Happy Friday, Autopians! It’s the final day of my salute to dead brands, and it’s time to take out that second (or third) mortgage, because we are blowing our normal price range sky-high today. Hey, it doesn’t hurt to dream once in a while, right? Today’s cars are both stylish two-door coupes, both with V8s, and curiously, both with one carburetor venturi for each of those eight cylinders.
Yesterday we looked at two brands that GM did dirty, and I’m glad to hear that you all miss them as much as I do. There were lots of good stories in the comments; clearly both Oldsmobile and Saturn hold a lot of nostalgia for a lot of us, but in the end, the Toronado took home the win.
I agree. Nothing wrong with a good Saturn wagon, but if I’m going to get something like that, it’s going to have a manual transmission. The Toronado is perfectly suited to its automatic, and it’s in such nice shape that you could proudly show it off on sunny days. I wouldn’t hesitate to drive it daily from a reliability standpoint, but it would be a shame to subject it to that much wear and tear.
I know the title of this feature is “Shitbox Showdown,” but every once in a while, I like to show you some things that are in no way, shape, or form shitboxes. I thought our Dead Brands theme was a good opportunity to do that again. But the sort of cars I had in mind aren’t for sale on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, so I’ve turned to that long-standing source of really cool classic cars for sale: Hemmings. Who else remembers when Hemmings was a big thick magazine, printed on cheap newsprint, with a brown cover? I miss those days. Well, at least the new online version is easier to search. Let’s check out our budget-busters for today.
1959 DeSoto Adventurer – $89,900
Engine/drivetrain: 383 cubic inch overhead valve V8, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: St. Ann, MO
Odometer reading: 10,700 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives “wonderfully”
Walter Chrysler was serious about competing with General Motors in the late 1920s. GM had been absorbing other companies for years, and as a result, had a whole line of cars available at all price points. Chrysler had Dodge as a lower-priced alternative, and then created Plymouth in 1928 as an entry-level brand. DeSoto came along a year later, to fill in the middle ground between Dodge and Plymouth, and stuck around until 1961. In 1959, when this car was built, Chrysler actually had five brands at varying levels of fanciness – Plymouth, DeSoto, Dodge, Chrysler, and Imperial – all with Virgil Exner’s wide, low, futuristic “Forward Look” styling.
The Adventurer was the top model in DeSoto’s range, powered by a new-for-1959 383 cubic inch engine. It’s fed by two four-barrel carburetors, and puts out an impressive 350 horsepower – while sucking down gasoline like there’s no tomorrow. Backing this monster of an engine is a three-speed Torqueflite automatic, with push-button controls. This one is believed to only have 10,000 original miles on it. It runs and drives flawlessly, as you would expect for the price.
Looking back at these ’50s cars, you wonder how anybody ever survived a road trip: Three hundred and fifty horsepower, non-assisted drum brakes, bias-ply tires, and nary a seat belt in sight. But if you have to go, you may as well go in style, and in that regard this DeSoto doesn’t disappoint. Check out those swivel bucket seats; that’s a luxury feature that I’m surprised never caught on. How do Maybachs and Rolls-Royces not have swivel front seats? And they call themselves luxury cars. Pfft.
All of the Forward Look cars have a massive amount of presence; those wide front ends and long, sweeping tailfins can’t be matched for sheer grandeur. The Adventurer distinguished itself from lesser DeSotos with a special black-and-gold color scheme. This one has been restored, and it’s gorgeous. The Chrysler 300 letter-series cars are better-known, but this car is just as rare; only six hundred or so DeSoto Adventurers were sold in 1959.
1975 Dino 308 GT4 – $95,000
Engine/drivetrain: 2.9-liter dual overhead cam V8, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Demarest, NJ
Odometer reading: 36,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives great
Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari joined the family business at a young age, and designed a small V6 race car engine that he never got to see. He died of muscular dystrophy in 1956. A year later, his father Enzo Ferrari honored him by naming that engine, and the race cars powered by it, after him. Ten years later, when Ferrari was looking to produce a lower-priced six-cylinder sports car to compete with the Porsche 911, it used the Dino name again, to distinguish the cheaper cars from Ferrari’s V12-powered cars. This lasted until 1976, when Ferrari finally abandoned the Dino name and sold the lower-end cars as Ferraris. So, technically, being a 1975 model, this is not a Ferrari.
The 308 GT4 was Ferrari’s first V8-powered car, with a 2.9 liter four-cam engine mounted transversely just ahead of the rear axle. It’s not a simple engine; it has two distributors, and four two-barrel Weber carburetors. When all that mechanical complexity is working properly, it makes a glorious sound, and puts out 240 horsepower to the rear wheels through a five-speed transaxle. This one has just been rebuilt, and it runs like it should. You might think that 36,000 miles is low for a car to need a rebuild, but keep in mind it is a Ferrari, in all but name.
Most Ferraris are red on the outside; this one is red on the inside – and wow, does it pop. I just want to jump right into this photo, close the door behind me, slide that gated gear lever into first, and head off into the sunset. The GT4 is a 2+2 coupe, with cramped-looking back seats like the later Mondial, so you can take more friends along for the ride. It’s in beautiful condition, and absolutely everything works, including the air conditioning.
