Dual Button DeSoto

We’ve heard of radio delete plates, but why does this 1960 DeSoto have a block-off panel on its push-button automatic transmission control face plate? Steve shows there was life before Chrysler’s 3-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission.

[@pmafterdark]

I see cars like this, just like i did when I used to go to wrecking yards, and think of how beautiful they were when they were new.

[@jackdanger918]

I have a 1960 Fireflite with this exact two speed set up. Has around 28,000 original miles.

[@johnwinkler6575]

All Chrysler automatics were built in Kokomo Indiana and they still may all be built there today. I had two Great uncles put in 30 years of peace and the Chrysler plants. The one uncle worked on the repair line which was of a transmission didn’t work he had to repair it. Also if any special transmissions came back to the factory it was their job to make them work. A little piece of Chrysler history for you

[@garymckee448]

Thanks

[@mikewasko9031]

That's cool!!

[@ryandavis7593]

I visited Kokomo regularly with my job working on locomotives as a field composite mechanic. Greetings from the high plains of Texas.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Was this before a new car went out the door, or it was warranty repair stuff, stuff that came back? Anyways that did sound like a fun challenge.

[@clevelandmaker386]

Man ... I love DeSotos.....

[@brewsky38c]

Steve, walking encyclopedia of knowledge. Love your videos

[@SteveMagnante]

Thank you kindly

[@nastybastardatlive]

I have a 1958 Fireflite project car. Mines a 4 door sedan with the pillars, but has the 3 speed and 4 barrel version of the 361. It possesses the greatest fins on any car ever.

[@samholdsworth420]

🇫🇮😊

[@BIGLOVE4TRUTH]

I had a 57 Fireflite when I was in High school in 1972.

[@styldsteel1]

Actually, yea this car has nice fins but didn't make the cut. 1959 Caddy's fins were, and are Iconic.

[@HotRod-wv4vm]

My dad’s had no pillars. I remember driving it on the Merritt parkway in Connecticut. At the time there was one stop light somewhere and me being young, stupid and underage tried to do a burnout and wound up driving party on the grass. My dad spoke softly and just told me to try and keep it on the road. Unlike me who tried showing my older son how to drive. The first time he made an error I smacked him on the back of the head. From then on I had his friend and driver’s school teach him 😃

[@bartphillips6391]

Steve's videos are awesome! Love his knowledge and willingness to share it. Junkyard Gold was by far my favorite show in Motor Trend. So happy he's doing these!! My wife isn't really mechanical, but she loves watching Steve. Keep these coming Steve!!!

[@Hyrev1]

We had my grandfather's, I believe '59 Desoto. Had the 392 hemi, and push button automatic. Got in trouble once because I pushed two of the buttons in at the same time (mother had left me in the car..back when you could do that sort of thing). She was furious, dad had to come rescue us..he wasn't exactly happy either! Great video Steve! 👍👍💯🇺🇸

[@gregmock8527]

I like Steve’s personality & knowledge on his shows . I bet he’s a very interesting person to talk to 👍

[@stevethomas760]

My day inherited a 55 (?) Desoto with a small hemi from his aunt. Back in the day we owned a '56 Belvedere, uncle bought a '56 Fury new. Fury, incredible car, brother owns one now. Has a picture of our uncle in his in the garage. Great videos!

[@scottinWV]

Steve, you should be the curator of a car museum somewhere. Your knowledge is amazing!

[@Riverdeepnwide]

I still remember the colour, style and especially the sound of that Desoto convertible hemi that drove up for gas when I was a kid. Sweet!

[@Auggies1956]

A neighbor in about 63' he had a 57' two door. Though I never owned one of these I greatly admired the design, "forward look" if I remember right for the 57' to 61' was the term for the body style..

[@derekcrymble9085]

I would like to see more vids of unique cars like this that are NOT so far gone . A wrecking yard in a drier climate please . It is painful to examine a "carpse" , ( my term for a dead car too far gone to restore) . It is good to think of more history being saved .

