Of the choices, I’d take the 59 Mercury and the 59 Ambassador. But, to be honest, 58 and 59 are tough years for me. Cindi Lauper All through the night. Thank you as always ~ Chuck
Great choices and you’re totally right 5859 there is a lot of cool cars one of my all-time favorite cars that I really really want to do a review on but I can’t find one and it’s a vehicle that I would want to drive because it’s a vehicle that I would want to own is a 1959 Rambler ambassador cross-country wagon with a 327 V8 that car was drastically underrated with a manual transmission I don’t remember all of the specs because I did research this car one other time you could get it to go 0 to 60 in eight seconds which is really fast for anything in the 50s let alone a wagon That 327 V8 was probably one of the biggest underrated engines of the 50s a pre-dated Chevy 327 by I think it was eight years and in my opinion was better than Chevy’s version just like Studebaker 289 it came up before Ford did another drastically underrated engine.. But congratulations you got it first one out of the gate I wasn’t sure if that was going to be a dead giveaway song or going to be hard but congratulations be sure to tune in tomorrow for 1967 Oldsmobile delta 88 convertible. =)
The air conditioner is a dealer installed unit. It's a "Cool Air" system manufactured by Chrysler Corporation. These were sourced through Chrysler's Mopar parts division. They were very good systems, engineered by Chrysler for installation in Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler, and Imperial brands. If your car came without factory installed air conditioning, this was the next best thing. By the way, factory air vented from the top of the dash. Swivel periscope vents discharged the cold air.
@@bradhampton6457 They did for factory installed units. Chrysler's aftermarket units were branded "Cool-Aire" I guess to showcase dealer installed units. The kits included a "Cool-Aire" decal to be placed in the windows of cars so equipped. Airtemp cars from 1953 up through about 1971 always got an Airtemp sticker...
This was a fun car to feature, Jay. I always enjoy looking at DeSotos from 1955 on -- such great designs. I noticed that the underdash AC unit says "MOPAR" on it, so it must be the dealer installed version, which is cool (no pun intended). For the two scenarios: I'll take the '59 Mercury and the '59 Edsel.
I'd go with the Edsel. My all time favorite type of car is a 1958 Buick Limited. I also love the 58 Edsel Citations. Currently trying to get a 64 Imperial (Bonus points for Dual AC.)
Yeah, u called it b4 me. I was like "Chevy kept what for so long'?! GM was the division king for decades but credit to Chrysler for doing De Soto as long as they could. The recession of the late 50’s was brutal and inflation was apparent.
GM suicided Oldsmobile shortly after the marquee turned 100 years old (from 1899 or 1901 depending on criteria). There was no birthday party, no funeral, no eulogy. Olds just went to the eternal junk yard. Al Sloan, Ed Cole, Harley Earl or Billy Mitchell would never have allowed that.
@@buddyroeginocchio9105 Indeed, and GM's bankruptcy a few years later was a tit for a tat. But taxpayers kept the doors open for GM despite their lousy business model & products. Well GM survive much longer? Ford?
@@sableminer8133 Interesting question. Ford was in much better financial shape when GM was facing bankruptcy. Since then Ford has managed costly fumbles they could ill afford. GM has not done much better. My guess is they are both doomed as far as the private car/truck business is concerned. Both have good prospects for profit in the industrial realm so they may not altogether perish. But we are car lovers and our future affection is not given much hope from Ford and GM.
Jay I think the reason why GM was able to make so many divisions work was their ability to make them all distinctive. When a Chevy owner decided to trade up, he got a very different car in all respects. If he upgraded to a Pontiac or Oldsmobile for example, he got a very different style, ride and powertrain. More chrome and a completely different look and feel. That wasn’t really the case when a Plymouth guy was debating whether to go with a DeSoto or a Chrysler on the trade-in. Not much of a difference between the two…..especially the bodies. Minor differences between the two for a very small variance in price. A 56 DeSoto for example, is different from a Chrysler only in minor styling ways like the taillight configuration and the dash boards. Not much else. In my opinion, the Plymouth folks just paid the difference and got a Chrysler, skipping over the “mid-range” DeSoto option.
And when GM started making all their vehicles the game, people started not to buy them. They are soon going to run into the same thing again. The new traverse and other cars they are making are just too expensive and too high end to be out of the way of GMC, Buick, and Cadillac. If they all offer super cruise, why not get the cheaper chevy instead of the GMC. Once the styling of the cars become more similar I bet this will be a problem. The different brands should be in different price brackets and it needs to stay that way.
GM cars were distinctive from division to division until we hit the mid 70’s when GM went to “badge engineering” and the divisions no longer had their own engines, and the cars were difficult to distinguish between divisions. And quality went to hell. Bought a used ‘73 Monte Carlo with the 350 and three-speed Turbo Hydramatic. Wonderful car. My new ‘78 with the 305, not so great. Never owned a car before or after needing a new camshaft. And a “program” where GM paid for 90% of the repairs. Then fuel pump issues because the lobe on the new camshaft overdrove the mechanical fuel pump. I can’t recall how many fuel pumps I went through until a Chevy representative recommended the dealer shorten the rod driving the pump. Viola, fuel pump issue ended.
Give me that 1959 Oldsmobile! Well built, great engine,,and the dash was futuristic without being goofy. Btw…..DeSoto would rust before it left the factory. Notoriously poor quality sheet metal.
Liked the rear of the 1958 better than the 1959, but I liked the front of the 1959 better than the 1958 ! I'd take the '59 Mercury "ALL Through The Night" !
The 1959 DeSoto was designed by Virgil M. Exner Sr., Cliff Voss, and Gordon Davis. It was radically different from previous year models. The Adventurer (known to us DeSoto fans as "the Golden Adventurer") was the top of the line sports luxury model, introduced for 1956, and the 1959 model was the last of this special model series. The engine options included dual quads on the Adventurer model only. The Adventurer was only available as a 2-door hardtop or convertible in limited color combinations from 1956 to 1959. The Fireflite was also top line and very stylish with the Sportsman 2-door hardtop or convertible, also available as a 4-door hardtop, 4-door sedan or Explorer 9-passenger station wagon. The lower series Firedome was also available as a 2-door hardtop, convertible, 4-door hardtop, 4-door sedan, and the Explorer 6-passenger wagon. From 1957 to 1959 only, the lowest-priced series was the Firesweep, which was sort of a combination of a DeSoto and a Dodge, using Dodge front clip with DeSoto bumper and grille assembly, and DeSoto body, The Firesweep was available from January 1957 to mid-1959 as a 1959 model, and was offered as a 2-door hardtop, convertible, 4-door sedan, and 6-passenger Shopper wagon.
Well, a 383 V8 is quite powerful for it's day, but, in 1958, you could get a DeSoto with a hemi. Not as big as Chrysler's hemi, but powerful just the same. If that is a light in the middle of the grille, this might be a Canadian car. One time when I was in Canada in 1967, I noticed all these cars with lights in the center of the grille. I had never seen anything like that before. I think is was probably for visibility, like how our cars have driving lights which automatically turn on. It's funny that this car has a 3-speed Torqueflite automatic. Back when DeSotos were much more common, it seemas everyone I saw had a 2-speed Powerflite. Maybe the best cars were saved? I think that De Soto had become a car like people joked about like Edsels and Ramblers. Although that '59 Rambler Ambassador, if it had the 327 V8, could run circles around any car you showed. Lean and mean. I remember on the 70's TV show, "Happy Days", they joked about the DeSoto.
