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I bought a load of back issues at the DeSoto convention this week and I read an article by Juha-Pekka Leva of Finland who is restoring a 42 DeSoto that came from the San Diego area. He said if anyone knows anything about the car to contact him, but he didn't leave his contact information. I can't find my latest roster issue, so I was not able to email him. I think I saw this car in the early 1980s in San Diego and I wanted to buy it. My brother was a school bus driver at the time and he told me that he saw a car like my 48 DeSoto business coupe on his route, but it had flaps over the headlights. I said "Really, that's a rare 42!" I went right over to see and rang the door bell. The owner was a biker guy who said he saw it in Albuquerque, New Mexico and bought it. It was a running car but was missing the windshield. The car still had the original paint, which was a dark green. He had the plastic lady hood ornament inside the house so no one would steal it. He drove me around the block in it and I wanted to buy it, but there was no "for sale" sign on it and I was afraid to ask. And, stopping me was a lack of ready cash and the fact that I already owned a 48 DeSoto business coupe. After a month or two I decided I had to go back and make an offer for it. He said he had already sold it and he gave me the name of the new owner. He invited me down to his metal factory in downtown San Diego. The body had already been taken off of the frame and the frame had been dipped in zinc to Galvanize it. It was owned by a father and a son. I talked to the son who said he wanted to keep it stock, but his dad wanted to Hot Rod it. That is the last I ever heard of or saw this car, until I saw Leva's article in the newsletter. Maybe it's the same car I saw back in 1982? I just dug out some snapshots I took at the time and posted them here. Marc Capralis
Marc, I'm sure this must be the same car you saw back in the 1980s. I ran across it about 5 years ago when I was looking for a 1942 coupe. Oddly enough, two 1942 DeSoto coupes from two different sellers came up in Craigslist in San Diego at the same time, one this car and the other a club coupe. This business coupe had been stripped down, as you mention, and at that time it was in a storage container. All of the parts were there and the chrome trim had all been re-plated. The seller said it ran well. The car came with a lot of NOS parts he had collected, and he was asking $5,000 or best offer. I went for the club coupe as it was in one piece, looked great, and was running well and driving. Later I wanted the business coupe too so I called the seller again. He said he had a little trouble finding a buyer but finally a man in Finland bought it. That's the last I heard of it until I saw the article by its new owner. Hope he gets it back together and shares some pictures!
wow! Thanks Jim. Two 42 DeSotos came up at the same time in San Diego five years ago on Craigslist! I never saw those ads. Wish I had. I've always wanted a 42 DeSoto, but they're so rare. I lost my Roster issue so I can't contact the guy in Finland. I did find his Facebook page, or a Facebook page with another man of the same name. No old cars were mentioned on it, but I did write to him with no response. If someone can give me his email, I'll contact him directly. Marc.
Marc, check your private messages.
It's supposed to be fun!
1949 De Soto Custom Convertible (project)
