrysler products.

[@zeligtheodorovich7403]

1961 DeSoto video was quite good. Very educative. Compared to other, more popular cars of the day, such as the 1961 Olds, the DeSoto was clearly destined for failure. Obviously, Chrysler sabotaged the line. Thanks for a terrific effort.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

I think the 61 DeSoto was far superior to the Olds that year. It had full instrumentation vs just a gas gauge and a far better transmission. The 4 speed Hydra was excellent, but the 3 speed Hydra used on the 61 Olds was not. The DeSoto also had better suspension and better brakes than the Olds, and if you managed to get the 383 put in your DeSoto, was faster too.

[@jamieatamanchuk5149]

Mercury was created in 1938 by Edsel Ford, Desoto and Mercury were in direct competition with each other. I enjoy your videos

[@emjayay]

Originally Mercury had its own wider body although it looks pretty Ford-like. Postwar they had a unique body that was originally going to be a Ford 1949-51, then shared most with Fords 1953 to 1956 (although enough different that they seemed unique until you saw a station wagon), and then from 1957-1960 totally unique, then not. Always shared versions of the same frame and mechanics and often body structure with Fords.

[@PETERLINNAH]

I've had several Chrysler products with the left hand lugs nuts on the driver's side. Cadillac had this feature for a few years too. Weird, but I guess they thought differently back then. Thanks for your video of this wonderful car. Those Chrysler products of those years were a joy to look at, and still are!

[@flitebiscuit1592]

I have a 1:18 scale 1961 Desoto two door hardtop. Closest I'll ever come to owning the real thing! Except for that visually distracting two piece grill that doesn't go together well, it's a beautiful car.

[@anthonyfalzon57]

The left screws on the driver's side was also a feature on Packards. Ofcourse the idea was that the rotation of the left side would keep the lugs tight. It was quirkie, God I love Chrysler engineers and their positive thinking.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

Buick also, and many others.

[@retro440]

What a beautiful old boat!!!

[@genefortney9133]

Beautiful Car!!

[@hullinger]

Thanks so much for watching and thanks for your comment too. Appreciate that!

[@LynxStarAuto]

Floor mounted high beams, windshield washers, and even horn button were commonplace of that era. Same goes for the front drums. Though disc brakes were optional on many Marques. The left-handed thread on the driver side wheel studs was a safety feature. This way the wheels mostly always spin in the direction of tightening. 😆

[@jessiejames2155]

A fine looking vintage ride !

[@dpratte]

Extremely well done. Both parts.

[@allwinds3786]

My mom had one until 1967, my brother was playing with the push button transmission and it rolled backwards into a garbage truck puncturing the fuel tank with the tailfin. The views from the rear seat awakened memories

[@emjayay]

The engine would have to be running and the parking brake not on for that to happen. Who lets their kids play in a running car with the parking brake off? Since there's no Park position on the transmission anyone would apply the brake when parked.

[@bohemialite6371]

I miss that Desoto😢get it back😃if you can.😲 I love all you vides and the way you explain to us the nice way.looking forward for more fun time ahead . thank you so much.

[@seed_drill7135]

Another tidbit about this DeSoto. All Chrysler products, save Imperial, went to unibody construction in 1960, so it's one of only two years that DeSoto was unibody, rather than body on frame.

[@michaelreilly1310esq]

When I was a kid our neighbor bought a new one and when Chrysler dropped the DeSoto line they offered to buy it back You forgot to point out the stainless headliner ribs.Enjoy this piece of automotive history.

[@1956model1]

Your Desoto is sweet! It looks like something George Barris created.👍

[@keithoneil6711]

Wow what a very beautiful amazing car beautiful look amazing

[@andrews582]

Correction: The first Mercury appeared in 1939. Also, most cars in 1961 had drum brakes.

