Seeking ideas for 1949 DeSoto Club Coup

Here are current pics of my 48/49 Desoto.  They were putting in the exhaust today and hope to have her engine running soon! Need help:

Where to restore the steering wheel?  Only need a new outer rim I think.  See pic of the original one.

Is it possible to get replacement beauty rings (15 in) for the 4 tires?  Mine are in bad shape.

Would also like to know how others added side view mirrors and where to get them?  Mine has only a rear view mirror.

Thanks,  Nancy

@nancydailey for the steering wheel, I know of two companies and both are expensive. One is Quality Restorations in California ( https://qualityrestorations.com/ ) and one is D&D Automobilia in North Carolina ( http://danddautomobilia.com/Welcome.html ). Yours, however, doesn't look to be that bad and might be able to be fixed with some time and basic materials. I believe Frank Lashua from the NDC did this with his steering wheel where he prepped the cracks, filled them, sanded, and painted the wheel. You might try contacting him using the information in the club roster.

For the beauty rings, I might suggest submitting a "Parts wanted" ad to the club magazine. Instructions and deadlines for that are in every issue.

For the mirrors, hopefully someone else can chime in with more knowledge of parts for that era!

Going to be beautiful?  She is already a beauty!  You will only make her more beautiful!  Keep up the fine work!

Thanks,

Nancy

Hi Nancy,

Just a couple of suggestions regarding the wheel trim rings and the outside mirror(s): Sometimes eBay has these items for sale.  The mirrors are a clamp-on design that fastens onto the front lip of the door near the vent window.  I don't believe there never was a factory mounted mirror on these older DeSotos.  I have seen these mirrors from time to time on eBay. 

Also a lot of times there are the wheel trim rings available but they would be generic and new.  Getting the factory rings in as good of condition as the rest of your car would probably be impossible.  You might try googling for both the mirrors and trim rings just to see what comes up.

Hope this helps.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Car shop had problems with windshield wiper motors and experienced engine failure at 80 miles of test drives. Engine reworked.  Final testing underway.  Hood is on - finally.  Isn't she a beauty?  Plan now is to move it to the upholstery shop on Friday.  However, it's not likely to be ready to show off at the New Orleans Convention 🙁  More pics to follow when we go to pick her up.

Looks great.

@nancydailey looking great! If the car is drivable for the convention, just not "finished", don't hesitate to bring it! It wouldn't be the first time an unfinished car attended and I'm sure everyone would agree that it would be better to see it in that state than not at all!

My 49 S11 left Cookevillle in May and went to Lebanon TN (Thunder Road Upholstery) for interior work.  So maybe finished in another 3 months or so. Fingers crossed...

Looking good! Will we still be seeing you at the convention even if the car isn't with you?

Nancy....what type of upholstery did you decide to install?  Car looks great!

It will be a taupe (tan) interior and navy blue leather.  Door panel design will look similar to the original door panel design (small pleats).

Nancy-  That will turn out to be one sharp car!  I also see in the background what appears to be a 1957 Ford and a 5 window pickup truck.  Nice collection!

Glenn

Unfortunately, those aren't mine.  All the pictures I've posted could be showing vehicles at the restoshop: Midsouthern Restorations in Cookeville.  They do a lot of mustangs and muscle cars.  They have done a few really unique ones like a Hudson terraplane truck and some Packards.  They took on my DeSoto just because they hadn't done one.  My last posted pic is my car at the upholstery shop.

I think your car is absolutely fantastic!!! The color is great! I hope by now you are getting closer on the interior.  Looking forward to seeing it in person!