I'm baaack

[Hickory]

So I am now an owner of a 1930 desoto. Just payed for it tonight and am hoping to have it home tomorrow. Original paint and engine. This thing is so. Cool I can't wait to get my hands dirty.

[Mark D]

Congratulations on the new ride! I see that you’re in central New York, how about you joining us for the p15 picnic in Canadaigua on 9/15-18! We would love to have you, and you would be the oldest car present.

[knuckleharley]

I am eaten alive with envy.

 

If the wood in those wheels aren't shrunken and cracked,make sure you do whatever you have to do to preserve them. You don't even want to know what it will cost to get them redone because it will scare you  to death.

 

I have a friend whose name I won't mention that has over 90 antique and otherwise classic cars and trucks. Every one of them unmodified from original. If a car or truck is not original,he has no interest in it.

 

I told him about a 1913 ( I THINK. My memory sucks) Olds touring I knew about that was for sale not far from him a couple of years ago,and he bought it. The car had been in the same family since new,and had been stored inside it's whole life. The original paint was still shiny. He was a giddy as a schoolgirl to find and buy it,and then he had to have the wooden wheels redone.

 

Let's just say it was painful even,to somebody like him.

[Hickory]

 How do you keep the wheels fresh, some linseed oils maybe. I love how the windshield rolls up and down.

[Veemoney]

Very nice car and condition to start off with. I think I see a port-a-power at the rear wheel in one of the pictures that looks like it is going to the rim. Curious what it is doing? Those are cool wheels. 

[Jerry Roberts]

Dry cracked wood ;   A few years ago on the Antique Road Show , one of the Keno brothers mentioned a product that could be applied that would cure the problem on very old wooden furniture legs . He said that they don't usually endorse products but this one was the only product that he found that would really work .  I wish that I could remember the product name . 

[Hickory]

This vehicle has no top. The seller thinks there was no sheet metal roof just vinyl cover. Does this sound right. There are remnants of vinyl

[Sniper]

I wonder if vinyl is the original material, it's possible as it started to be used in 1926 but I wonder if canvas was original?  Not sure myself.

 

Nice car though.  I read an article in Hemmings that Coker Tire had a wood shop to make new wooden wheels, but I surfed Coker's website and saw nothing about it there.

 

I can't wait to see what you do with it, good luck. 

[desoto1939]

It was vinyl insert just like on the model A. I would suggest that you join the National desoto club.  Also contact Les Pesavento he is the 1929-30 Model coordinator He lives in Michigan.

 

Also since you live in New York state. Les and I will be at the Hershey fall swap meet this year.  We will be at the following location OAD 7 and 8.  That refers to the Orange Field, row AD site number 7 and 8.

 

I have a 39 Desoto and welcome to the P15 club.  We just held our national convention in Wisconsin but nest years convention for 2022 will be held in Altoona,PA.  Would be nice to see you at the convention and also bring the car even if its on a trailers. Not many of these early Desoto's.

 

Write to me at Desoto1939@aol.com   and I will give you Les P's phone number and email address. He is a super nice guy. His 1929 Desoto just took Best of Show at this years convention

[Hickory]

So the Vin is KD244C which decides as a 29

[desoto1939]

Hickory: Rich Hartung. i spoke to Les Pesavento of the National Desoto club. i sent him pictures of your car and he also verified that it is a 29 Desoto.  I sent you a private message with my contact information and also Les's contact information.

 

Les said that you can call him. Les has several 29 desoto and also lots of parts.

 

We are looking forward to having you join the NDC not that many 29 Desotos.

 

Rich Hartung

desoto1939@aol.com

[keithb7]

23 hours ago, Veemoney said:

I think I see a port-a-power at the rear wheel in one of the pictures that looks like it is going to the rim. Curious what it is doing? 

 Maybe trying to get the rear wheel off the tapered axle?

 

Cool car. Does it have juice or mechanical brakes?

 

 

[Veemoney]

 

17 minutes ago, keithb7 said:

Maybe trying to get the rear wheel off the tapered axle?

