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?
I’ve never been an Exner fan, but that DeSoto looks fantastic. I think they’re both a bit expensive, but I’m going with the Ferrari because I’d rather actually drive it and it should be on the upswing of value rather than downswing like the DeSoto likely is due to shifting demographics, plus a Ferrari is a Ferrari and that will always have a wider appeal as long as there are cars. On top of that, it’s tough to find an entry point into Ferrari ownership for much under $90k while decent giant ’50s cars are not uncommon for cheaper (of course, if you’re looking for this specific DeSoto in amazing condition, that changes the calculus, but that’s going to be a lot rarer seeker than one who wants to own a Ferrari).
There are a lot of things I would rather do with $90K than own either of these.
I opted for the DeSoto because, while both would be considered exotic in my boring corner of the car world, the DeSoto is just not something that would be seen here – ever. I prefer just about everything about it.
It’s amazing to think there’s only sixteen years between these cars.
As much as I’d truly love to drive the DeSoto—the Dino is (dare I say it) more practical? All the parts are available, it’s just been serviced, and it was designed for seatbelts. Take my theoretical money, please….
I’ll take first Ferrari V8 over first unibody Chrysler product if it’s hearing 100k. That said, I could get any ‘59 Mopar for wayyyy cheaper than that and have just as good a time, haul my band, AND be the backseat make out queen of the Bay.
That DeSoto is a helluva car, but not something I can imagine myself in. I like cars from that era, but I’m not sure what I’d consider a good blend of luxury and practicality. The Dino is also a helluva car, and if I’ve got Internet money, I can afford to keep it up. Seems like it’d be comfy enough and drive fantastically.
These are both obviously Sunday cars, so I would have to ask myself what do I want to do this Sunday?
A. Pack a lunch and take a long hike around the DeSoto?
B. Fill up the Dino’s tank and drive until near empty, fill up again, drive to near empty, rebuild the engine, repeat next Sunday?
I am a big fan of the various Dino models, so this one wins. I would prefer it with the Dino badge on the hood and wheels instead of the Ferrari badge, though.
I’m 67, and as a five-year-old I was tricycling next to these cars on the sidewalk–Toddler’s Lonesome Highway (was anybody really watching us?)
Desotos, Imperials, Dodge 500s, Ponchos: all in their tri-tone (and sometimes tri-carb) glory. The world was a colorful, flying-finned, luminescent glamorama.
The women wore gloves, and the men wore hats. They all smoked, drank, smiled, and partied in one another’s basements.
I couldn’t help but have that Forward Look myself. Our payoff was the tail end of muscle-car era which insurance/smog regs stomped out pretty quickly, and let’s not forget Vietnam (too young to serve) and “The Generation Gap”.
This is the long way of saying I look at DeSoto and see De Good Life.
Such as it was.
I was ready to say the Ferrari, but the boring german (non-)color and the federal bumpers just killed it for me. Price also a little on the optimistic side
The Dino is a masterclass of style. Plus, you get to one-up the Uncle Goth himself.
One-up is debatable: the Mondial is easier to maintain, and Bertone is great but Pininfarina IS Ferrari!
Aldo Brovarone vs Marcello Gandini. Two giants. We can call it even, can’t we?
Of course that’s up to Adrian, but I’ll abide!
This is a suprisingly tough choice. As I get older, I value comfort more and more and the De Soto’s got that is spades. But man, that DIno looks good. I’ll pretend that I’m not getting old like I pretend I have the cash to afford one of these and go for the Dino.
I agree this was surprisingly difficult. I’ll own my 70 years and go for the DeSoto.
Besides, I have a Honda Fit, so that’s almost the same as the Dino. 😉
It probably out performs the Dino. The 40-ish years of engineering progress between the two is amazing.
I was being facetious, but I do remember some terribly lethargic acceleration figures from these Ferraris. In fact, 0-60 in my car beats the Porsche 944 when introduced. Of course, I’m not really comparing them…
Groucho says “Desoto you can bet your life.” Point to pick though Desoto was in between Chrysler and Dodge not Dodge and Plymouth. Also the Desoto has power brakes. That accordion looking thing under the hood is the brake booster.
Okay, good. I thought I might be imagining things when I said to myself: “I’m pretty sure DeSoto was a step above Dodge?”
Internet play money: Both.
Reality: Neither.
One’s a museum piece, the other a low rent exotic that doesn’t quite hit the mark. (And frankly for that kind of money, I’d rather have an actual Ferrari 308, in GTS form.)
In either case, both cars would own you, not the other way around.
The ’50s are over, man. Let’s at least embrace the ’70s.
As cool as that DeSoto is, it’s just a big old car with a prarie schooner rear axle, roughly the same displacement as a battleship, not to mention a turning radius that would be helped by a couple of tugs. There’s a reason we called these things boats.
I adore its style – the colors and materials are outstanding for the era. Great car to look at. Maybe toddle slowly around town.
