National DeSoto Club Forum - Recent Posts

Hershey is only about 3 weeks away

RichardHartung — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 21:24:51 +0000

If you are planning to attend the Hershey swap meet Oct 6-9 remember that the first official day of sell is Tuesday 10/6/26 and the last day 10/9/26 is the official car show day. There are still some venders left in the fields but most have left by Thursday night.

If you plan to attend you can stop by the site of Rich Hartung GAE 14-15. We will be in the Green Field on thrid street. Unfortunately Les Pessavento who also shared the site with my will not beable to attend this year. All Desoto owners and MoPar owners are welcome to chat and take a rest from walk the fields. I plan to be onsite on Monday 10/5/26 to setup and then do some walking around to look for some great buys.

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

RE: 1939 Desoto Sedan for sale selling cost has been reduced

RichardHartung — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:59:00 +0000

I have lowered the selling price to $27000 or BO.

Desoto1939@aol.com

Rich hartung

RE: 1939 Desoto Sedan for sale

RichardHartung — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 18:44:37 +0000

Mike: Thanks for the compliment about the car. I am always open to offers on the car. Yes this lady has been taken car off durin gmy 40+ plus years of being the custodian of the car. Out jobs are to keep these ladies in good shape to to appreciate what they have contributed to the car owners over the years.

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

RE: 1939 Desoto Sedan for sale

Michael Pfeifer — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 01:43:27 +0000

@Richardhartung This is a beautiful car! I dearly wish I had the funds and space to buy it. I hope your car finds a wonderful new home and is as well taken care of as you have done.

RE: '58 Firedome Ambulance disc brake conversion

RegisBodnar — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:52:40 +0000

Yes, however I don't use the vacuum boosters, but have used hydro-boost systems. It really cleans up under the hood getting rid of the bellows stuff.

RE: '58 Firedome Ambulance disc brake conversion

Shawn Saving — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 02:40:13 +0000

@regisbodnar were those power brake setups?

RE: '58 Firedome Ambulance disc brake conversion

RegisBodnar — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 01:44:41 +0000

I have used the dual master cylinder that comes in a 81 Imperial along with a Wilwood adjustable proportioning valve on two of my vehicles. One on my 66 Dodge Polara with AAJ front disc conversion and rear drum brakes, and also on my 60 DeSoto Adventurer with 4 wheel disc brakes. Both setups have worked great.

'58 Firedome Ambulance disc brake conversion

Shawn Saving — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 22:13:52 +0000

Not much news to report on the ambulance but I am piecing together everything I need for the front disc conversion. I got the basic stuff from aajbrakes but I've run into a little trouble finding the proper dual master cylinder (MC571). Has anyone recently purchased one? So far, I've only found it from Mancini Racing ($110) and Pirate Jack (comes with an underneath adjustable proportioning valve for $185). Trying to search other sites but part of the problem is that "MC571" gets me nowhere, or gets confused with a modern Nissan m/c. And I'm getting conflicting information about which applications this fits - 60-74 B-Body or 73-78 B-Body? (even then, there seem to be a several different ones used).

According to Roger, for use with the RPB8001 booster, specs are
1-1/8" bore
9/16" and 1/2" ports on left side

I believe the Bendix casting number is 2225621

I've got a call back in to Roger but he's not an internet guy sonot sure he's going to be up to date on latest availability of parts.

With Centric going bankrupt, it has thrown a real wrench in the works. I was able to find a good interchange listing for rotors on parts hawk but not for a m/c yet.

thanks

RE: 1939 Desoto Sedan for sale

RichardHartung — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 18:09:34 +0000