[@jasonrackawack9369]

Its the hard reality of living here in the rust belt North East....lots of history, lots of it is in rough shape.....including old cars old buildings etc. Cold winters are hard on stuff, humid summers are hard on stuff. It builds character seeing so much cool stuff beyond saving LOL.

[@monroe7403]

Nice! We have a '57 DeSoto Firedome 4-door sedan behind our garage that's been in the family since new. It runs, but needs a full resto, which is in the plans.

[@tonyfriend7413]

Awesome sauce. Yes Sir Re Bob.

[@Pedroisanickname]

That dashboard is as cold-war surreal as the tailfins. 🚀🚀

[@benbrown2119]

I had a 1962 New Yorker wagon (regret trading it) with the Astrodome instrument cluster. It had the aluminum case Torqueflite (first year) but still had pushbutton shift and the parking brake drum on the back of the transmission, which didn't work when I got the car. It took skill to park it so it wouldn't roll away until i fixed the parking brake.

[@CR7659]

The dash in that car was used in Dodge and Desoto 60-61, then in the 62-64 Dodge Custom 880 that Chrysler put together out of the parts bin so dealers had a full size Dodge to sell. At some point the face color goes from black to white. I saved a full dash out of a '63 that hit our you pick yard maybe 10 years ago. 1960 Chryslers and Desotos are some super cool looking cars. Another fun fact - to save money on the 1961 restyling, Chrysler took the same grille opening and flipped it upside down. So a 61-62 grille will interchange with a 60, but it won't look right flipped over. I only figured it out after having both of them side by side.

[@ExilefromCrownHill]

I had a friend with a 1964 Dodge 880 wagon back around 1970. We'd get parts for it from a similar 880 in a junkyard in New Hampshire. This junked one had only 28,000 miles on it, and the elderly owner scrapped it because it had a tick in the engine. I bought the windshield from it for my '64 Imperial, amazed that it was the Hollander correct replacement.

[@gregburns5638]

Many thanks for your wonderful "walk-around" video. A few years back, I decided to buy an all copper colored 1958 "Edsel Citation" 2 door hardtop in somewhat decent shape for $3,000 from a young guy up in Kingston, New York. Apparently, he wanted to do a little, um, "unhoarding", because he also threw in a red & white 1960 "Desoto Adventurer" 2 door hardtop for free! Um? Okay? The car was a little rough, and hadn't run in 20 years, but had, um, "potential". Um...yeah. Sure. Getting 2 old cars back to my (unsuspecting) parent's house in Stratford, Connecticut would prove somewhat, um, "interesting", as it was almost a 2 & 1/2 hour drive each way. Um, yeah. UGH! The "Edsel" was registered in New York, so had valid license plates. The "Desoto" was not. Ohhhhh, boyyyyy. So I unscrewed one "special interest" license plate from my green & tan early series 1949 "Desoto", and started my day-long trek to play, um, "musical cars". I drove my cute little, highly unreliable 1986 black & tan "Renault Alliance" convertible up Route 25 to I-84 then into New York state. Exited onto Route 9W, and meandered alongside the Hudson River up to Kingston. Somehow we got the "Desoto" started and kept it running, while I somewhat illegally installed my own Connecticut "classic car" tag. I would lead the way home, Ken, a professional automotive mechanic, would follow close behind my in the "Desoto", and Bobby, the seller, would follow Ken in the legally registered "Edsel". We took a lot of "back roads" home to kind of "avoid detection", which increased the trip time by another hour. UGH! We squeezed both cars into my parent's driveway, while they were at church ⛪, then I drove Ken & Bobby back to Kingston. All told, I spent nearly 10 hours driving 🚗 that day, THEN had to, um, "contend" to my parents total "displeasure" with my new, um, "acquisitions". YIKES!!! 😱 😡 Because my current job was going to end in a layoff, I decided to sell the free "Desoto", and made $1,500 on the deal with some Scandinavian guy who planned to pay another $4,000 to ship it back home via boat, then sell it for a veritable fortune over there. Often wonder how that venture turned out. Kept the "Edsel" for another year or so, before selling it to a car club friend, Jim. Sure wish I still had one or both of those old gems today... 💎 🤔

[@tonyfriend7413]

Yes Sir Re Bob.