The Ferrari, on the other hand – thank fucking god it’s not Rosso Corsa. Ferraris look better in just about any other color; and silver with a red interior is a fantastic combo.
It’s way sleeker – we’re unfortunately back into an era of gingerbread on our cars, just like the late ’50s. The angular automotive brutalism is much more appealing; it’s not a rocket ship, there are no fake gunsights or jet intakes; it’s a car with a purpose, built from steel, alloy, glass, plastic, and rubber.
If you want to go to the sock hop and don’t dig finicky, high-strung machines or maintenance that’s a COMMITMENT; go with the DeSoto. You might find one or two old bastids at every car show who talks your ear off about their memories of the “good old days” when they Liked Ike and cruised their pop’s Desoto on the smooth tarmac of the new Interstate Highway that had just recently eviscerated politically powerless neighborhoods and filled to the brim the bank accounts of crony-connected construction firms with some of the same taxpayer dollars being used to carve up farmland into streets named after the trees they cut down so OTHER crony firms could build crappy little houses (filled with ticky tacky) to give people a place to escape to while they lament how the downtowns used to be great without realizing the irony of the fact that they, in fact, chose to destroy them.
I’ll take the Ferrari. I like to drive. That’s a car for drivers.
You are stupidly right on every little account.
Wait, did you just call me stupid? <g>
Fortunately the days of cronyism and wanton environmental destruction are behind us!
Yes, I hear we have the cleanest air, the best water, and everything is just swell. Who needs all these pesky regulations that basically say “don’t soil your nest,” I mean…DUH. It’s not like we poop in our rivers or something.
If it was the 1960 DeSoto I’d have voted for that – I was a big fan of Sam & Max back in the day and when I realised that their car was not the fever dream of a cartoonist but something that actually existed I was smitten.
Note my avatar…
Both! That DeSoto is gorgeous! I know the GT4 is the ugly duckling of Ferraris (when did they get so expensive???), but I can’t say no to the prancing horse even if it doesn’t wear the logo.
Judging from the Commentariat, all of Autopia is as torn as I am over this choice. Well done (as usual), Tucker!
The DeSoto is mid-century perfection. It belongs in the carport of a Neutra home in Palm Springs … which, ultimately, is its fatal flaw. It presents so well and is so flawlessly restored that driving it makes it somehow LESS impressive, and turns it into “just a car.” Better to park it and regard its majesty while stationary.
I’m glad the Dino has so many fans; when it was new it was considered the “ugly” Ferrari, especially compared with the 308GTB and the V12 cars. This one feels a little overpriced, but it’s also the one I’d feel more comfortable wringing out on a blast between, say, Chicago and Detroit … as long as I can avoid the potholes.
Plus, that interior is stunning.
We’ll take the silver one.
Actually, the Dino has a lot more in common with Neutra’s simple, purposeful elegance than the baroque DeSoto.
I wouldn’t be interested in either at a fraction of the cost, but in this matchup, I will take the Ferrari just because it is one of the few times when the Ferrari will be less gaudy than the alternative.
Wait, when did the “cheap Ferrari” get so expensive? The Dino is one of those shapes that requires time and distance to be able to truly appreciate. At the time, it was completely overshadowed by the 308 gtb/gts. With the passage of time it’s just gotten better looking. But nearly $100k is nuts!
The DeSoto is very arguably worth the asking. It’s in wonderful shape in a beautiful color combination, and the “Forward Look” styling is still dramatic and much cooler than Ford and Chevrolet products of the era. It also is a museum piece in EVERY sense of the word. It’s something that was more appealing 20 years ago than it is today, and 10k miles means that as the odometer goes up the value goes down.
I’ve never been so torn by a Shitbox Showdown. Lovely, overpriced not-quite-a-Ferrari? Big cushy mid-century cruiser that needs a spotter to guide you into an average parking space? It’s a conundrum.
Meh, I’ve always wanted a red interior. Dino it is.
Yeah, I agree the Dino is probably overpriced by ~$20K or so, whereas the DeSoto is at the top of its value curve.
A Ferrari will almost always get a “crack pipe” response from me, so the DeSoto wins by default.
One of my very favorite modernish Ferraris, so a no brainer for me.
But $95K! Eeek, I remember when the best of these relative ugly ducklings were sub $20K cars. Sigh.
Close call. The DeSoto says cruise all day long. The Dino says enjoy the ride. I picked Dino.
So let’s see, we got Plymouth, Mercury, Pontiac, Scion, Geo, Eagle, Oldsmobile, Saturn, DeSoto, and Dino this week.
I was holding out hope for Isuzu or Suzuki, but I guess those aren’t really “dead” brands, just “dead to America” brands
Is this a Both day?
It’s a Both day!
If you can afford it, absolutely!
I’m not a big fan of a lot Virgil Exner’s work, but this Desoto works for me. I probably don’t fit in the Ferrari, and even if I did, I’d be afraid to drive it. I’ll cruise in style on those gorgeous swivel seats.