[@tracy4good]

Did you know the first car that had fluid disc brakes was the 1939 Buick Y Job custom car made for Harley Earl. That brake set up would not be seen again until Ford offered it for the 1966 Country Squire, Colony Park, Thunderbird, and Continental

[@5610winston]

Studebaker had power-assisted front disc/rear drum brakes as standard equipment on the '63-'64 Avanti, optional on all other models from model years '63-'66, the end of production. Corvette used four-wheel discs on the '64 models. Crosley had hydraulic caliper-type discs for a brief time during the early fifties, but they were rust-prone in the road salt belt.

[@jamesmooney8933]

The best design Desoto was the '55. Everything about the '55 was understated, which gave it class.

[@Disques13Swing]

Same for the 56

[@emjayay]

@Chang Noi Nah, the 1957 was Peak DeSoto.

[@byronh60]

I've really enjoyed your videos, especially the ones on your Desoto! It seems to fit right in during your drive around your neighborhood. Too bad most people had their newer cars sitting out. Your car blends right in as if it was 1961. Keep up the good work on the videos, they are very entertaining and informative.

[@hullinger]

Bryon thanks so much for your comment. It's great to get feedback from folks on what they like and don't like so that I can keep fine tuning my videos and style. On this one I really struggled on the sound quality. It seemed the mic was acting all kinds of ways and I actually reshot some of the scenes many times 'cause the sound quality kept getting screwy. Eventually I just had to pick the best shots/sound and use the editing software to try and enhance the sound and normalize it. I'll keep working on it though. As for the Desoto videos, I'm working on another tomorrow and it's more of a satire instead of informative. I don't know how it's gonna turn out but I'm gonna give it a try. With a bit of luck it will turn out to be fun and not hokey or weird. We'll see though. Anyways, thanks again. -Chris

[@Sean0526a]

the urban legends about drum brakes always crack me up. It's just a miracle we weren't all killed with them, is apparently the notion. They worked fine, they weren't as efficient nor as easy to use as power assisted discs but very few of us died as a result. They managed to stop those 4 thousand pound behemoths repeatedly, do i don't see the need for all these talll tales about "Sheer panic" when hitting theb rakes. Never happened to me once. and I drove LOTS of 1950's cars as a kid.

[@emjayay]

What he didn't mention is brake fade. Like he said drum brakes heat up faster because they don't cool as well as discs, and then unlike discs they lose effectiveness when hot. I drove from Pacific Heights down to the Marina in San Francisco in a 1956 Plymouth with six people in it (with power brakes that were well maintained and transmission in Low) and by the bottom of the hill I was standing on the brake pedal with both feet and the brakes were working about 10%. An uncle told me he was driving his family in their 1954 Chrysler New Yorker across New York State before the Thruway and went down a long hill into a town and ran out of brakes. Plus the wet brakes problem. Plus they don't stop as stably, and can grab. And of course no anti-lock.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

I second you! Another (modern urban legend is that 6 volt cars can't start. These youngsters never stop and realize that we made them work fine. They also don't know about 8 volt batteries .

[@rollingtones1]

Mercedes-Benz has had manually adjusting seat tracks since the 1950s where they too are angled. As you slide forward, the seat inclines upward. It’s so that short women can see over the steering wheel on the way to the hair dresser or supermarket.

[@johnellis2347]

Just wrote the story below when I remembered my other car was bought the same way. I was in Denver in 65 and my 53 Chev just wasn't up to the long high speed freeway commute. I went to wrecking yard and found a 55 Chrysler new Yorker sedan with hemi that was all complete and not wrecked. The guy said it wouldn't start and I could have it for $50 bucks. I got a battery and it cranked smooth so I paid him and reset the tricky dual points Chrysler used on their hemi's and it started right up. Again the wrecking yard guy was upset. Drove it away and over 100,000 miles the next four years

[@barsixful]

Cool buddy! Hang onto it. I've got the 61 dodge and that's SUPER WEIRD

[@danielthoman7324]

one of the ugliest cars of all time

[@michaelbenardo5695]

Not as ugly as today's Japanoid econo boxes.