[@gregkistner1955]

Always like hearing about some unusual features on cars!

[@billbright1755]

👓 interesting tutorial on a seldom scene vehicle. Imagine the monumental effort it would take to restore that example.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Man I didn’t know that car was a no frame car! Great stuff! I bet she was a beautiful car in its hay day’s!👌😎👍sad to see it in such condition!

[@Very_Angry_Citizen]

Your vast weath of knowledge is beyond priceless. (We need to clone this man's brain)

[@dj1111s]

Love your technical explanations of these old Chrysler products. Fall of 1974 as a senior in high school I needed to find a car to take to school then across town for my afternoon job at a local factory. I had been looking at car dealers and want ads but wasn’t finding anything I liked or could afford. Then one day my dad came home from work and said look out front and let me know if you’d be interested. Some guy at work was selling his car. It was a 1966 Chrysler 300, 2 door hardtop, power windows, bucket seats, the 383XP (4 bbl) 325 HP engine, 323 gears, beautiful spinner hubcaps in a very dark green metallic (almost black) color. Nearly mint condition and the price was $600. Of course I purchased it. Drove it for over 9 years and did ALL my own repairs. Never took it to a mechanic. I still think the 1966 model year was the best looking for 1960’s Chryslers. Ah the memories.

[@georgerenton965]

My first car in 71 was a 64 New Yorker 413 4 bbl ivory white with black vinyl roof, 4dr hard top. That car I wish I kept. I still think it is the most beautiful thing to this day. The dash where it wrapped around to meet the front doors was a stylish wet dream in chrome. I bought it at an auction of a sand and gravel company, north of Toronto. Paid $150 for it, only thing that wasn’t broken was the engine and transmission I found out. Learned more about cars with that beauty that 4 years of high school auto class. Had it up to 110 mph a couple of times, but it would surge because the floats in the carb weren’t adjusted properly. 22 miles to the gallon, that was 64 cents back then. Second car ( still ran the NY ) was a 64 Windsor, interior like brand new, body not so much. 361 2 bbl. Wife made me sell it to my sister in law’s boyfriend. That didn’t last long. Ditched it and hit a telephone pole. He was ok. Then splurged and bought a 66 300. Copper with black roof. Had factory tint on all the side windows, cool looking car, buckets in the front. 383 325 hp, was a dog compared to the mechanical secondary’s on the NYkr . Got married, bought a 361 Aspen Special Edition, biggest piece of crap I ever owned. Others followed but I still pine for my New Yorker. I killed it. I was a young diesel mechanic at Cummins Diesel. We had a rebuilt engine have a non destructive problem on our engine dyno. We had to drain the oil, so a couple of us kinda kept it. I used It in my car, well it was high detergent Shell Rimoulla CT. Cleaned all the carbon out and the thing smoked like a navy destroyer laying down a smoke screen. I had it in dads garage. He got tired of looking at it. Mom said he saw a tow truck drive by the house, and drove after the guy, got him to haul it away. And said “ get that crap out of my basement too. That was my 56 Fire Dome 276 hemi with 3/4 Isky track cam, sodium cooled valves, with Offenhuaser 6 pack. All gone ! Rocker covers where at the chrome shop, being Re chromed. Sad day paying that bill. Loved the ass end of the 66 though, classy car. Saw a convertible a few years back at a car show, forgot how low and wide that boat was. Only car I owned with fender skirts. Can’t tell me that wasn’t style over function.