Good guess, hope it worked if that were the case and all is well. 

[Andydodge]

My John Lees Standard Catalog Of Chrysler 1924-1990 advises that this is indeed the 1st year of DeSoto and came with hydraulic brakes...............as for the roof, it was more than likely a cloth or leatherette material ,tho' sometimes even leather may have been used in high end vehicles.........usually firstly the timber slats over heavier timber supports from each side, the slats usually going front to rear as shown, then some sort of wire, like chicken wire over the timber then a padding of some sort, nowadays usually a foam or similar then the cloth or weatherproof vinyl or convertible top material held to the edge surround with tacks then a half round or specialised shaped metal edge covering strip that is either nailed or screwed to the timber with some sort of weatherproof sealer underneath.......thats a neat car........andyd    

[Hickory]

I think the porta power was to remove the rear hubs. He did brakes all around but had a puller made when he couldn't get the hubs off. The car came with the homemade puller

[Hickory]

More pics today now that it is home. I can't find a shop manual for it and need a wiring diagram as the wires are a mess

[Tooljunkie]

That is an awesome find! 
i had a ‘27 studebaker big six in my shop years ago, it was interesting to see how things were engineered back in the day. 
the roof was similar, called rubberized canvas. 
was my understanding the manufacturers didnt have machinery to make a 1 piece roof panel that size,so they plodded along with the same type of roof everyone had. 
 

looking forward to more photos. 
 

the best information you can source for the oldies is from current owners, they have the knowledge to share, and may have literature you can copy. 

[Hickory]

[Hickory]

[Hickory]

[desoto1939]

12 hours ago, keithb7 said:

 Maybe trying to get the rear wheel off the tapered axle?

 

Cool car. Does it have juice or mechanical brakes?

 

 

 

All of Chrysler cars came standard with juice brakes even the early 1929 Desoto.

 

Rich Hartung

desoto1939@aol.com

[desoto1939]

4 hours ago, Tooljunkie said:

That is an awesome find! 
i had a ‘27 studebaker big six in my shop years ago, it was interesting to see how things were engineered back in the day. 
the roof was similar, called rubberized canvas. 
was my understanding the manufacturers didnt have machinery to make a 1 piece roof panel that size,so they plodded along with the same type of roof everyone had. 
 

looking forward to more photos. 
 

the best information you can source for the oldies is from current owners, they have the knowledge to share, and may have literature you can copy. 

Yes and also the specialty club such as the National Desoto Club.  This is a 29 Desoto and has been verified by the 1929 Model coordinator who also is the current Present of the National Desoto Club.  I sent a PM to Hickory with the contact information for the 1929 Model coordinator and he is waiting for Hickory to contact him.  He has lots of 29 Desoto parts and is a wealth of knowledge on the 29's.  So we have done our park to get Hickory pointed inthe right direction.

 

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

[Hickory]

So I have reached out to Les and tonight I will join the NDA. I want to start the car tonight, do I need to use the timing adjuster to start the car

[desoto1939]

1 minute ago, Hickory said:

So I have reached out to Les and tonight I will join the NDA. I want to start the car tonight, do I need to use the timing adjuster to start the car

Hickory:  I am glad that you are contacting Les P.  He can provide you with the exact starting procedure for the 29.  He is the 1929 model coordinator and can better advise you than me. I am more of a good knowledgeable contact on the 38/39 Desotos.

 

I do have a great universal parts book that handles all of the electrical components on your 29. Have to be careful becasue in 1929 Desoto used either Northeast and then switched over to Delco ignition parts.  My book has detailed pictures and part numbers.  This is important call me so we cantalk about this manual.

 

Rich Hartung  cell 484-431-8157  home 610-630-9188   or desoto1939@aol.com

[Hickory]

Got it running tonight and drove it around the yard. Runs good but smokes good too. Oil pressure at 50 cold and 25 warm. Pretty happy with that. It hasn't gone down the road since 2003