That's wrong the hemi was canceled for 1958. In 1958 you could ONLY get the wedge engine. A LOT of dealers and engone shops could easily install a BIG all- out Chrysler 392 Hemi. But the trick there was to set the engine BACK as much as possible for better traction and front handling. But in 59 the Dodge Desoto Chrysler dealers were SO desperate for sales they could be "persuaded" to do this. A Big Hemi in a Dodge or DeSoto was a REAL street killer with a few mods or the right "industrial/Marine options from Mopar and good headers.....
@@cindys1819 Excuse me? In 1958, Chrysler vehicles rolled off the assembly line with hemi's in them. Factory build sheets have confirmed this, of which I've personally seen many. I believe that a 392 hemi was standard in Imperials. The Chrysler 300 D also had a 392 hemi. Yep, you could get a dealer to do almost anything, but I doubt that they never would have forged a factory build sheet or a window sticker. In 1959, the hemi was no longer available in a Chrysler-made vehicle. Customers had a choice of a wedge-head B, RB or a poly head A block. The B block was definitely introduced in 1958 as a 350 c.i and a 361 c.i. V8. The RB block engines were introduced in 1959 with either 383 c.i. or 413 c.i.
To tell the truth, I don't think I ever saw a '59 DeSoto in person, either. So this one is a treat. A lot of character. Those vent windows are SMALL. I'm having a hard time deciding on which car to choose for the first scenario. An uncle once owned a '59 Olds identical to this one, and my paternal grandmother owned a Mercury almost identical to this one (minus the fender skirt and the darker paint). But I guess I'll go for the Mercury. Second choice would be the Edsel.
That ’59 De Soto was a real dog, in my opinion I had not seen one shown in depth before, but the side trim to me resembles the unattractive side trim of the ’57 Rambler Ambassador and the ‘57-’58 Studebaker President, neither of which sold well. Unlike all other American cars, with the exception of the Edsel, sales of the De Soto did not jump back up following the deep recession of 1958; instead they got worse that year, and then further plummeted in 1960 signaling the end of the brand. I think a major problem for that car besides its rather unattractive design was that it was too big and bulky looking. Small compact cars like the Rambler and Studebaker Lark were starting to become popular that year, which is trend that since then has never stopped. One wonders if the De Soto had been built on a smaller scale if it would have produced some better results for the Chrysler Corporation and remained around for a while longer, but since it was second on the ladder to Chrysler it would be hard to fathom a smaller looking De Soto.
That baby's in beautiful shape. Maybe it was an Arizona car since it had AC. 17:08 Sorry, buddy, but De Soto remained in production though the 1961 model year, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeSoto_(automobile) WYR 1. De Soto 2. Ambassador (mostly because there was a 59 Ambassador in front of the Ambassador East Hotel in Alfred Hitchock's movie North by Northwest.)
Great choices I should’ve re-recorded that part it says the last year where De Soto did for models but it’s real fast, I should’ve redid that part earlier in the video said that de Soto goes until 1961
1959 & '61 are my least fave Exner DeSotos. '59 tail end is too *Dodge-esque*. Front bumper mocks that of the '57 Mercury. Metalwork/aluminum around upper door frame looks very low-grade (similar to that as same period AMC and Studebaker) You already know this, but the machined wheels and BWT do absolutely nothing for this car.
There is a great video available on TH-cam of Rock Hudson promoting the new 1959 De Soto bragging that it is a great car. A good one to watch but only barely over a minute long.
Acquiring SAB Was a mistake to begin with why do you buy a company that was subsidized by the government for most of its life and think you can turn it around and make a profit😂
59 Merc. 59 Ambassador I have to admit that I was never a fan of the styling on some of the late 50s early '60s Mopar products. I also did not like the rear view mirror on the dashboard as it created a blind spot looking forward. On a positive note Mopar had very good engines the 383 is one of the most durable engines ever built. One coupled to a torque flight automatic It was a solid performer easily able to move these big sleds down the road. I also enjoy it when your video features a car like this one that basically is unrestored. It's nice to see how it has held up over the years especially on the interior.
I spent a great deal of my childhood In the 1960s at Lions drag strip in Southern California I remember these firedomes used to run every so often at the strip as I recall they were pretty fast
They were fast the only thing that held them back with the transmission so you had to get a stick shift for it to be fast.. just like the early Chrysler cars with the Hemi in 55 that car was crushed by its two speed transmission..
I prefer the DeSoto's in both scenarios. Dislike those wheels, though. Much prefer stock hubcaps. Also, I don't know if it was really Chrysler steel so much as unibody construction and water traps that plagued Chryslers. I do agree that the Keller era post war cars were far less prone to rotting out. Unfortunately, they were also rather fuddy-duddy, so not nearly as desirable as the Exner era, even the ones with the early Hemi's.
@@arnepianocanada I knew the '57-'59's were bad to rust because of their rush to production and water traps, but this was the first I'd ever heard of MOPAR steel quality being inferior.
Hi Jay!: Really like the finned DeSoto's! Kind of like the 1958 exterior, but like the 1959 dash and steering wheel! Speaking of wheels, the ones on that car just don't look right! Who knows what motivates people to put bad mags on certain cars! In my opinion, the best looking mags for any 1950's, 1960's, or 1970's cars is the regular classic Cragar 5 spoke mags! My buddy had a set on his 1957 Fairlane and they looked GREAT! That Desoto would look SO much better with them. Even just some standard chromies with a moon hubcap would be better! Anyway, rant over. WYR #1 would be, believe it or not, the 1959 Oldsmobile! I always liked the fin design on that one! #2 NO CONTEST, the 1959 Edsel!! Nearly bought one once, but it was a real PROJECT. Interestingly it had been a gold 4 door sedan, with the 6 cylinder engine! Three on the tree. A really interesting DeSoto to own would be a 1961, I think those are very rare also. Had the more rounded rear end design.
Awesome story thank you so much for sharing all of that insight and information in those memories great choices too by the way =) this is the first time I ever saw 59 De Soto before this 57 was the greatest De Soto I’ve ever seen I’ve never seen a 60 or 61 in person.. there’s lots of cars out there that I haven’t witnessed in person. The one that doesn’t exit my mind is the Tatra that car was absolutely amazing and it sucks that it’s never I’m never going to own that car they’re just too rare and they’re too expensive but man if I had an endless budget it would definitely be in my garage.. it’s like a Chrysler airflow but better with a wing/fin going down the center
Sign me up for the Merc and Rambler - both shown as right hand drives!! Exner & Chrysler confused consumers with too many look a likes of the same car. Something had to give, and it was DeSoto. But at least they had the incomparable Groucho Marx as a pitchman!
Although Frank Sinatra had been married a few times, his last wife was once married to one of the Marx Brothers. Coincidently Mr. Sinatra was also a Chrysler man.
I really like the overall look of these, I think they have some beautiful and interesting lines. I would pick the Mercury and the Edsel. Cool video. Great Arnold 😎 love it😊
I just thought of a topic I think would be interesting to many of us younger folks. First when did cars first come with any warranty when new? Sounds crazy but I think Lincoln in the sixties offered a 12 month/12,000 miles and that was a first. What if your new 58 Chevy Broke down on the way home? Second when did window stickers become law. (Maroni Labels named after the senator) Would the price be different depending on the salesman or how rich the customer looked? Thanks for another good show. Moms dad had a new De Soto each year for work when she was a child.