[@dj1111s]

@@georgerenton965 For the second winter of owning my '66 300 I wanted to keep it out of the snow and salt so I bought a '64 New Yorker from a friend at work. It had a leaking gas tank so he sold it to me for $175. It was otherwise in great condition. Found a gas tank cheap at a local bone yard from a Plymouth of the same year. The filler neck was a slightly different angle but it worked. I think you had to hinge down the license plate to fill it. I always said that car could pull a train with its 413 4bbl. engine. And the rear seat could sit 4 reasonably sized teenagers. People loved it when I was the driver.

[@BigRob613]

Another great Junk yard crawl. Love these just wish they where longer.

[@michaelcuff5780]

My dad had a 1957 Desota. Push button gears. Big wings in the back with 6 round tail lights. Cool car!

[@racingfortheson]

The more of these I watch, the more I like them.

[@zekeosborne9684]

Makes me wish there were old junkyards like that around me, Damn I gotta move out of NY

[@racingfortheson]

@@zekeosborne9684 they are all over the place everywhere. Just need to know where to look.

[@GreyRockOne]

Thanks Steve! Whenever I hear DeSoto, I instantly think of Groucho Marx!

[@audieconrad8995]

My dad had a buddy who owned DeSotos. They were very nice cars.

[@z06doc86]

Unmolested engine bay? It looks pretty F’d to me Steve. 😂🤣 Your knowledge is awesome. Enjoying your Mustang book currently. Keep ‘em coming.

[@z06doc86]

@@liberals_destroy_everythin2497 🤣😂🤣

[@ludicrous7044]

My uncle joined the Army in 1950 to be trained as a Mechanic. He saved up enough money 💰 to buy a 52 Desoto. They needed him in Germany on a Army base motor pool. He signed for four years. There was a air freighter going to the base in Germany. They put his car and him on board ! Wherever he went the people went nuts 🥜 Over this shiny American car! Four years later him an car were back. He drove it 20 more years with few problems. He parked it for 20 more years intending to restore it to new. He sold the house and garage and moved 35 miles away The Desoto sat for about 10 more years untouched. When his wife and him died there was an estate sale. All his vehicles were bought by one man!! I hope he restored it and it’s wowing people at car shows!! It had that weird transmission and hydraulic clutch. It had second and third on the column but no first!! For heavy loads you started in low range second up to speed-lifted your foot wait for the clunk!’ Up to speed again another clunk! Push in the clutch and move to high. It’s in low range high so lift-clunk onto over drive. Four manual speeds. Light load just put it in high range and clunk once. Only use the clutch to start and shift! It only had 50 thousand miles!

[@davidfitzgerald4003]

Used to have a green one. Loved it.

[@hankrobb6639]

Up until a few years ago, my friend and I would go out to a small salvage yard 5 miles from us to look for parts for his '97 Ranger. Among the typical cars of today in the yard, there were two '56 Plymouth Furys; one white and one black. The black one still had its engine. Amazingly, the bodies of both had held up well for Midwest cars. I asked about them but they were not for sale. For probably the 7-8 years we would go out there, they were still sitting in the same spot. The yard changed owners and does not permit anyone to go in...they could still be there. Really sad....first year for Plymouth Furys.

[@garymckee448]

The old I'm going to fix them up one day.

[@howardkerr8174]

@@garymckee448 My mom's aunt had a 56 Savoy 2 door hardtop. Her's was medium grey, no flashy two-tone paint jobs, either. She would trade it in on a 64 Belvedere, a 2 door sedan, in a light brown color. I never saw the upholstery in either car, both had covers over the seats from new. In 10-11 years of driving she put less than 17,000 miles on that car. Pretty much just used for grocery and church runs.

[@garymckee448]

@@howardkerr8174 Nice l had two 64 Belvederes one a tan four door and the other a two door hardtop in red a beautiful vehicle.

[@LITTLE1994]

Awesome find. Hope you can save it.