[@javahedz]

Awesome!! Not my favorite DeSoto, but yours is a great survivor. I was surprised that it didn’t have the rectangular/oval steering wheel! We had Mopars for years . . . Loved the older ones, but after about 73 they were not so great, sadly. IMHO, anyway.

[@hankaustin7091]

To your point about not so good after 1973 - I had a '72 New Yorker 4 door sedan from 1977 to 1981.. was one of the very best cars I've ever owned since. 1973 and 74 were bad years for those behemoths due to the oil crisis.. the quality of the New Yorker went downhill fast afterwards..

[@michaelbenardo5695]

Sadly, after 73, Chrysler's assembly quality fell and never truly recovered.

[@HEMISUPERBEE426]

AWESOME CAR...GREAT VIDEO...MOPAR FOREVER !

[@jamesmcguire990]

My parents owned a Dodge Phoenix when I was a kid. The dash was nearly identical to your Desoto. Only difference was the dashboard had two "flip up" a/c vents, I think to the right of the speaker grill on yours. Also, I recall that foot switch on their car pumped washer fluid. I don't recall it switching on a wiper swipe - perhaps that didn't work on their car. I remember filling a soft washer fluid bag under the hood.. Yep, pretty much exact same dash except it said Dodge instead of DeSoto on the steering wheel. Anyway, hope you're still enjoying your car!

[@sadowskianne3100]

The lug nuts on the left side of the car are reverse threaded because it is a safety feature. When the car is moving foward, the lugs constantly tighten slightly. I owned a 55 Pontiac which had the same feature.

[@thomasberlinghoff2416]

Beyond....very cool!

[@eldaddio9100]

When you took it for a drive the area is very well kept and not another car in sight !? Camera / Video Very professionally done 👍great job great car😉😎

[@ervinthompson6598]

The LH threaded lug nuts were carried all the way to 1970- I had them on my drum braked V-code Challenger R/T !!

[@marvinmartian7281]

Cool jazzy car

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

Beautiful car!!

[@Modeltnick]

The Chrysler lineup was quite interesting in these years. Notice no park lock on the transmission. You put the car in neutral and had to set the parking brake, or the car would roll away.

[@franciscobarajasochoa8615]

Beautiful beautiful car

[@baronoflivonia.3512]

What about under hood and trunk? My dad had a 60. Red and I remember looking out back window and laying on rear shelf, under that back window. That car was like a Rocketship to me in ealy 60's. A dull fairlane replaced that, then a new 67 Delmont 88.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

You must have been one sad kid. I know I was when my mother replaced her 50 Buick with a VW.

[@inkey2]

OMG....this reminds me so much of a Chrysler I had. The reverse thread lug nuts, 3 speed torque-flight, non-self adjusting brakes, the power steering that feels like the steering wheel isn't even connected to the car, rear view mirror on dash, no "Park" gear just the parking brake, I'll bet this has "two" brake cylinders on each front wheel. These cars blew out upper brake cylinders like crazy.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

My Chrysler has thatvsame system, and mine is trouble-free.

[@inkey2]

@@michaelbenardo5695 I had a used one I bought in 1976. Constant problems and I could only find two mechanics that knew how to repair it. I was driving it as my regular car so I put a lot of miles on it but just constant electrical problems....and the astra dome dash filling up with smoke, constant over charging, boiling batteries. My next car was a 1965 Chevy Nova II station and basically , never had any problems.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

Left-hand threaded lug nuts or lug bolts on the driver's side was the norm back then. The belief was that right-hand threaded lug nuts would not stay tight on the left side of the car. The washer switch on the floor incorporating a spurt of wiper action was a popular period option.

[@thomrobitaille3942]

That mirror on the dash was called an arm pit checker. That's about all you saw when you checked it.

[@matthewgodwin3050]

Rock & Roll on wheels. Love it.

[@howardlovecraft750]

Back in those days they built cars with style and class.

[@calebproductions5970]

This is the most awesome car I have ever seen the technology at that point was pretty good

[@LyallAbbott58]

Beautiful car!

[@sredson]

This 1961 steamship starts faster than my Hyundai!

