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Hi Rick-
I work with Hawaii Undersea Research Lab. We operate 2 deep diving submersibles, Pisces IV & V rated to a depth of 2000 meters. Each year we conduct 3 tests dives at the start of our dive season to get our sub ready. We often come across various old military vehicles. However earlier this year we hit a mother-lode of vehicles, most of which appear to be civilian (although possibly used by the military). As you can imagine after soaking in seawater for decades many of these old autos are in pretty poor condition and are slow decaying away. But a number of them are for some reason have remained relatively intact and preserved. One such vehicle we found was an old Roadster. After scowering the web for images of old cars I have determined that this vehicle that we found appears to be most like a DeSoto Roadster from 1929 or 30.
I've attached a couple images of it. One shot through the viewport by the pilot and another captured from the video from above as the sub moved on. Sorry there are no other angles, but we really can't linger long at these sites as we have other mission priorities. I am not an expert on these vehicles and I was hoping you or someone in your forum might be able to confirm an ID on this car and point out the prominent features they see.
The vehicle was located at a depth of about 532m and roughly 4.5 miles SW of Diamond Head, off Oahu's South shore. We came across about 20 vehicles with two submersibles over about a mile of travel. At this point there is no record of these vehicles being dumped and we have found vehicle ranging over a 4 mile spread and with manufacturing dates of over 25 years.
Please feel free to share these images with your membership and on your message board. Any other publication would require permission from our data department.
I appreciate any help, comments, or general feedback that your website members can provide.
aloha,
Steve Price
Amazing!
It's supposed to be fun!
1949 De Soto Custom Convertible (project)
The deeper the water - the less oxygen so metal may not rust as much as you may think. Salt water should also need the oxygen to cause oxidation. The only thing is - it would probably cost a lot to pull it up.
Jeepers, Rick; you have such an interesting life! 
That is a very amazing find. I dimly remember documentaries about the Titanic during which they discussed how they would bring metal items bound for the Titanic museums to the surface, keeping them soaking in special fluids (temperture/pressure controlled salt water concoctions?) that would prevent the metal from rusting immediately upon reaching the surface and falling apart. Really interesting stuff.