[@richdiscoveries]

Everytime I'm feeling good about myself in my Classic Automotive knowledge I like to turn the channel on to bring myself back down a few notches LOL . Your knowledge truly is an asset Automotive Community. Thank you for all that you do

[@HotRod-wv4vm]

My dad had a 59 Desoto Firedome, Black exterior and white interior don’t remember if he had it reupholstered at Rayco. What a beautiful 4 door car pretty fast with push button and great looking fins. Thanks for the memories 🥰😄

[@nickbruni8041]

Friggin ‘ RAYCO ‘ !! There was one in Springfield Pa back in the day . 🤘🏼

[@HotRod-wv4vm]

@@nickbruni8041 we lived in NYC (Manhattan) and there was one in Yonkers,NY. I remember my dad putting plastic covers on his 58 Chevy Biscayne. Great in summer as they clung to your butt. In winter they were cold.

[@1stMarine]

My Dad also had the 1959 DeSoto Firedome, 383 with green enamel with white accents for the exterior and green two tone interior, truly a gorgeous car, it looked like it was moving when I was still. I was fortunate enough to be given that car by my father as my first in 1969 the finish was phenomenal it was oxidized when I got it, used "Kit" polish-wax and it looked like a brand new car.

[@clutchkicker392ison5]

I've Been Chrysler/Dodge since a toddler but am still amazed at what i used to think 'what' i now see the beauty in. Live n learn i spose. Luv ya work Mr Magnante.

[@Sleeperdude]

Very interesting it’s crazy how many car brands there used to be

[@dadalebreton184]

Superbe video as always. Steve your one of the best for sure.

[@davidszakacs6888]

My brother had a 1960 Chrysler Newport with the 383/2bbl, 305 HP. It could chirp the tires in the 1-2 shift under full throttle.

[@Ray56z]

Farming neighbor owned nothing but DeSotos his entire life. Bought the last year and drove until his death in the early '80s at 90+ years old. I never wanted one but thought they were sharp looking for a large 4-door car. Did admire his dedication to the brand.

[@marioncobaretti2280]

I have learned a lot from you , keep up the great work

[@woof3598]

loved my Neport (spz) and the square steering wheel

[@mark_osborne]

Very interesting, I learned something about the transmissions !

[@zacharypokorny5126]

I hope you did a video on that valiant next to it

[@Frankinsteinguitar]

Like 'em or lump 'em, the cars from the 50s and 60s were magnificent compared to today's cars(and SUVs) which have all the style of your washing machine!

[@errorsofmodernism9715]

Beautiful car

[@ronwaters478]

Hey Steve - Always like your videos, especially the ones from the Texas auction in Fall 2021. Just a couple of minor corrections: Last year of the 6 cyl for Desotos was '54. Also, the first year Powerflite appeared in a Chrysler Corp vehicle was '53. I've been to the yard featured in this video. Many times. If you find the two 55 Desotos, the pink 2dr has piles of newspapers in it from 1964. Kinda cool.

[@paulwoodman5131]

Hopefully Steve comes back soon. I was looking at that brake system there. It looks like it was power brake ,There's something missing, what do you think? 1:38 I'd love to go down and see him at another Texas auction.

[@rockguitarist931]

I love DeSoto's! I always thought they were more stylish than Chryslers, especially the '57 and '60 models. The 1961 DeSoto is my favorite MoPar from this era but Lord knows they don't exist anymore...

[@SuperOperator4]

I was waiting for a racoon to jump out....maybe next one...

[@chrisjeffries2322]

The 1960 DeSoto was the last full year for the brand, for the 1961 model year all 800 or so cars were built in1960, ending the 61 models build at the end of November 1960.

[@Truckguy2007]

My grandpa had a 57 Desoto. He got new car at some point and my dad got the Desoto. Drove it back and forth to work till it fell apart! Connecticut rust!!

[@morgenhoop]

Good stuff!!

[@bewilderment9268]

Not the same beast, but a beast none the less. I had a 1964 Newport w/ the 361BB. That thing ran great. In that huge car it would sometimes get a second gear chirp.