[@michaelbenardo5695]

That's because it doesn't have those damn computers in it .

[@CrossOfBayonne]

Impressive model and this would be the last one with exaggerated fins before they were downsized later on.

[@FabioQuadrana]

A magnificent car with advanced technology for its time. It is clearly based on the Chrysler 300G but with four doors, with another front grill and interior.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

It was based on the Chrysler Windsor, but with a 361 instead of a 383.

[@ericnull6645]

Very nice and rare car, I hope you keep improving and detailing it (engine/firewall) to make it at original as possible. Keep up the videos and I look forward to another update

[@Moto_Guzzi]

The frontbumper sides are in different angle. On the left the end goes down, on the right it goes up. I love this cars!

[@mattimero3701]

When I take control of the Universe that car is Coming Back! Thanks for sharing yr Grrreat car! Matti

[@chasyes1]

Love it!

[@michaelwhite2823]

Hey this was great. Great looking car. The video was fun and very informative. Also, beautiful neighborhood you live in. So, do people often mistake it for a 61 Chrysler?

[@michaelbenardo5695]

Because they both used the same body and same fins, just a different grille and the tail and backup lenses swapped position-wise.

[@michaelwhite2823]

@@michaelbenardo5695 Exactly

[@richrare6329]

Cool car, great video, thanks for your informative video on the 61 blue Desode

[@ronaldhuff635]

the left hand thread was a self tightening feature , the kick panels werent plastic, but rather metal the second button on the floor was in this case for the wipers but on some cars like imperial was a radio control feature which took the tuner to the stronger signal in the area these cars are the bomb, they rode like none other the dashboard mirrors looked cool but in many cases werent that effective, the pushbutton transmissions worked very well , overall, nice car

[@Batman-wv5ng]

That push button transmission is so good .

[@rayfridley6649]

However, if you chose a 3-speed manual instead, the shifter would be on a small visible shaft positioned under the steering shaft. This made shifting quite awkward. Only good thing was that this would be discontinued in 1962 model year.

[@nastybastardatlive]

Jaguar also uses left handed threads on the left side. It's so they can't accidentally unscrew as you drive. Every 14 year old mechanics helper knows this. The torqueflite was the first automatic transmission that could shift faster than a manual and get better quarter mile times. Torsion aire was front suspension, rear suspension, and special tires, not just the front torsion bars. I'm surprised you didn't mount the go pro underneath the car too at the end there. You mounted it everywhere else.

[@alphaone101]

One more thing you missed is engine information. As an "engine guy" I always like to hear about a vehicles engine specs.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

This car used a de-tuned version of the 361 B engine, 265 horses. The 58 - 60 version of this engine made 295 horses with a 2 barrel, 305 with a 4 barrel. More with the later ram manifolds and dual quads.

[@James-xo4uv]

The Left hand threads on the wheels studs and lug nuts on the drivers side, Was supposed to keep the lug nuts tight as the car went down the road, But most people didn't know or see the L stamped on the end of the stud ,and ended up breaking the stud when trying to remove the nut with an impact tool

[@ronaldturner3049]

Love your 61 DeSoto, but some more info for you. All car seats from the late 30s on rise up as you move it forward. The claim to fame on late 50s and early 60s ChryCo cars are the optional Swivel Seats. Also, most Ford products did indeed use a 3 speed automatic. It is just that many of them started out in 2nd unless you floored it. Your car has a fuse for the backups on the windshield wiper switch, and the fuse for the radio in the lead to it in back of the dash. Did you know that there was supposed to be an Adventurer for 61? It would have had a 383 with a 4 barrel and dual exhausts, with dual 4s on rams optional. There used to rumors that they did make pilot-line examples of it, and that some escaped the crusher. I could swear that when I was a kid, I used to see a 61 DeSoto with gold, instead of chrome, name plates, and gold grilles. Maybe it was one of those Adventurers?

