ellum Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) Dear all, Let me quickly introduce myself. I'm Elvis and I live in Switzerland. I'm a big car nut and together with my girlfriend we've got some cars. My oldest is a 1966 Mustang Coupe, with straight six and four on the floor. My gal's oldest is a 1951 Chevrolet Sedan, but it's currently under restoration. I'm Ford man, also got a 1967 Galaxie Fastback with a great 390 and various german Fords. But I also was fascinated by the looks of the pre WWII Business Coupes. De Soto was always my favorite but very hard to get your hands on one over here in Europe. I almost bought a solid rusty 1940, but that was more a project (have en enough of) but finally after over 2 years I've got a 1939. Currently the car is on the ship somewhere in the Atlantic and should be here in about two weeks. The pre-owner passed away in April, the same day as I have birthday, quite weird. Over this wife/daughter it got to a dealer and I bought it from him. I'm very excited and I hope the car will be solid without major work. I also have to get myself more know-how about pre WWII mopars. But enough talked now, here we go with some pictures: Cheers Elvis Edited November 22, 2014 by ellum 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 I knew Elvis had left the building but did not know he had left the country...welcome...you know you must now share your chocolate... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 Welcome and car looks great. Hope you don't find the floor boards full of Swiss Cheese Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casper50 Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 Welcome Elvis. Very nice looking car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old School Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 Beautiful lines. Well chosen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 Welcome to the forum. Great looking car. Congratulations. Is that a ground wire going to a head bolt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P15-D24 Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 Welcome and nice ride! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51cambridge Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 Beauty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 I just noticed the engine has a Spitfire head. That was a Chrysler only deal. So you either have a Chrysler engine or someone has replaced the Desoto head with a Chrysler head. Check your engine number located above the generator. If it begins with a "C" it is a Chrysler, begins with a "S" it is Desoto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40plyrod Posted September 27, 2014 Report Share Posted September 27, 2014 Welcome. Very cool car you have there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niel Hoback Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Welcome , Elvis. Beautiful car there. You're going to have a lot fun with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
50fordtruck Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Nice car late 30's and forty's mopar had some really cool looking cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Reddie Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Welcome and thanks for the photos. I have always loved the '39 DeSoto cars, especially the coupes. John R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deathbound Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Very nice......let us know when you lower it & chop it!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellum Posted September 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Hi guys! Thanks for the warm welcome! Very nice......let us know when you lower it & chop it!!!! And put a 350 Chevy on it or what? No way, I like it the way it is. Maybe headers and dual flow exhaust, dual carbs, or a Borg Warner overdrive. But first let's see that the floor pans are not like swiss cheese! I can share my chocolate, should I post some pictures of it? Is that a ground wire going to a head bolt? Hmm... now that you mention, I see it as well. Not sure, will check as soon the car is here. Quite scary is it has positive ground? I just noticed the engine has a Spitfire head. That was a Chrysler only deal. So you either have a Chrysler engine or someone has replaced the Desoto head with a Chrysler head. Check your engine number located above the generator. If it begins with a "C" it is a Chrysler, begins with a "S" it is Desoto. Thanks for the hint. So is the Spitfire head an aluminum one? I remember I read about it, but it was more of a marketing gag? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Hmm... now that you mention, I see it as well. Not sure, will check as soon the car is here. Quite scary is it has positive ground? The later plymouths(post p15) had a special headbolt that accepted a smaller bolt and was used for the battery ground along with other things like a post for the throttle return spring. I suspect when someone swapped the head or entire chrysler engine in they kept that later grounding area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 I use 2 of those special bolts for my dual carburetor Throttle linkage on my Desoto engine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bones44 Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Desotolicious great looking car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordkustom Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 sexy car hope its all you hoped for and more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Reddie Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Welcome to the forum. Great looking car. Congratulations. Is that a ground wire going to a head bolt? It does look like a ground cable. If I remember correctly, unless it has been changed, the battery on this car should be located under the seat on the driver's side. If so, couldn't a shorter ground cable be fastened to the frame nearer the battery box? Just a thought. John R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonaldSmith Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 If you ground the battery cable to the frame, you will need a cable of the same capacity between the frame and the engine, to take the amperage of the starter. It's simpler to run the cable directly from the battery to the engine. It's good to have another cable, of less capacity, between the engine and the body, to have a good ground for lights, instruments, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobT-47P15 Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 Great looking car Elvis. I think the Spitfire head was cast iron just like the original heads. Some fellows have the Spitfire heads on their cars......maybe Don Coatney too. As you may know, the Plymouth and Dodge engines were 23 inches long.........while the DeSoto and Chrysler engines were 25 inches long in U.S. built cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desoto1939 Posted September 29, 2014 Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 If you have any questions about this 1939 Desoto coupe please contact me. I have the 39 Desoto 4 door sedan and can help you with your questions. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstfish66 Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 first time i ever seen a 39 desoto,,,shes a beauty,,,love the lines and the tail lites,,, im sure you will like them as well they remind me of 1940 ford tail lites,,,,, congrats,,,and thank you,,thank you very much,,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellum Posted September 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Hey Chaps, Thanks for the answers and wishes so far. I've got news today, the shipping is taking longer as expected. The car will arrive to Europe Oct 21st and will take about an other week from Bremerhaven (Germany) to Switzerland. So hoping for last week of October. Gives me some time to read about vintage MOPARs! @Rich: Thank you, I will bother you with my questions for sure Great looking car Elvis. I think the Spitfire head was cast iron just like the original heads. Some fellows have the Spitfire heads on their cars......maybe Don Coatney too. As you may know, the Plymouth and Dodge engines were 23 inches long.........while the DeSoto and Chrysler engines were 25 inches long in U.S. built cars. Yeah I read about that. Is there any possibility that it was swapped for the 265cui Chrysler Six? Is there a way to identify the size? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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