1953 DeSoto Firedome Hemi Sedan

[vikingminer49er]

1953 DeSoto 4-door sedan with the first-year, 276-cubic-inch Firedome Hemi engine, and 2-speed, Powerflite-automatic transmission was purchased at the estate sale of one of the original Aspen ski bums near Snowmass Colorado. The small field north and west of the party house was littered with vehicles, including a 1946 or 1947 Hudson Pickup, with parts car, a Studebaker M5, a Dodge B-1-F, and a Dodge B-1-DU-117 Route Delivery Van.  Spare tires in the dump bed were included with the sale of the Dodge.  The rear of the DeSoto was literally buried, and still had moss growing out of the bumper after it got a new home.  The revolutionary-new white-plastic steering wheel crumbles upon touch.  Considered putting the Hemi in my 1938 Dodge RC Pickup, but settled for the 2014 Dodge Charger Hemi instead.  Like you've heard before, the DeSoto was running when parked.  It was running when new, but the question is:  What has it done lately?

Edited January 20, 2020 by vikingminer49er
Forgot something

[vikingminer49er]

More photos.

[vikingminer49er]

Estate Sale near Snowmass Colorado, September 2016.  DeSoto was in the back row with the rear bumper buried and four flat tires.  Other interesting vehicles at the sale.  Also bought the 1949 B-1-DU-117 Route Delivery Van converted into an RV.

Edited January 20, 2020 by vikingminer49er

[vikingminer49er]

Hauled the DeSoto about 90 miles home over McClure Pass.  Only one tire held air.

[Andydodge]

So.........let me guess........... judging from the small collection of mopars that you list..........you just have a passing interest in mopars.......lol.........the DeSoto looks like its had a hard life but as a 1st yr Hemi its still worth getting on the road.............it would be project #.........lol...................andyd

[captden29]

I had a 49 chev. step van, looked so much like that dodge. it was my hippie van . had a bed and a stereo[ 8 track], need I say more.    capt den

[vikingminer49er]

Thank you so much for your responses.  Currently working on a 1938 Dodge RC Pickup project. You may follow along at:  https://p15-d24.com/topic/51743-1938-dodge-rc-pickup-build/.  You may also see photos of all my Dodge trucks starting at:  https://p15-d24.com/topic/53-lets-see-pic-of-your-trucks/page/37/#comments

[plymouthcranbrook]

The 276  was a good engine. Knew a guy many years ago who put one in a 59 Plymouth  former 6 cylinder car. With the 3.73 rear gears and a three speed floor shift with a home made shift linkage it really moved out up to about  80 or so and that was that. He drove it to work about a 50 mile round trip for several years with almost no troubles. 

Edited January 20, 2020 by plymouthcranbrook

[desoto1939]

would have loved to have gotten the Hudson Truck and the parts car that was just next to the truck. Those Hudson Trucks wee very stylish and not many show up at car shows.  I see one every year here in PA at a local show call Macungie Das Awkfest held every August.  Macungie is just west of Allentown pa. We get approx. 1300 cars and trucks at the weekend event and it has been a show that you need to preregister.

 

Als great useful gifts that they give each driver for bring their antique to the show.  Also a great day in the town park with entertainment, twolarge circus tents for the wifes to shopping for small items, great food at reasonable cost and a fairly good flee market.

 

Saturdays show is based on an AACA show with cars group by years, Sunday's show is a marque based show. So all Mopars are located in ne section and the same with the rest of the other marques. It makes it easier to see the specific marques that you want to view.  Have been going for over 30+ years.

 

Rich Hartung

[Kevinb71]

I love that Route Delivery Van. Let me know if you need more room! ?

[Hickory]

I just saw a 53 firedome in the pick n pull in East Syracuse last weekend. It was in much sadder shape than that one!!!!!!