[@bozodog428]

Had one too and loved it. That 361 could go pretty good.

[@corvairjim1]

I'm a life-long Chevy/GM man, but I've had a soft spot for DeSotos for a long time. Maybe its because I'm a Corvair fanatic so I feel sympathy for cars that went out if production before their time. I'm into Studebakers, too.

[@bonniebairn844]

I used to have a '60 Desoto Adventurer w/383 4-barrel. Nice car.

[@dougackerman4182]

Steve great video

[@paulmcwilliams1709]

Me and a friend of mine used to go to local junkyards looking around at the old cars. It's too bad that now the junkyards usually won't let anyone wander around the yard. They are afraid of getting sued by someone getting hurt on their property.

[@mikewasko9031]

My dad had the wagons / I like the dash / reminds me of that kids toy dash from the 60s 👍💛💛✌✌✌

[@geoffkeller5337]

Good video. Really want to know more about the Valiant beside it.

[@howardkerr8174]

My older sister's 1st car was a 1954 Plymouth with Powerflite automatic, I had no idea that 1954 was the 1st year for that transmission. Like the GM Powerglide, those Powerflites were VERY tough transmissions. My mother's maiden aunt had a 64 Plymouth with the newer automatic but the Park position on the selector was NOT a button, but a lever. Somewhat confusing as to whether it was engaged in the up or down position.

[@philpatterson7085]

58 Recession did in DeSoto as well as doomed Packard, Studebaker, Hudson and Nash.

[@speakfreeley4473]

Exactly! Up to that year DeSoto was still performing strongly. Also Packard, Studebaker, Hudson & Nash were talking about getting together to form American Motors, realising it was not safe being an independent & would find it easier taking on the "big three". However only Studebaker & Packard merged with immediate disastrous results for the latter, while the former only soldiered on for a few more years. Hudson & Nash themselves merged separately to form Rambler.

[@greganderson4547]

I have a 1960 DeSoto Adventurer and I didn't realize that the two speed powerflite was still offered in 1960, never mind that it had a special plate to delete the middle gear. Looks really strange with one button missing in the middle of it.

[@ricksaint2000]

Thank you Steve get well soon

[@melvinjones3895]

Button button who's got the button

[@timothykeith1367]

My mother used to say that! I just looked it up, it was a kid's game.

[@SteveMagnante]

I think it also might have been a Timothy Leary thing...in the Sixties anyway. Just Say NO Kids.

[@rawbsworld6604]

47K to go! Come on share this channel!! Steve needs 100K 👍🤗 best historical auto info on the KZbin!

[@gto6596]

You are admirably knowledgeable, and an excellent presenter!

[@frankjones4094]

I remember my dad had a 57 Plymouth. And him getting so upset at my mom for being late for a family outing (she was always late) and then forgetting something we had to go back home for. We were doing about 30 mph when he punched the button into reverse, floored the gas,and smoke billowed out of the wheel wells.

[@mikewasko9031]

Sounds like my dad! He threw the aaa trip tick map out of our camper and we heard him yelling at my mom for bad navigation

[@bigblockjalopy]

Reverse does not engage in forward motion. It is a safety feature.

[@RC-cc4rv]

Get well Steve!!

[@chevylandt.v]

I don't know why but the Desoto car is so cool to me.

[@joemazzola7387]

Steve check out the green 2 door valiant I would like to see that

[@budpool4835]

Loved the hemi valve covers, Desoto Fire Dome

[@needsaride15126]

Thank you for sharing such interesting and informative videos.

[@1957burb]

Minor corrections. This car did have power brakes, you can see the upper hole in the cowl where the booster pushed on the top of the brake pedal. Also, Desoto still had the flathead six through 1954. And you should have commented on the high back driver's seat, a very interesting detail of '60-61 Mopars. Nice job!