They should have ditched Plymouth and DeSoto at the same time. Dodge and Chrysler had a huge following. Imperial was...different. Shared components and engines with Chrysler but body-on-frame and rode like a Sherman tank.
1959 vs 1958 DeSoto? Since I lived through these model changes and visited the showroom when both of these models were new, from my perspective the 1958 was better styled, from all angles slighter better integrated in appearance, I also prefer the 1958 interior. As a car to own, the 1959's were significantly improved in areas not so obvious, gone were the leaks and other details that bothered owners of The Forward Look products. The larger trunk lid with the lowered access that you mentioned was a welcome improvement. Eliminating the exhaust ports in the bumper was a wise decision. At the front end there are two notables on this particular car. Your observation that the bumper openings looked like they needed grillwork, well there was a decorative panels one on each side which are missing on this car. The light at the center of the grill is not factory, perhaps the previous owner installed it as a garage parking assist since it is aimed at a downward angle, if so it is a clever invention.
The price isn't too bad at 16 thou, but I saw some rust bubbling through forward of the left rear wheel in the rocker edge. And a big water spot on the rear shelf since these cars are notorious for water leaks. Glad to see somebody didn't clear coat it. Cars of that vintage don't shine like that.
I think I liked the '58 a little better than the '59, though they are both great looking cars. I really love the '61 the best, that's one of my dream cars! Never seen one in person though
361 engine was standard in all except the Adventurer, which used the 383 engine. The 383 was optional in the other three lines. Chrysler and DeSoto shared bodies going all the way back to the 30's. The 59's were no different. Grills, tail lights, interiors, trim and other details would tell them apart. The optional 383 on Desoto was the standard on Chrysler (with the 413 optional). The Firesweep was built on the smaller Dodge frame, giving DeSoto a low price model (which became their best seller, taking over 50% of the sales for poor DeSoto). Just a bit of trivia for ya!
According to the specifications on the back of the brochure it doesn’t say anything about the 361 for any of the cars except for the fire sweep. I left it in there so anybody could read it here is the link because when I screenshot it it from my iPad it came across pretty grainy/blurry PS this is one heck of a site to get any advertisement peace for any American car www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/DeSoto/1959_DeSoto/1959_DeSoto_Brochure/1959%20DeSoto-18.html
One of my favorite Mary Tyler Moore lines from the eponymous show (if anyone remembers) was in response the the knowing accusation that, of course she was a pampered girl and so she got a car at 16 (or graduation, I forget). You got a car, didn't you, didn't you? Um, yes - A-HA! "It was a DeSoto!" Butt of jokes. By 59, Desoto had 2 more years to live, but this was the last year of any real personality beyond being a junior Chrysler - though the Firesweep was a retrimmed Dodge. Then came the Newport for 61, which was, essentially a DeSoto but with the Chrysler name for a few dollars less. Exit DeSoto). The weird thing was 57 wa DeSoto's best year, and they were striking cars. Problem was they just never really had a niche - and the 58 recession plus chaging buyer trends that devasted the upper middle brands and eventually killed the Edsel, did the same thing to DeSoto one year later. Just to add a term - the centrline definition in the hood = windsplit. WYR: 59 Merc, 59 Ambassador.
There was also the DeSoto Diplomat which was made for the export market, so this car was not sold in Canada or USA. The Diplomat had Plymouth sheet metal with a DoSoto grill. I do not know the year range for this car.
That’s what I was thinking I was thinking Chrysler during this period had it coming from the rear and the unit itself was in the trunk with plumbing running to the compressor in the front
Early in this video, you refer to GM as "Chevy". It may come down to that in the near future, but for now and in 1959 Chevy is made by GM. GM made Chevy, Pontiac, Olds, Buick, Cadillac and GMC (trucks) as well as Chevrolet trucks. Sounds like you were in a hurry to finish this video (and it's a fine video) but details matter. I briefly owned a '59 DeSoto Firesweep Sportsman. One of the best used cars I ever owned. It was 18 years old and ran better than a new car. What a huge mistake when I sold it to help pay for a new AMC Spirit (a real pile of Shit).
I screwed that up I’m dyslexic and I wasn’t thinking.. yes GM that mistake happens more than I’d like to admit most of the time I fix it before publishing but I didn’t catch it this time.. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the De Soto was it a four-door two-door or wagon. Thank you so much for keeping me straight =) I appreciate it
@@What.its.like.Mine was a 4-door Hardtop with swivel seats and pretty well optioned out for an entry-level car. Because of the lighter Dodge-based chassis, that 361 would really move. The differential made an unusual sound as the speed increased. Sounded like a jet engine winding up, so cool. After 18 years of service, the clock kept perfect time. It was two-tone white with a red top and anodized aluminum side side trim, which was tinted gold on the most expensive models. Damn, I miss that car!
Prefer the '58 over the '59. I have a feeling MOPAR was just phoning it in for DeSoto the last 2 years. As far as the GM lineup went, Chevy was always the working man's car, Buick the poor man's Caddy, Caddy the luxury division and Pontiac the sporty cars. Oldsmobile never seemed to have a home, but folks who drove them were loyal! 1) The Olds if I could get it in a flattop. 2) I can't believe I'm saying this... but the Rambler... lol
That ambassador when equipped with the 327 (that might be the only engine 250 v8 idk) that 327 is probably one of the most underrated engines of all time
you can’t beat Chrysler from I don’t know sometime in the 40s until sometime in the 60s maybe 70s but I will say there is absolutely no space in the backseat of a 70 challenger there’s more space in the backseat of a Mustang a 67 mustang... But definitely in the 50s you can’t beat Chrysler in terms of space even in the 2 door cars loads more space. I know the early 50s up until like 1954 get kind of look down upon a friend of mine had a 52 Saratoga and he let me drive it around the block and I could not believe how comfortable that car was.. it had a fluid drive transmission very very weird transmission I really wanted to feature that car on the channel so bad but my friends a very private guy and he just he didn’t wanna do it. Which I totally respect him for that. I’m going to try to explain how the fluid drive worked this happen probably it had to been at least three years ago because it was before the channel. It had a clutch like a stick shift car but it was on the column. But it didn’t shift like three on the tree it shifted like a regular column shifter for an automatic transmission. It had four positions if I remember correctly I don’t remember exactly where the positions were we’ll just say first and second for group together then third and fourth or a group together neutral with somewhere With reverse following it. You only had to use the clutch if you were going between It’s weird I had two ranges you’d put it in you could put it in second depending on what engine you had of course my buddy had to help me and White was crazy about it was the hemi had so much torque that you could put it into three and pull away no issues at all. The car rode and felt 88 Lincoln towncar if you felt like you were riding on a cloudy only downer about that car is the horrendous gas mileage like 8 in town maybe maybe 15 on the Hwy.. my friend since sold the car gas prices got really high he couldn’t afford to drive it anymore.
Gawd! 💥'59 on top, '58 on bottom💥 Sales 1957 100,000 +, fell to 46,000 ish in '59. '59 not a great Mopar styling year, design guru Elwood Engel sidelined by/recovering from a heart attack.
Chevy DID NOT have “five divisions.” General Motors had five divisions, with Chevrolet being the entry in the low price field. The “ Forward Look” refers to Chrysler’s term for their 1955-1961 styling.
Hi Jay. Interesting car. I never saw one of these. They were gas hogs. Plus, there was a recession going on in 1958 through 60. Would you rather: going with 1959 Olds 88 Holiday.
