Lee Exline

How did you get onto the place? It is listed on my website of known Desoto dealers Was the sign already taken down, or did you have to remove it? Was taken down in the 60s and stored on the second floor of the business. As the weather turns colder I move in and make calls send emails and letters after a little detective work. In these small towns everybody knows everyone else's business or they can ask someone who does and eventually if you dig enough you will find some stuff! Sending letters to city halls and asking them to post a notice on the community bulletin board is very effective. Often times the bulletin never gets posted they just pass it on to the person that owns the old dealer building or a past employee of the dealership. Of couse it is much more effective when done on a local basis. Even when the bildings have been cleaned out it does not mean that the parts are not stored in someones garage in town that bought them or pulled them out of the trash. Have you read my page on how to find dealerships yet? Then go to dealership listing page and start asking questions. You Bob are in one of the best areas in the county to be able to find stuff in! Like others have said businesses can shut the doors and stay untouched for decades. and even when they are used for other ventures remnants can still be lying around. Just remember if you use my methods and you find a hoard of parts I want the NOS 54 Plymouth parts!

Australian slang for pickup today! But more generally refers to OZ bodied trucks that are specific to that market. Utility or Utility coupe A Utilitarian vehicle used to haul stuff. They have been making them since 1934 where as the US did not really catch on till 1957 when Ford made the Rachero. and then in 59 with the El Camino. Mine are both 1956 Australian built UTEs based on a passenger car chassis or Utility coupe. They also made truck based versions with unitbody design unlike the seperate cab and bed style we are familiar with.

This is the first chopped Pilot house truck that I have seen. With the corner windows it could not be easy? Do you cut down the window glass or just lower them into the cab? If I remember right the Volare aspen front suspension assembly is an easy fit that gives you independant suspension, MoPar V-8 motor mounts, Power steering, V-8 motor mounts, and disc brakes all in one easy to install package. Since the volare front end uses transverse mounted torsion bars the ride height can be adjusted without loosing ride like chopping springs does. The bad part about them is that they can not be narrowed since the springs run side to side so if the track width is not correct do not even bother Or you could use a Cordoba front suspension assembly that can be narrowed by removing a portion of the center of the K frame, rear tranny/torsion bar mount and center link. The Cordoba sspension also gets you the independant suspension, MoPar V-8 motor mounts disc brakes, power steering and adjustable ride height. The torsion bar adjustments are at the front of the torsion bars but I always wondered why you could not use rear mounted adjusters like the early Mopars did? Then instead of a bolt adjustment you could place a small hydraulic ram and with a very short stroke you could adjust the front suspension height by 6 inches or better. Slam it to the ground on the show feild or while cruzin the boulevard. pump it up for the ride home. And unlike other ydraulic setups you are not cutting down the springs and making it a very bumpy ride. Thanks for listening to my wandering mind! Sorry purists!!

not yet! But I am looking Here is onside the service area

One more shot.

Check the date! THese are the only things left in the old second floor parts department. They were printed inJoplin MO. Bob's hometown Should have stopped in to see Bob but I had to get back home!

I just picked this up from Cherryvale KS from the old Hub Standley dealership

Found this while picking up an old Desoto Plymouth dealership sign!

I just did a photo attachment on another post and noticed it only shows as a thumbnail in the post! Tis may only work on photos you host on the forums server? In order to see te full size image you must click on it. This should help as many members do not have thier own photo hosting sites and will use this feature to post images?

Yes power steering was availabe as it shows in the literature. I have not seen one either but i understand it was the type where the pump mounted on the back of the generator. I have a heck of a lot of the old Lucas parts books that I have scanned and can put on CD. OZ and english versions if you have any old Lucas parts you can not identify let me know the numbers. Do you have a source for the Lucas vacuum advances?

A couple 1956 Australian built UTEs

Just kidding! just have to get used to the new surroundings. OOOOH spell check for my fat fingered problems!! automatic image insert! mmmmmmmm:D