[@davidbarnsley8486]

Just love that dash board

[@ricklundin1154]

Steve you forgot to end the clip with "its delightful, its delovely, its DeSoto"'.

[@edsyphan3425]

I remember driving my aunt's 1960 Chrysler. It had the bubble dash you mentioned. And the drive shaft brake. What I never see mentioned, if you break a u-joint, you have no parking brake! Ask me how I know.

[@mattrodgers4878]

That’s not really any different than any other car. A transmission with internal parking gear does nothing without a driveshaft to connect the rear end to the trans.

[@auteurfiddler8706]

@@mattrodgers4878 Well, the parking sprag on the trans will do nothing if your drive shaft is not connected to the rear axle. But there is NO cable to activate she rear drum shoes on these cars. So that makes a 1960 Chrysler a LOT worse. 1. No parking spag 2. trans parking brake has less capacity than rear axle brakes on both drums. The PARK lever replaces both a parking spag in the trans and cable activation of two 11 or 12 inch drums with a single 7 inch drum on the back of the trans. Add to this the fact that you only have a single chamber master cylinder before 1967 So, guy's with 50's Mopars have to (and also had to at the time) be very aware of the risks of parking the car on any kind of incline. Some bring wheel chocks when they go on tours.

[@jasonrackawack9369]

The OCD in me would go nuts driving a car with a delete plate in the shifter.....should have at least had a fake fixed button or something LOL

[@charlieirvin5423]

My grandpa Had a 55 Desoto firefox fireflite what ever they called it but he had one . then he got a 65 Chevy Impala after his death the car went to my father those cars were beautiful in them days My grandpa use to ride the brake or ride the Clutch all the time my dad gave him hell

[@jkphoto58]

I believe this DeSoto did come with power brakes the brake pedal pad is for power brakes. Although it is slightly blurry in the video I think it says power brakes on the top row of the pad itself.

[@garymckee448]

I had a 64 Dodge Custom 880 with the 361 one of the most dependable vehicles that l have owned.

[@bigblockjalopy]

As a B-engine driver for 34 years, I second your statement, I'd even say B/T-Flite/8.3/4 is the most dependale drivetrain in automobile History.

[@garymckee448]

@@bigblockjalopy agreed 💯👍

[@diversionxj600s]

Ive had a 1960 Desoto 4-door hardtop with Torqueflite pusbutton and 383 V8.

[@jamespetersen3933]

Keep on crawling! I do like these videos.

[@hugieflhr03]

That looks like a really big 2bbl!

[@suzi_mai]

It's a Carter wcfb four barrel.

[@bradkay4794]

Dodge did not compete with Chevrolet at the time DeSoto came out. Originally Dodge was priced above DeSoto making Dodge the Oldsmobile competitor and DeSoto the Pontiac competitor. While probably the best tail fins we're on the 57 Chrysler and DeSoto and that was an all new body shell that year the 56 models had tail fins added to a previous finless body. I doubt the lack of the Astrodome instrument panel had anything to do with the demise of DeSoto being near. Chrysler was upmarket from DeSoto and so would get some distinctive and more expensive features than DeSoto. I don't recall any of the large Chrysler products sharing instrument panels among brands until the 79 Chryslers and 79 Dodge Saint Regis. I can't imagine there was any consideration to giving DeSoto the Astradome

[@That_AMC_Guy]

Correct. Plymouth was competition for Chevrolet. DeSoto went up against Pontiac. Dodge went up against Oldsmobile. Chrysler went up against Buick. Imperial was up there with Cadillac. Even over at Ford, they tried to follow the same hierarchy. Ford was the low cost brand like Chevrolet. Edsel was created to bridge the gap and compete with Pontiac Mercury was against Oldsmobile. Lincoln was going to compete against Buick. Continental was going to outshine Cadillac. I never really thought about it before but both schemes kind of fell apart by 1960. Edsel was axed. DeSoto lasted barely another year. And whereas Imperial slowly became more of a Chrysler, the whole Continental gig over at Ford fell apart during the recession of '58. Neither Chrysler nor Ford could have "a car for every purse" like GM did. But then again, I guess GM eventually couldn't do that either, seeing as they've lost Pontiac and Oldsmobile.