For Sale 1939 DeSoto model S6 Four Door sedan. The original owner drove the car from 1939 to 1965. The second owner purchased the car around 1980 and had the engine and mechanical work done to get the car road worth and drive-able.
In 1985 I purchased the car and everything was still original to the car including the radio with the 4 our antennas under each running boards. This was a major option when the car was purchased. I was able to purchase an original operating hot water heater and that has been installed under the dash on the front passenger side of the car.
All of the plastic original knobs are still used on the dash control panel and also on the 8 eschution plates that are on the 4 door panels. The car still retains the original mohair upholstery and has the hogs hair kick panels on the bottom of each door and also on the bottom portion of the front seat. The headliner has been replaced. When you sit in the rear seat you can stretch out legs fully to rest against the rear foot rest. The car still has the original blanket rope holder that is attached to the back of the front seat and also has the rear ashtray that has never been used.
The engine and trans were removed from the car. The engine was rebuilt and a new water pump, distribution tube and oil pump were installed. Over the past 40 years of ownership I have done the following maintenance to the car. NOS Lockheed Master cylinder, NOS factory Autolite distributor, NOS Cater factory carburetors that is the proper carb for the car, NOS King Pins and Lower Control arm Bushing, Front end Alignment, NOS Front wheel Cylinders, NOS Speedometer cable and installed the original style Lockheed brake shoes along with 5 Goodyear Air Cushion white wall ribbed tires that are the exact style that were used when the car came off the assembly line. The braking system was been converted over to DOT5 brake fluid.
The car came to life on May13,1939 in Michigan and was delivered to the Wolfington Dealership on 34th and Chestnut street. I do not know the original owners. I am the third owner of the car. The car has stayed in the local area all its life around the King of Prussia Valley Forge local.
This is a real survivor of the Art deco period of styling, The car retains the original plastic insert for the speedometer and also the original fuel gage, temp, ammeter and oil gage. It also has the original pushbutton radio that has been restored. A proper 1939 Desoto clock and glovebox lid was found with the period correct clock and the original wire harness. The entire glovebox lid with the clock has also been installed. The garnish molding all still retain the wood grained look and the drivers side molding is worn just from age and from the drivers arm resting on the molding. The door also have the original arms rests and the front has covers over the rest. The rear vanity light still works via a switch located on the door pillar on the right side of the car. Also of note is that there is not exterior door lock on the passenger side of the car. It was illegal to exit car when parallel park on a street, so the only lock is on the right front passenger side. There is a separate key for the truck lid.
In 1995 the entire car was taken apart, the fenders removed, the doors taken off the body, the front nose section was removed along with the hood and side panels and trunk lid and the running boards. The running boards still retain the original rubber matting and these have a full rubber covering and the stainless trip strips.
The car has been rewired and upgraded to modern wire to insured that the car can run properly and safely down the road.
Travel history of the car:
We have driven the car to several of the National Desoto Car shows and annual conventions, including the ones held in Altoona,PA, Baltimore MD Twice and to Winchester and was the featured car for the 13th convention that was held in Valley Forge, PA. This car is currently a driver car and is not a trailored car. This is a very reliable car and we can easly travel at 50-55 MPH and still have great braking power. The car has the original Three on the Tree shifting pattern and electric wiper motor. The car has received several 3rd place National Desoto Club trophies along with local car show awards.
The car has been repainted a factory enamel green color. The floors and also inside of the floors have also been painted the same color and also the door jam. The 5 rims have been pinstriped in a creamy color. The four factory hub caps have been totally restored and triple plated in chrome by the same plater that did all the chrome plating for White Post Restorations.
I am asking $30000 or best offer for this car. The selling of the car also included the following extremely hard to find parts:
All four door, High altitude radiator, two front nose sections, hood with center hinge, r/l side hood panels,r/l running boards less the rubber, trunk lid, spare transmission, two steering wheels and other smallparts to support the car for future ownership.
The car is located west of Philadelphia near King of Prussia, PA and Valley Forge Park very close the exit of the PA Turnpike and route I76.
Refer to the attached picture for details on the car. If interested then send me a private message and then we can talk about the car.

I am asking a fair price for the car which includes all of the major metal parts for the car as listed above and possibly additional manuals such as the 1936-42 DeSoto Master Parts Manual and copy of the two service manuals.

This is your opportunity to own a car that you do not see at your local car shows and not even at the Hershey Car show.

Rich hartung desoto1939@aol.com or Private message or cell 484-431-8157

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RE: 1949 Desoto S13 Custom Starter

DavidFrank — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:36:56 +0000

I had an intermittent no-engage problem on my '59 DeSoto starter and it ended up being that the starter drive gear was sticking from old age/grease. It had to be disassembled, cleaned/changed, and reassembled, which I had the rebuilder do.