They were but if you take into consideration how much your economy a new Shelby mustang GT 500 gets this gets better.. and just think about that for a second the GT 500 mustang has computers and electronics that this car doesn’t have and yet it can’t get any better gas mileage.. crazy Great choices
@avp fixed what I was to amend: Olds ended in 2004, Pontiac in '10. No time at all online to confirm exact years. Also GM cars were *not so similar until '80s. Research please!
So you’re telling me a Buick GS an Pontiac judge and a Chevy Chevelle don’t look anything alike don’t share the same body style.. According to a Google search it said the last Pontiac was produced in 2009 it might’ve not got sold until 2010.. and you’re right I should’ve said in the 2000s
I didn’t do that satellite but I did do a GTX last year here is the link if it’s there when I go back next week I will cover it. th-cam.com/video/9KFkU1mKYxU/w-d-xo.html
Man these are tough choices since 59 was a crazy year for cars. I guess I'd take the Olds and the Rambler. But I'd take a 59 Chevy 4 door with a 348 and a visor roof all day long!
Awesome choices 58 and 59 was a killer year for engines as well. 1958 Edsel had a 410 in.³ displacement monster of an engine that rarely gets talked about de Soto Adventure or had a 375 hp monster in their cars. 400 hp mercury marauder another crazy engine
Jay has always been up front and honest about his pronunciation issues which is why I couldn't help but come to his defense recently when he got accosted for pronouncing Willys correctly.
@@What.its.like. I vaguely remember being in the back seat. Dad loved his two DeSotos. He was friends with the Lightman family who owned the DeSoto/Plymouth dealership in the city where he grew up. He bought five cars (two used and three new) from them before they went out of business in 1965.
The fender spear starting at the rear door makes we wonder how hard it would be to repair if the door was hit in a car crash? Any chance you could review the 64 Chev in the background?
If it’s there when I go back I will totally do it.. planning on going back June 25 This car would be a really hard car to restore/fix if it got wrecked because of what you said there’s lots going on especially with those rear doors
Well, the 59 De Soto was "plugged" by several TV Shows that year. In the Bachelor Father Show John Forsythe Drove a big White. DeSoto convertable! I think Groucho was still sponsired by DeSoto on whats my line. The Hemi was cancelled after 1957. Only the big block wedgecw as available. But some dealers and a lot of engine shops would put in a full 392 Chysler Hemi and take your wedge as partvof the deal. A Hemi in a lighter Dodge or DeSoto were REAL street Killers with a few mods or just straight Mopar "industrial/Maine" parts and good headers. Thevtrick was to mount the Hemi back 9" to a foot for better traction and front end handling. Great memories of thecreal America folks
I'd take the Rambler. I have a dear friend who owns the Chrysler version. It is a joy to drive and I don't think anyone could steal it because of the tricks to starting it. . The car's nickname was "gypsy wagon" because it was just so big and had such interesting fins and glass etc. It was and still is a daily driver. Also true story, they were driving it to visit relatives in Alabama and the waterpump gave out. And yes, there was a little garage that had a dusty but still in the box one for it. Those old cars are magic!
That’s awesome 59 Rambler is a dream car of mine I absolutely love the wagon it’s my favorite wagon of all time.. I also love the fact that you can put all the seats down flat and camp in it that was a selling point to that vehicle
My pick from the first scenario would be the DeSoto. Note that DeSoto and Chrysler came with flush door handles starting in 1957. Most cars didn't switch to flush door handles until the 1970's. I also like the Ambassador because it is a rare car.
Of the choices, I’d take the 59 Mercury and the 59 Ambassador. But, to be honest, 58 and 59 are tough years for me. Cindi Lauper All through the night. Thank you as always ~ Chuck
😊👏👏👏👏🍻✌️
Great choices and you’re totally right 5859 there is a lot of cool cars one of my all-time favorite cars that I really really want to do a review on but I can’t find one and it’s a vehicle that I would want to drive because it’s a vehicle that I would want to own is a 1959 Rambler ambassador cross-country wagon with a 327 V8 that car was drastically underrated with a manual transmission I don’t remember all of the specs because I did research this car one other time you could get it to go 0 to 60 in eight seconds which is really fast for anything in the 50s let alone a wagon
That 327 V8 was probably one of the biggest underrated engines of the 50s a pre-dated Chevy 327 by I think it was eight years and in my opinion was better than Chevy’s version just like Studebaker 289 it came up before Ford did another drastically underrated engine..
But congratulations you got it first one out of the gate I wasn’t sure if that was going to be a dead giveaway song or going to be hard but congratulations be sure to tune in tomorrow for 1967 Oldsmobile delta 88 convertible. =)
awesome
The air conditioner is a dealer installed unit. It's a "Cool Air" system manufactured by Chrysler Corporation. These were sourced through Chrysler's Mopar parts division. They were very good systems, engineered by Chrysler for installation in Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler, and Imperial brands. If your car came without factory installed air conditioning, this was the next best thing. By the way, factory air vented from the top of the dash. Swivel periscope vents discharged the cold air.
Yep - - good units.
@MrBill I thought Chrysler always used the name “Airtemp” for their AC ?
@@bradhampton6457 They did for factory installed units. Chrysler's aftermarket units were branded "Cool-Aire" I guess to showcase dealer installed units. The kits included a "Cool-Aire" decal to be placed in the windows of cars so equipped. Airtemp cars from 1953 up through about 1971 always got an Airtemp sticker...
@@bradhampton6457 Airtemp was factory install. Dealer install was not Airtemp.
This was a fun car to feature, Jay. I always enjoy looking at DeSotos from 1955 on -- such great designs. I noticed that the underdash AC unit says "MOPAR" on it, so it must be the dealer installed version, which is cool (no pun intended). For the two scenarios: I'll take the '59 Mercury and the '59 Edsel.
Sweet choices
Take Mercury and enjoy the extra features
I'd go with the Edsel. My all time favorite type of car is a 1958 Buick Limited. I also love the 58 Edsel Citations. Currently trying to get a 64 Imperial (Bonus points for Dual AC.)
The air conditioner may be a dealer installed option. The vent housing is labeled, "Mopar," which is Chrysler's parts and accessories brand name.
That’s what I figured if it was factory it would say Chrysler
GM ditched Oldsmobile in 2004, and Pontiac in 2010. They ditched Hummer, Saturn, and Saab the same time that they ditched Pontiac. I love what you do!
Yeah, u called it b4 me.
I was like "Chevy kept what for so long'?! GM was the division king for decades but credit to Chrysler for doing De Soto as long as they could.
The recession of the late 50’s was brutal and inflation was apparent.
I should’ve said early 2000s thank you so much I’m glad you dig this channel
GM suicided Oldsmobile shortly after the marquee turned 100 years old (from 1899 or 1901 depending on criteria). There was no birthday party, no funeral, no eulogy. Olds just went to the eternal junk yard. Al Sloan, Ed Cole, Harley Earl or Billy Mitchell would never have allowed that.
@@buddyroeginocchio9105 Indeed, and GM's bankruptcy a few years later was a tit for a tat. But taxpayers kept the doors open for GM despite their lousy business model & products. Well GM survive much longer? Ford?
