1959 DeSoto Fireflite Hardtop - Working A/C - Disc brakes - Swivel seats & more

1959 DeSoto Sportsman Hardtop

1959 DeSoto Fireflite Sportsman
Hard to find model
Well optioned
Great driver

Here up for bids is this rare 1959 DeSoto Sportsman. This is one of only 1,393 two door hardtops made for 1959, and features swivel seats, working A/C, and a matching numbers 383 motor and 727 transmission. Click to enlarge any of the photos below, or click here to view a slideshow of all the enlarged images.

Nice quality paint with excellent depth and gloss. All of the trim is in good shape, showing only a few minor dings in areas. Front and rear bumpers are both in outstanding condition with no flaws. All 6 tail lights are as-new. Very nice windshield and back glass, the side windows show a few faint scuffs.

Tires are high quality Coker Classics in 225-70-14 with nearly full tread. The finished trunk presents well with good weatherstripping and good fit.

The interior has been completely redone, from the carpet to the headliner, from the seats to the padded dash. It's all in great shape with good workmanship.

All of the gauges work correctly except for the temp gauge, which reads high. I took an infrared reading of the radiator and it came back at 165 degrees, good cool readings at operating temperature. The clock has been converted to quartz and keeps good time. The radio has been converted to FM and has good sound. The Mark IV air conditioner blows ice cold, all of the components in the engine bay are new and running R134a. The push button transmission works correctly but when the car is cold it takes a few brief moments for Drive to engage, once warmed up there's no hesistation. The 4th photo shows the headliner, perfect from front to back.

The car starts easily and runs very strongly with no smoke and no noise, a very nice running motor. The car shifts well and has very good braking power, the rears have new shoes and the fronts have been converted to disc. The car handles extremely well, the front suspension has been completely gone through with all new components. Other recent work includes a new power steering pump, new fuel sending unit, and new e-brake cable.

The car's wiring has been updated as needed. An Edelbrock 4bbl carburetor has been added. The car is very clean everywhere you look.

Very solid underneath with all original floor pans and no rust problems.

Click here for a slideshow of all of the enlarged images.

About the reserve price:
Out of fairness to all bidders the reserve is held in confidence, please just bid at the level that you'd want to pay. The reserve is very reasonably priced. This auction ends Monday, September 25th at 11 AM Pacific Time