The silver paint outside is a respray, and the 16-inch Campagnolo wheels are new. The big ugly side-marker lights required on US-spec cars are unfortunate, but it’s still a beautiful car, designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, rather than Pininfarina like other Ferraris. Actually, I think this might be my favorite of all the mid-engine V8 Ferrari body styles, so hats off to Bertone.
Yeah, I know – I don’t have ninety-plus grand to drop on a car either. But just for today, imagine you did. You have an uncle who left you a bunch of money on the condition that you treat yourself, or Netflix optioned that short story you wrote for the college literary magazine for mid-six-figures, or something. Which one are you going for – the peak of American Jet Age style, or the very first V8 Ferrari?
Black and gold, swivel seats, v8?
The DeSoto. All day, every day.
Being able to afford a Ferrari is fine. Spending that much and needing rebuilds at 35k miles is stupid. If I’m dropping near 90k, I have no desire to spend another small fortune on big issues like that….just because.
I’ll go with the Desoto. It’s like Christine’s more put-together sister. Still has the looks, none of the drama and look at her seat swivel!
Hello nurse!
When I saw the teaser pic, I assumed I’d quickly pick the Dino, but that’s not going to be the case. That DeSoto is straight-up rolling artwork. For what it may lack in safety features, it more than makes up for in the apparent build quality and attention to detail throughout. Much to my wife’s chagrin, I’d be HIGHLY tempted to sell our house and find a more appropriate mid-century modern home in Cocoa Beach to park this at.
I mean..black and gold – even down to the hubcaps??? wow, just stunning.
I voted Dino, but the real answer is neither.
For 100 Grand there are so many better options.
Sam & Max would chose the DeSoto, but I am going to have to go with the Not a Ferrari. I’m not sure the DeSoto would fit in my driveway, much less my garage.
I remember the Hemmings book on the magazine stand! And Trade-a-Plane, too! I voted DeSoto, and apparently tied it all up, 50/50.
DeSoto, hands down. I’d rather be the most elegant mofo at the Cracker Barrel than the poorest guy at the country club.
A great way to end the week. Two well-preserved, vintage beauties that only cost internet dollars to dream about.
We need a both option today.
For the make believe money I’d like both please. The Ferrari is sure to handle much better and looks great. The Desoto has an understated brash presence.
I’m going with the DeSoto. I could actually do the maintenance on it myself. But I really want the Dino.
Normally I’d choose the smaller, manual car, but that DeSoto just has so much presence I had to vote for it
If the DeSoto – Which is my favorite marque for this era of Mopars – had been in a more exuberant color combo, I’d have chosen that.
As it stands – I chose the Dino.
Because red interior.
The top of the line Adventurer could be had only in black or white.
Ahhhh – Like the Fury…
I think I’d prefer a white one – or a Fireflite Sportsman 2 door
This is a day where we have 2 90k cars, and my answer is both. Having to choose, it’s absolutely the Ferr…Dino.
The DeSoto is gorgeous and so evocative of its era. I could look at it all day . . . and that’s all. No desire to drive it. The Dino, on the other hand, is maybe less visually striking, though far more transcendent. It begs to be driven.Today, I’m doing my best Fred Flintstone impression and going out to play with Dino.
So true! Park the Dino in the garage and the DeSoto in the living room!
For me the Dino just based on size and appeal, for me the De Sota is cool and I enjoy looking at it……. But I would not want to drive it, just bigger vehicle than appeals to me to take out. The Dino has the smaller nimble footprint that appeals.
I slightly prefer the Dino, but it really is a “Why not both” day.
The Desoto has it all over the Ferrari.
Each vehicle is totally of its era, and to that end, the Desoto screams “Yee Frickin’ Ha, Motherf—ers, comin’ though!”, but the Dino says “I don’t have a problem with cocaine…”
The Dino should continue to increase in value where the DeSoto has a very limited appeal to people who are dying off. It is a cool car, no doubt, but if I’m spending this level of cash on a car, I want the value to maintain or grow, not steadily decrease as the buyers age out of existence. Ferraris should always have a solid following.
And if I were going DeSoto, I’d want a Firesweep Explorer wagon anyway.
I really wanted to pick the DeSoto, but I didn’t. Sorry not sorry. That red interior is amazing.
These are both amazing, but I’ve always had a thing for cars with fins. DeSoto for me.
I like the Dino but can’t afford to keep it running so I pick the DeSoto.
That’s why I picked the DeSoto too Lol
Both are stunning in their own great way! I really can’t choose.
Having been fortunate enough to drive a couple of 308 GT4s in the past, I had no choice. Have to go for the sweet Dino. Not my favorite color scheme for these, but I’d settle. In a hot second.
Wouldn’t mind the DeSoto at all, and admire the daylights out of it. It’s big, bold and still, in my eyes, better looking than anything built today.
But it’s not a Dino, so it HAS to lose out.
The Dino/Ferrari is just going to be more usable, at the end of the day.
And as an aside, it’s insane to me how much these have shot up in value. I remember when they were ridiculed as ugly and you could buy decent ones for like $35k. I like them, but $95k is approaching driver-quality Testarossa money.