@@sableminer8133 Interesting question. Ford was in much better financial shape when GM was facing bankruptcy. Since then Ford has managed costly fumbles they could ill afford. GM has not done much better. My guess is they are both doomed as far as the private car/truck business is concerned. Both have good prospects for profit in the industrial realm so they may not altogether perish. But we are car lovers and our future affection is not given much hope from Ford and GM.
Jay I think the reason why GM was able to make so many divisions work was their ability to make them all distinctive. When a Chevy owner decided to trade up, he got a very different car in all respects. If he upgraded to a Pontiac or Oldsmobile for example, he got a very different style, ride and powertrain. More chrome and a completely different look and feel. That wasn’t really the case when a Plymouth guy was debating whether to go with a DeSoto or a Chrysler on the trade-in. Not much of a difference between the two…..especially the bodies. Minor differences between the two for a very small variance in price. A 56 DeSoto for example, is different from a Chrysler only in minor styling ways like the taillight configuration and the dash boards. Not much else. In my opinion, the Plymouth folks just paid the difference and got a Chrysler, skipping over the “mid-range” DeSoto option.
Well said!
And when GM started making all their vehicles the game, people started not to buy them. They are soon going to run into the same thing again. The new traverse and other cars they are making are just too expensive and too high end to be out of the way of GMC, Buick, and Cadillac. If they all offer super cruise, why not get the cheaper chevy instead of the GMC. Once the styling of the cars become more similar I bet this will be a problem. The different brands should be in different price brackets and it needs to stay that way.
GM cars were distinctive from division to division until we hit the mid 70’s when GM went to “badge engineering” and the divisions no longer had their own engines, and the cars were difficult to distinguish between divisions. And quality went to hell. Bought a used ‘73 Monte Carlo with the 350 and three-speed Turbo Hydramatic. Wonderful car. My new ‘78 with the 305, not so great. Never owned a car before or after needing a new camshaft. And a “program” where GM paid for 90% of the repairs. Then fuel pump issues because the lobe on the new camshaft overdrove the mechanical fuel pump. I can’t recall how many fuel pumps I went through until a Chevy representative recommended the dealer shorten the rod driving the pump. Viola, fuel pump issue ended.
Give me that 1959 Oldsmobile! Well built, great engine,,and the dash was futuristic without being goofy. Btw…..DeSoto would rust before it left the factory. Notoriously poor quality sheet metal.
Liked the rear of the 1958 better than the 1959, but I liked the front of the 1959 better than the 1958 ! I'd take the '59 Mercury "ALL Through The Night" !
I believe it dealerships were “Plymouth-Desoto”, Dodger, and Chrysler.
The 1959 DeSoto was designed by Virgil M. Exner Sr., Cliff Voss, and Gordon Davis. It was radically different from previous year models. The Adventurer (known to us DeSoto fans as "the Golden Adventurer") was the top of the line sports luxury model, introduced for 1956, and the 1959 model was the last of this special model series. The engine options included dual quads on the Adventurer model only. The Adventurer was only available as a 2-door hardtop or convertible in limited color combinations from 1956 to 1959. The Fireflite was also top line and very stylish with the Sportsman 2-door hardtop or convertible, also available as a 4-door hardtop, 4-door sedan or Explorer 9-passenger station wagon. The lower series Firedome was also available as a 2-door hardtop, convertible, 4-door hardtop, 4-door sedan, and the Explorer 6-passenger wagon. From 1957 to 1959 only, the lowest-priced series was the Firesweep, which was sort of a combination of a DeSoto and a Dodge, using Dodge front clip with DeSoto bumper and grille assembly, and DeSoto body, The Firesweep was available from January 1957 to mid-1959 as a 1959 model, and was offered as a 2-door hardtop, convertible, 4-door sedan, and 6-passenger Shopper wagon.
Well, a 383 V8 is quite powerful for it's day, but, in 1958, you could get a DeSoto with a hemi. Not as big as Chrysler's hemi, but powerful just the same.
If that is a light in the middle of the grille, this might be a Canadian car. One time when I was in Canada in 1967, I noticed all these cars with lights in the center of the grille. I had never seen anything like that before. I think is was probably for visibility, like how our cars have driving lights which automatically turn on.
It's funny that this car has a 3-speed Torqueflite automatic. Back when DeSotos were much more common, it seemas everyone I saw had a 2-speed Powerflite. Maybe the best cars were saved?
I think that De Soto had become a car like people joked about like Edsels and Ramblers. Although that '59 Rambler Ambassador, if it had the 327 V8, could run circles around any car you showed. Lean and mean. I remember on the 70's TV show, "Happy Days", they joked about the DeSoto.
That's wrong the hemi was canceled for 1958. In 1958 you could ONLY get the wedge engine. A LOT of dealers and engone shops could easily install a BIG all- out Chrysler 392 Hemi. But
the trick there was to set the engine BACK as much as possible for better traction and front handling. But in 59 the Dodge Desoto Chrysler dealers were SO desperate for sales they could be "persuaded" to do this. A Big Hemi in a Dodge or DeSoto was a REAL street killer with a few mods or the right "industrial/Marine options from Mopar and good headers.....
@@cindys1819 Excuse me? In 1958, Chrysler vehicles rolled off the assembly line with hemi's in them. Factory build sheets have confirmed this, of which I've personally seen many. I believe that a 392 hemi was standard in Imperials. The Chrysler 300 D also had a 392 hemi.
Yep, you could get a dealer to do almost anything, but I doubt that they never would have forged a factory build sheet or a window sticker.
In 1959, the hemi was no longer available in a Chrysler-made vehicle. Customers had a choice of a wedge-head B, RB or a poly head A block. The B block was definitely introduced in 1958 as a 350 c.i and a 361 c.i. V8. The RB block engines were introduced in 1959 with either 383 c.i. or 413 c.i.
To tell the truth, I don't think I ever saw a '59 DeSoto in person, either. So this one is a treat. A lot of character. Those vent windows are SMALL.
I'm having a hard time deciding on which car to choose for the first scenario. An uncle once owned a '59 Olds identical to this one, and my paternal grandmother owned a Mercury almost identical to this one (minus the fender skirt and the darker paint). But I guess I'll go for the Mercury. Second choice would be the Edsel.
It would be a hard choice
That ’59 De Soto was a real dog, in my opinion I had not seen one shown in depth before, but the side trim to me resembles the unattractive side trim of the ’57 Rambler Ambassador and the ‘57-’58 Studebaker President, neither of which sold well. Unlike all other American cars, with the exception of the Edsel, sales of the De Soto did not jump back up following the deep recession of 1958; instead they got worse that year, and then further plummeted in 1960 signaling the end of the brand. I think a major problem for that car besides its rather unattractive design was that it was too big and bulky looking. Small compact cars like the Rambler and Studebaker Lark were starting to become popular that year, which is trend that since then has never stopped. One wonders if the De Soto had been built on a smaller scale if it would have produced some better results for the Chrysler Corporation and remained around for a while longer, but since it was second on the ladder to Chrysler it would be hard to fathom a smaller looking De Soto.
That baby's in beautiful shape. Maybe it was an Arizona car since it had AC. 17:08 Sorry, buddy, but De Soto remained in production though the 1961 model year, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeSoto_(automobile) WYR 1. De Soto 2. Ambassador (mostly because there was a 59 Ambassador in front of the Ambassador East Hotel in Alfred Hitchock's movie North by Northwest.)