[@rayfridley6649]

There is one overriding issue I have with Chrysler Corp. cars during its forward look era. That is, if the owner opted for a manual transy instead of the push-button auto, the three-on -the tree shifter was on a shaft that ran under the steering column. This made for awkward shifting as well as the driver breaking his right-hand fingers when shifting into second. It was a bad design.

[@emjayay]

Re an Adventurer: could be. They were obviously giving up on DeSoto by 1961 and stopped making them after a few months. Also, Chrysler products had a bolt on the seat track that could be adjusted to change the angle of the whole seat besides the longer or shorter leg room adjustment. (Or you could just get a power seat.)

[@michaelbenardo5695]

Finally, somebody besides me knows this! I too used to see a 61 DeSoto exactly like that and always wondered if it was an Adventurer!

[@chuckhaugan4970]

Yup and the left hand thread is something Chrysler did, I know for a fact, through 1966..... I have the broken stud to prove it.

[@kevinschoeppler4115]

What a fun quirky neat classic car

[@79tazman]

It's funny how Chrysler used almost that same front end on the 1961 cars the New yorker, Newport, Windsor, even the 300 had the same sort of front end

[@fernando29113]

Super clásico......

[@rizzlerazzleuno4733]

Lovely color. Let's go for a drive. Thanks.

[@cornellgreen3692]

rizzle razzleuno You don't get colors like this on cars anymore! And the paint names are so devoid of imagination! We need to get back to cars like this and stop with this crossover madness. These were real cars, not the golf carts of today which look like electric shavers.

[@jakespeed63]

What museum did you steal this creampuff from?? Left hand thread, on left front wheel, was a safety feature. My 1964 Oldsmobile, had it as well.Asymmetrical front seat was not mentioned either. So many cool features, easy to forget some.This car deserves to be kept 100 % original. 4 doors, is not a problem. Thanks for sharing.

[@blw957]

I'm not sure what that guy was talking about regarding the Mercury car company; however it was started by Edsel Ford in 1938 and was a competitor. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(automobile)

[@JohnEngel]

Such a great video and I must have missed part 1 so I'm going back to watch that one. Keep up the great work.

[@hullinger]

Hey John, thanks, you're kind! You know, KZbin flagged this video as not being family friendly and they wont reeval their flag until it gets 1K views. Like, that's going to take about 5 years, you know! Anyway, I enjoy talking about this car and I feel like I'm getting better at story telling with each video. Plus I think like my videos are less cringe-worthy than my vid's from a year ago. This Desoto video however made me nuts 'cause the audio. Anyways, you know neither of us 'ranked' at the Hoovies Lincoln giveaway. Maybe we're too polished. This Desoto is close to being sold so II'm in the search for a new car. If something turns up that's near you, would you mind taking a look at it for me? Might be good content for both of us. -Chris

[@JohnEngel]

East Coast Classics Sure thing. Just let me know. I'd love to check something out for you. Did KZbin say why they flagged your video? Maybe they think you are too sexy for the younger public. :)

[@hullinger]

Hah! I'm singing Right Said Fred right now. Remember him? No, no. There was no comment from YT and all they said is that they won't even reevaluate their flag until 1K views. Kinda crappy and I'm guessing their flag and statement is all automated. As for a car looksie, what part of SC are you in?

[@JohnEngel]

East Coast Classics I live in Aiken SC.

[@hullinger]

Thanks a bunch. I'll keep you in mind should something turn up near you. -Chris

[@Mickt6]

those damn hight beam floor foot pedal switch that was always jammed mostly in northern states or Canada due to winter conditions it would have to be replaced almost every year and those switches was use by every car magnufacturers

[@boggy7665]

The wiper button on the floor. That's for spraying wash fluid, right? It's a bulb that pumps the fluid, rather than having an electric motor.

[@ToyKingWonder]

My 1969 AMX has the foot pump for fluid, AND the wipers were run by vacuum, not electricity!

[@emjayay]

@@ToyKingWonder One old fashioned thing that AMC did was hold on to vacuum wipers long after others were all electric. Even the cheapest Chrysler products all had electric wipers at least by 1955.