[@danielulz1640]

@@That_AMC_Guy both in size and price, Dodge competed with Pontiac and DeSoto competed with Oldsmobile.

[@kev_299]

Ford replaced the logo on their Continental headquarters building with an Edsel one that wouldn’t last long either. 😁 Desoto took a big hit in ‘59 with the Cuban trade embargo as they were the #1 selling brand in Cuba. It left a huge overage of ‘59 Desotos that were dispersed to dealerships of all makes in the Detroit area to be sold off cheap over the next couple years. In addition to losing the export sales the excess ‘59 models being sold cheap everywhere cut into their 60-61 numbers and was probably the last nail in the coffin.

[@CORVAIRWILD]

Radio delete has a better ring then "no radio ordered". Often mis identified... Only Corvettes Cadillacs Imperials Lincoln's and the like came standard with a radio. Dealers would sometime order without a radio and install a Motorola or similar aftermarket radio along with an accessory non OEM antenna. My uncle would order his Olds 88s with no radio, then install the same Blaupunct AM FM, which he lost when his employee wrecked the car and off it went. By then, early 70s, AM FM was becoming more common, and that and a 4 barrel was pretty much I'll he'd pay for. No AC, no electric windows...

[@falconman9554]

I just got a 62 Chrysler 300 and did the exact same thing with the parking brake! I thought it was froze up and we couldn't get the car off the trailer (it dosen't run yet have to put a motor in it) I eventually figured the parking lever out. Already have an engine for it just getting all the accessories lined up and hope to have the ole tank running by the end of the year!

[@roadkillontheweb2873]

My 1956 Desoto Diplomat is 6 cylinder flathead powered from the factory

[@chuckwhitson654]

Was for sure a power brake car. Not that it matters alot

[@auteurfiddler8706]

You'd THINK the dash mounted mirror (only the stem is visible here, the top must be broken off) would ruin your rear view, but, in practice, it is almost as good as a high mounted rear view mirror.

[@randyauer7303]

Cool stuff Steve

[@roadhog1970]

i do too love his videos .....u can learn a lot

[@auteurfiddler8706]

I think in some early TorqueFlite and PowerFlite cars, the push buttons going into drive are supposed to deactivate the parking brake.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Very cool!!!!!!!!!! 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@davidmeister9426]

Interesting as usual. I noticed sunroof looking formed/rolled thing on the roof, like a sun roof. Is it just for style or for rigidity?

[@GertStegeman]

Interesting question. Sure it has to do with rigidity, but i also noticed a two tone paint scheme in another video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnW2mKqNiZKEoasm56s

[@johnhere6058]

I would have never guessed you could still get a powerflite in 61, I would have guessed the last one in Desoto would have the shift lever on the dash, about 55 or 56

[@That_AMC_Guy]

Last year of the Powerflite was 1961.

[@herman452]

Agree with That AMC Guy. Also, no Torqueflites in 55, only Powerflites (and of course manual transmissions) and the shift lever on the dash was a one year only deal. Went to pushbuttons the next year. Torqueflite was a late 56 model year offer, and (i think) only on Imperials and Chrysler 300s. Torqueflites were available on all models in 57, but the Powerflite continued as the standard automatic trans through 61, then it disappeared. I have a pushbutton Powerflite in my 56 Plymouth Belvedere, and when I was a kid, my Dad's 56 Dodge D500 was also a pushbutton Powerflite.

[@loualiberti4781]

That’s Cool Metal Right There.

[@crustyoldoffroader7436]

I want the 2 door Valiant, it would be a great AWB

[@jamesswingle3411]

Simply excellent

[@monarch1957]

I saw a black 60 DeSoto at a car show about 7 years ago I recorded a video on it.