Great choices I should’ve re-recorded that part it says the last year where De Soto did for models but it’s real fast, I should’ve redid that part earlier in the video said that de Soto goes until 1961
1959 & '61 are my least fave Exner DeSotos. '59 tail end is too *Dodge-esque*. Front bumper mocks that of the '57 Mercury. Metalwork/aluminum around upper door frame looks very low-grade (similar to that as same period AMC and Studebaker) You already know this, but the machined wheels and BWT do absolutely nothing for this car.
Totally agree about the wheels idk someone would put this style of wheel on this car
There is a great video available on TH-cam of Rock Hudson promoting the new 1959 De Soto bragging that it is a great car. A good one to watch but only barely over a minute long.
Acquiring SAB Was a mistake to begin with why do you buy a company that was subsidized by the government for most of its life and think you can turn it around and make a profit😂
59 Merc. 59 Ambassador
I have to admit that I was never a fan of the styling on some of the late 50s early '60s Mopar products. I also did not like the rear view mirror on the dashboard as it created a blind spot looking forward. On a positive note Mopar had very good engines the 383 is one of the most durable engines ever built. One coupled to a torque flight automatic It was a solid performer easily able to move these big sleds down the road.
I also enjoy it when your video features a car like this one that basically is unrestored. It's nice to see how it has held up over the years especially on the interior.
I spent a great deal of my childhood In the 1960s at Lions drag strip in Southern California I remember these firedomes used to run every so often at the strip as I recall they were pretty fast
They were fast the only thing that held them back with the transmission so you had to get a stick shift for it to be fast.. just like the early Chrysler cars with the Hemi in 55 that car was crushed by its two speed transmission..
I prefer the DeSoto's in both scenarios. Dislike those wheels, though. Much prefer stock hubcaps. Also, I don't know if it was really Chrysler steel so much as unibody construction and water traps that plagued Chryslers. I do agree that the Keller era post war cars were far less prone to rotting out. Unfortunately, they were also rather fuddy-duddy, so not nearly as desirable as the Exner era, even the ones with the early Hemi's.
Unibody started in 1960 (for all except Imperial) as a way to show and advertise improvement re rusting.
@@arnepianocanada I knew the '57-'59's were bad to rust because of their rush to production and water traps, but this was the first I'd ever heard of MOPAR steel quality being inferior.
Chrysler made great engines and their torqflite automatic was bullet proof, however their bodies rusted fast in the North Country winters.
Scenario 1: 59 Merc
Scenario 2: 59 Edsel
Great video!!!!
I am a former owner of a 1959 DESOTO FIRESWEEP, best car I have ever owned. One of the BEST creations from the brilliant mind of Virgil M. Exner.
Awesome what body style did you have
Hi Jay!: Really like the finned DeSoto's! Kind of like the 1958 exterior, but like the 1959 dash and steering wheel! Speaking of wheels, the ones on that car just don't look right! Who knows what motivates people to put bad mags on certain cars! In my opinion, the best looking mags for any 1950's, 1960's, or 1970's cars is the regular classic Cragar 5 spoke mags! My buddy had a set on his 1957 Fairlane and they looked GREAT! That Desoto would look SO much better with them. Even just some standard chromies with a moon hubcap would be better! Anyway, rant over. WYR #1 would be, believe it or not, the 1959 Oldsmobile! I always liked the fin design on that one! #2 NO CONTEST, the 1959 Edsel!! Nearly bought one once, but it was a real PROJECT. Interestingly it had been a gold 4 door sedan, with the 6 cylinder engine! Three on the tree. A really interesting DeSoto to own would be a 1961, I think those are very rare also. Had the more rounded rear end design.
Awesome story thank you so much for sharing all of that insight and information in those memories great choices too by the way =) this is the first time I ever saw 59 De Soto before this 57 was the greatest De Soto I’ve ever seen I’ve never seen a 60 or 61 in person.. there’s lots of cars out there that I haven’t witnessed in person. The one that doesn’t exit my mind is the Tatra that car was absolutely amazing and it sucks that it’s never I’m never going to own that car they’re just too rare and they’re too expensive but man if I had an endless budget it would definitely be in my garage.. it’s like a Chrysler airflow but better with a wing/fin going down the center
Not to be TOOOO ornery, but they are equally ugly cars; in my view.
A very interesting design from DeSoto that year. The tail lights seem to be mounted to the body unlike the 57 & 58 where they were part of the fin!!
Dealer added A/C. It's a MOPAR Unit.
I favor the Edsel 361 AKA "Police Power Pack." And, give me one of those big stonking 394 Rocket V-8's with 315 hp and 435 lb-ft's of twist.
Sweet =)
First senario: 1959 Mercury.
Second senario: 1959 Ambassador by Rambler.
Sweet choices =)
Sign me up for the Merc and Rambler - both shown as right hand drives!! Exner & Chrysler confused consumers with too many look a likes of the same car. Something had to give, and it was DeSoto. But at least they had the incomparable Groucho Marx as a pitchman!
Awesome choices =)
Although Frank Sinatra had been married a few times, his last wife was once married to one of the Marx Brothers. Coincidently Mr. Sinatra was also a Chrysler man.
I really like the overall look of these, I think they have some beautiful and interesting lines. I would pick the Mercury and the Edsel. Cool video. Great Arnold 😎 love it😊
Haha I love doing random stuff at the end =) glad you dig great choices
DeSOTO was comparable to OLDSMOBILE in the GM Line. OLDS had the ROCKET V-8…
DeSOTO had the FIREDOME HEMI V-8.
I like the style of the 58 Desoto better. The 59 Mercury and the 59 Ambassador, they look more interesting to me, 59 Edsel would be a runner up.
Awesome choices I want to feature a 59 ambassador like no one’s business it’s a sixteen candle car for me but has to be the wagon with the 327 V8
I just thought of a topic I think would be interesting to many of us younger folks. First when did cars first come with any warranty when new? Sounds crazy but I think Lincoln in the sixties offered a 12 month/12,000 miles and that was a first. What if your new 58 Chevy Broke down on the way home? Second when did window stickers become law. (Maroni Labels named after the senator) Would the price be different depending on the salesman or how rich the customer looked? Thanks for another good show. Moms dad had a new De Soto each year for work when she was a child.
Interesting topic..
They should have ditched Plymouth and DeSoto at the same time. Dodge and Chrysler had a huge following. Imperial was...different. Shared components and engines with Chrysler but body-on-frame and rode like a Sherman tank.
1959 vs 1958 DeSoto? Since I lived through these model changes and visited the showroom when both of these models were new, from my perspective the 1958 was better styled, from all angles slighter better integrated in appearance, I also prefer the 1958 interior. As a car to own, the 1959's were significantly improved in areas not so obvious, gone were the leaks and other details that bothered owners of The Forward Look products. The larger trunk lid with the lowered access that you mentioned was a welcome improvement. Eliminating the exhaust ports in the bumper was a wise decision.
At the front end there are two notables on this particular car. Your observation that the bumper openings looked like they needed grillwork, well there was a decorative panels one on each side which are missing on this car. The light at the center of the grill is not factory, perhaps the previous owner installed it as a garage parking assist since it is aimed at a downward angle, if so it is a clever invention.
Always enjoy watching your videos! Beautiful cars!
Thank you so much glad you dig the channel
My family had a 1959 oldsmobile 98 when I was a kid. 4 door hardtop in burgundy mist. Would love to have it now.
The price isn't too bad at 16 thou, but I saw some rust bubbling through forward of the left rear wheel in the rocker edge. And a big water spot on the rear shelf since these cars are notorious for water leaks. Glad to see somebody didn't clear coat it. Cars of that vintage don't shine like that.
