Flathead six-cylinder engine with manual transmission
Amazingly solid condition
The Appeal
Squint a little bit and you could easily mistake this car for a 1958 Plymouth Fury – the car made famous by the Stephen King novel and horror movie ‘Christine’. But looks closely, and you’ll see that it isn’t.
It is, in fact, a DeSoto – a brand that was part of the Chrysler Corporation until 1961 and was positioned between the entry-level Plymouth and more sporting Dodge brands. It uses the same unitary body construction as the Plymouth Fury and has equally outrageous tailfins, as well as its prodigious bulk.
It’s a wonderfully imposing machine, helped in this case by its baby blue and white paintwork, which defines the Elvis era and makes it definitely not a car for shrinking violets. It is, however, an eminently usable machine unlike many of the gargantuan American cars of its era.
There are two reasons for this. The first is that it’s the ‘economical’ model, using a 3.8-litre six-cylinder engine instead of a Chrysler V8 and equipped with ‘three-on-the-tree’ three-speed manual transmission.
The second – and core to its UK appeal – is that it’s right-hand-drive. That’s because it was supplied new in South Africa, where it lived until 2023, and was assembled from a CKD kit by Atkinson-Oates Assembly in Gauteng Province. When you’ve got a car this big, sitting on the right makes it much easier to position on the road. Of additional note is the name – the DeSoto Diplomat was never sold in the USA, but was the name given to export variants of the Firesweep, Fireflite and Firedome models sold in the USA.
It’s a truly wonderful thing. A proper rock ‘n’ roll era four-door sedan, with seating for six and a boot big enough to sleep in. It turns heads like nothing else and is in lovely, solid condition.
The History and Paperwork
MOT, tax and ULEZ exempt
Recently imported from South Africa
All import duties and NOVA declarations complete
South African RC1 registration document
Will require first registration in the UK – a very simple process in which the vendor, a former South African resident, is happy to assist and costs less than £100
The Condition
Imposing unitary frame construction in baby blue with white roof and accents
Previously repainted but appears to have all original panels and trim
No notable dents, marks or damage other than some very minor stone chips and some tiny dings in the chrome
Underneath appears very solid with a recent application of underseal to protect it from the UK climate
All original chrome and trim in generally great order
Huge tail fins – they make reverse parking a doddle despite the car’s size!
Wraparound front screen
Twin bench seats in blue fabric
Some wear to fabric on driver’s side
Stunning Fifties interior in matching colour scheme to outer body, with delicate chrme details and switches
Supersonic push-button radio
Excellent headlining with dome light
Strip speedometer
All dials and controls work as expected
The Mechanics
3.8-litre straight six ‘flathead’ engine
Three-speed manual column change
Drum brakes
No power steering – but surprisingly light on the move
We were able to conduct a short test drive of the car and confirm that as well as turning the heads of every passer-by, it performed well on the road, holding a steady temperature and changing smoothly between all the gears
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check, to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection or delivery.