Like the Olds#1. I think GM really had it going back then. The DeSoto is one ugly duckling🤠
I think I liked the '58 a little better than the '59, though they are both great looking cars. I really love the '61 the best, that's one of my dream cars! Never seen one in person though
I never saw De Soto in person pass 59 before this episode it was past 57..
361 engine was standard in all except the Adventurer, which used the 383 engine. The 383 was optional in the other three lines. Chrysler and DeSoto shared bodies going all the way back to the 30's. The 59's were no different. Grills, tail lights, interiors, trim and other details would tell them apart. The optional 383 on Desoto was the standard on Chrysler (with the 413 optional). The Firesweep was built on the smaller Dodge frame, giving DeSoto a low price model (which became their best seller, taking over 50% of the sales for poor DeSoto). Just a bit of trivia for ya!
According to the specifications on the back of the brochure it doesn’t say anything about the 361 for any of the cars except for the fire sweep. I left it in there so anybody could read it here is the link because when I screenshot it it from my iPad it came across pretty grainy/blurry
PS this is one heck of a site to get any advertisement peace for any American car
www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/DeSoto/1959_DeSoto/1959_DeSoto_Brochure/1959%20DeSoto-18.html
One of my favorite Mary Tyler Moore lines from the eponymous show (if anyone remembers) was in response the the knowing accusation that, of course she was a pampered girl and so she got a car at 16 (or graduation, I forget). You got a car, didn't you, didn't you? Um, yes - A-HA! "It was a DeSoto!" Butt of jokes. By 59, Desoto had 2 more years to live, but this was the last year of any real personality beyond being a junior Chrysler - though the Firesweep was a retrimmed Dodge. Then came the Newport for 61, which was, essentially a DeSoto but with the Chrysler name for a few dollars less. Exit DeSoto). The weird thing was 57 wa DeSoto's best year, and they were striking cars. Problem was they just never really had a niche - and the 58 recession plus chaging buyer trends that devasted the upper middle brands and eventually killed the Edsel, did the same thing to DeSoto one year later. Just to add a term - the centrline definition in the hood = windsplit. WYR: 59 Merc, 59 Ambassador.
There was also the DeSoto Diplomat which was made for the export market, so this car was not sold in Canada or USA. The Diplomat had Plymouth sheet metal with a DoSoto grill. I do not know the year range for this car.
Great story thank you so much for sharing that
58...
59 DeSoto (but man, what was not the best year for any of those 3!)
Ten years old 10mpg 100$ never started after it rains now 25k $😅
That AC unit was most likely a dealer installed option. Pretty sure factory air would have had vents in the dash and/or the back deck lid.
That’s what I was thinking I was thinking Chrysler during this period had it coming from the rear and the unit itself was in the trunk with plumbing running to the compressor in the front
My Dad had a '58 convertible. Awesome car and he traded it in for '63 Thunderbird. SMH...
Which car was the better car I’m a sucker for the bullet bird..
@@What.its.like. I was real young but I remember my sister saying the Bird was nothing but trouble. IIRC he traded it quickly for a '65 Bel Air
Early in this video, you refer to GM as "Chevy". It may come down to that in the near future, but for now and in 1959 Chevy is made by GM. GM made Chevy, Pontiac, Olds, Buick, Cadillac and GMC (trucks) as well as Chevrolet trucks. Sounds like you were in a hurry to finish this video (and it's a fine video) but details matter. I briefly owned a '59 DeSoto Firesweep Sportsman. One of the best used cars I ever owned. It was 18 years old and ran better than a new car. What a huge mistake when I sold it to help pay for a new AMC Spirit (a real pile of Shit).
I screwed that up I’m dyslexic and I wasn’t thinking.. yes GM that mistake happens more than I’d like to admit most of the time I fix it before publishing but I didn’t catch it this time..
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the De Soto was it a four-door two-door or wagon.
Thank you so much for keeping me straight =) I appreciate it
@@What.its.like.Mine was a 4-door Hardtop with swivel seats and pretty well optioned out for an entry-level car. Because of the lighter Dodge-based chassis, that 361 would really move. The differential made an unusual sound as the speed increased. Sounded like a jet engine winding up, so cool. After 18 years of service, the clock kept perfect time. It was two-tone white with a red top and anodized aluminum side side trim, which was tinted gold on the most expensive models. Damn, I miss that car!
The spirit of a Gremlin!
DESOTO NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED
Prefer the '58 over the '59. I have a feeling MOPAR was just phoning it in for DeSoto the last 2 years. As far as the GM lineup went, Chevy was always the working man's car, Buick the poor man's Caddy, Caddy the luxury division and Pontiac the sporty cars. Oldsmobile never seemed to have a home, but folks who drove them were loyal! 1) The Olds if I could get it in a flattop. 2) I can't believe I'm saying this... but the Rambler... lol
That ambassador when equipped with the 327 (that might be the only engine 250 v8 idk) that 327 is probably one of the most underrated engines of all time
Rear seat room- desoto's were popular for use as taxi cabs.
you can’t beat Chrysler from I don’t know sometime in the 40s until sometime in the 60s maybe 70s but I will say there is absolutely no space in the backseat of a 70 challenger there’s more space in the backseat of a Mustang a 67 mustang... But definitely in the 50s you can’t beat Chrysler in terms of space even in the 2 door cars loads more space. I know the early 50s up until like 1954 get kind of look down upon a friend of mine had a 52 Saratoga and he let me drive it around the block and I could not believe how comfortable that car was.. it had a fluid drive transmission very very weird transmission I really wanted to feature that car on the channel so bad but my friends a very private guy and he just he didn’t wanna do it. Which I totally respect him for that. I’m going to try to explain how the fluid drive worked this happen probably it had to been at least three years ago because it was before the channel. It had a clutch like a stick shift car but it was on the column. But it didn’t shift like three on the tree it shifted like a regular column shifter for an automatic transmission. It had four positions if I remember correctly I don’t remember exactly where the positions were we’ll just say first and second for group together then third and fourth or a group together neutral with somewhere With reverse following it. You only had to use the clutch if you were going between It’s weird I had two ranges you’d put it in you could put it in second depending on what engine you had of course my buddy had to help me and White was crazy about it was the hemi had so much torque that you could put it into three and pull away no issues at all. The car rode and felt 88 Lincoln towncar if you felt like you were riding on a cloudy only downer about that car is the horrendous gas mileage like 8 in town maybe maybe 15 on the Hwy.. my friend since sold the car gas prices got really high he couldn’t afford to drive it anymore.
Mercury!
Gawd! 💥'59 on top, '58 on bottom💥 Sales 1957 100,000 +, fell to 46,000 ish in '59. '59 not a great Mopar styling year, design guru Elwood Engel sidelined by/recovering from a heart attack.
Virgil Exner, Elwood Inglewood for Ford at that point.. and came to Chrysler to take exners job after designing the Lincoln Continental
Edsel
Chevy DID NOT have “five divisions.” General Motors had five divisions, with Chevrolet being the entry in the low price field. The “ Forward Look” refers to Chrysler’s term for their 1955-1961 styling.
Thank you so much for that correction =)
Hi Jay. Interesting car. I never saw one of these. They were gas hogs. Plus, there was a recession going on in 1958 through 60.
Would you rather: going with 1959 Olds 88 Holiday.
They were but if you take into consideration how much your economy a new Shelby mustang GT 500 gets this gets better.. and just think about that for a second the GT 500 mustang has computers and electronics that this car doesn’t have and yet it can’t get any better gas mileage.. crazy
Great choices
@avp fixed what I was to amend: Olds ended in 2004, Pontiac in '10. No time at all online to confirm exact years. Also GM cars were *not so similar until '80s. Research please!
So you’re telling me a Buick GS an Pontiac judge and a Chevy Chevelle don’t look anything alike don’t share the same body style..
According to a Google search it said the last Pontiac was produced in 2009 it might’ve not got sold until 2010.. and you’re right I should’ve said in the 2000s
1959 Oldsmobile i never owned an Edsel I'd give it a try 😉
Another great episode 👏👏 well done ✌️
Glad you dig this episode =)
Desoto’s last model the pacesetter lasted until 1961
I think de Soto car are better then every 50s car
Way more space that’s for sure
Desoto is my favorite car brand from the 50s
A pepperoni pizza 🍕 stapled to someone sounds like a lot of pain. Probably more pain than heartburn after eating said pizza 🍕🍕🍕
Haha yeah I don’t remember where that’s from probably some Saturday night live skit
Sputnik 1 was launched in Oct. of 1957 by the Soviet Union. Not in 1959.
This is Luna 1 not Sputnik
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_1
You should show how the gas pedal floats in space . Linkage works under the floorboard.
Awesome I will totally start doing that =) there’s a couple more cars in the pipeline that won’t show that but I will do that from now on..
I see That the Desoto Has Some Custom Touches 9:24
‘59 is on the TOP…’58 on the bottom…
WYR? DeSoto WYR? 2 OK, Rambler. Why? Dad had one, nice car.
Sweet choices =)
*Oldsmobile continued through 2004.
Thank you for that I meant to say early 2000s
The music is Cyndi Lauper - All Through the Night?
Yeah buddy that’s it you got the song and band =)
I see what looks like rust in several places. You would have to inspect this one carefully. That said I do like old Mopars.
That GTX/Satellite in the front, do that one too
I am sure that Mopar AC was an option back in the day
I didn’t do that satellite but I did do a GTX last year here is the link if it’s there when I go back next week I will cover it.
th-cam.com/video/9KFkU1mKYxU/w-d-xo.html
@@What.its.like. oh cool, thank you!
Oldsmobile 1959 and 1959 Rambler Ambassador
Sweet choices
Beautiful 👍 👍
Mercury is it !
Beautiful car!
Cyndi Lauper -- All through the night ?
Congratulations 🎉👏👏 well done ☺️
Enjoy your day 👋👋❤️
That is the song by Charles Dalton beat you to the punch..
I thought you had it well done either way 👍✌️
Olds, DeSoto
💥💥💥🥰💥💥💥💥
Pontiac
2:50 "Chevy kept 5 brands until 2000 when it ditched Pontiac and Oldsmobile." WTF?
Should say kept five brands until the 2000s
@@What.its.like. GM not Chevy. And There was this thing called Saturn.....
Yeah thank you for that correction General Motors
Man these are tough choices since 59 was a crazy year for cars. I guess I'd take the Olds and the Rambler. But I'd take a 59 Chevy 4 door with a 348 and a visor roof all day long!
Awesome choices 58 and 59 was a killer year for engines as well. 1958 Edsel had a 410 in.³ displacement monster of an engine that rarely gets talked about de Soto Adventure or had a 375 hp monster in their cars. 400 hp mercury marauder another crazy engine
......thanks for the vid, but can you quit saying "ED-ZULL' already?
Haha I never said I was good at pronunciation lol
Jay has always been up front and honest about his pronunciation issues which is why I couldn't help but come to his defense recently when he got accosted for pronouncing Willys correctly.
I do try tho thank you for noticing
Is that trim aluminum or stainless
It felt like aluminum on the doors which was really interesting
LOVE WAGONS
Me too I really need to find more wagons
Cyndi Lauper, All Through the Night...love all the '59s, I'm a '59!
Yeah buddy you got the song and band =)
@@What.its.like.
Thank you! My Dad had a '57 DeSoto Firedome when I was born. It was his first new car.
That’s awesome do you remember it and did your dad like his de Soto?
@@What.its.like. I vaguely remember being in the back seat. Dad loved his two DeSotos. He was friends with the Lightman family who owned the DeSoto/Plymouth dealership in the city where he grew up. He bought five cars (two used and three new) from them before they went out of business in 1965.
The fender spear starting at the rear door makes we wonder how hard it would be to repair if the door was hit in a car crash?
Any chance you could review the 64 Chev in the background?
If it’s there when I go back I will totally do it.. planning on going back June 25
This car would be a really hard car to restore/fix if it got wrecked because of what you said there’s lots going on especially with those rear doors
Well, the 59 De Soto was "plugged" by several TV Shows that year. In the Bachelor Father Show John Forsythe Drove a big White.
DeSoto convertable! I think Groucho was still sponsired by DeSoto on whats my line. The Hemi was cancelled after 1957. Only the big block wedgecw as
available. But some dealers
and a lot of engine shops would put in a full 392 Chysler Hemi and take your wedge as partvof the deal.
A Hemi in a lighter Dodge or DeSoto were REAL street Killers with a few mods or just straight Mopar "industrial/Maine" parts and good headers. Thevtrick was to mount the Hemi back 9" to a foot for better traction and front end handling. Great memories of thecreal America folks
Thank you so much for sharing all of that awesome information greatly appreciate it =)
It's pretty neat seeing cars from every decade from the 1950s to the 2000s in that same room. COOL!
Isn’t it thought classic auto mall is that place.. where everyday is an indoor car show
Mercury-- Desoto
Sweet choices
So cool , what a treat
Glad you dig this.. 50s and 30s are my favorite time periods
Man I love the detail that went into the cars in the late 50s. Wish I would have alive then to have one new.
Me too
I'd take the Rambler. I have a dear friend who owns the Chrysler version. It is a joy to drive and I don't think anyone could steal it because of the tricks to starting it. . The car's nickname was "gypsy wagon" because it was just so big and had such interesting fins and glass etc. It was and still is a daily driver. Also true story, they were driving it to visit relatives in Alabama and the waterpump gave out. And yes, there was a little garage that had a dusty but still in the box one for it. Those old cars are magic!
Awesome choice =) great story
Bet that one has a Hi Mileage!
I like the 1959.
The Rambler, my Grandfather had one just like that.
That’s awesome 59 Rambler is a dream car of mine I absolutely love the wagon it’s my favorite wagon of all time.. I also love the fact that you can put all the seats down flat and camp in it that was a selling point to that vehicle
My pick from the first scenario would be the DeSoto. Note that DeSoto and Chrysler came with flush door handles starting in 1957. Most cars didn't switch to flush door handles until the 1970's. I also like the Ambassador because it is a rare car.
Cyndi laupher all through the night
Yep that’s it that is the song in bed unfortunately Charles Dalton beat you to the punch
@@What.its.like. 🤷🥉 tomorrow is another day 😉👍
Haha yeah that’s true =)
My Dad's ride. He called his DeSoto the working man's Chrysler. I miss them both.💞
Thanks for sharing them with us
2 door 4 door or wagon
😍Beautiful car!!!!!!👍
It was an absolutely gorgeous car
@@What.its.like. Oh yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Terrific review, Jay!
Glad you dig this episode =)