Apr 25, 2020  •  Sightings  •  75 Comments

Can You Identify This Find?

Disclosure: This site may receive compensation from some link clicks and purchases.

We hope each and every one of you is doing well and staying healthy during the current pandemic. An important part of staying healthy, both physically and mentally, is getting out and moving as much as you can. So, we were glad to hear that reader Mike N has been getting out for walks to stay active. And as an added bonus, he walks past this derelict classic. He hasn’t been able to figure out what it is and it’s been driving him nuts, so he thought he’d send us some photos and see if we could identify it. So, take a look and let him know down in the comments what you think it is.

So, 50 points to anyone that can guess the year, make, and model without looking it up! Those of you that have keen memories and have been following the site for a few years, might have a bit of an advantage, but I think this one will still be a good challenge. Our thanks to Mike for sharing his sighting with us!

While we want to encourage everyone to keep practicing social distancing, be sure to get out and stretch those legs. Oh and don’t forget to send us any interesting finds you might come across! You can send your photos to us via [email protected].

Comments

  1. Russ Dixon Russ DixonStaff
    Apr 24, 2020 at 5:15pm

    1950 DeSoto?

    Like 5
    • Raoul-F Raoul-F
      Apr 25, 2020 at 12:13pm

      1951De Soto Custom or Deluxe…

      Like 1
    • onree
      Apr 25, 2020 at 11:14pm

      1951 DeSoto Traveller — A Limo length sedan with a pass-through from the trunk to the passenger compartment. The barely noticeable luggage rack on the roof is a giveaway. Often used by hotels and resorts.
      Chrysler made a similar model long wheelbase Windsor called a Suburban.

      Like 4
  2. Moparman MoparmanMember
    Apr 24, 2020 at 5:56pm

    Best guess, 1951 DeSoto Deluxe, appears to be missing the famous DeSoto hood ornament.

    Like 7
    • GarygsrMember
      Apr 24, 2020 at 6:22pm

      My guess also. Early 50’s Desoto. The grille is a give away

      Like 6
  3. bobhess bobhessMember
    Apr 24, 2020 at 8:25pm

    yup

    Like 3
  4. Howard A Howard AMember
    Apr 24, 2020 at 9:01pm

    Gonna have to try harder than that. I knew right away it was a DeSoto, years I’m not too sure about, but probably has the flathead in line 6, and maybe that funky ” fluid drive”, but not a hemi, that, I believe came in ’53. In it’s day, I bet this was a nice car.

    Like 7
    • Fred D
      Apr 25, 2020 at 10:40am

      The first hemi engine for De Soto was 1952 first how many for a Chrysler was 1951. I learned to drive on a 1952 De Soto hemi engine fluid drive transmission that car looks like a 19

      Like 2
  5. Josh Josh MortensenAuthor
    Apr 25, 2020 at 12:02am

    Its definitely a early ’50s DeSoto, but take a look at the back and the roof rack. Mike told me it looks like a Limo. So I’m thinking this one is a Suburban! Thoughts?

    Like 4
    • Howard A Howard AMember
      Apr 25, 2020 at 6:17am

      Bingo, now, how do we split the points?
      https://www.allpar.com/cars/desoto/suburban-1951.html

      Like 10
      • C5 Corvette
        Apr 25, 2020 at 10:10am

        very interesting reading.

        Like 3
      • DayDreamBeliever DayDreamBeliever
        Apr 25, 2020 at 1:42pm

        +1 to C5’s comment.

        Great Link!

        Like 2
      • John H
        Apr 26, 2020 at 6:06am

        That was a fascinating read!

        Like 3
    • AllenMember
      Apr 25, 2020 at 9:38am

      It’s most likely a ’52 DeSoto. Definitely not 1950, could be a ’51. That grill was used on ’51 and ’52 models only. They brought out a new body shell in ’53, but some late ’52 models got titled as ’53s.

      Like 1
      • JJS
        Apr 25, 2020 at 11:08am

        I agree it is a ’52 DeSoto. As for the model, I’ll say Firedome, although I’m not sure they used Firedome and Fireflight back then.

        Like 0
      • BR
        Apr 25, 2020 at 12:07pm

        ’52’s had a hood scoop. I had one.

        Like 1
      • Duaney
        Apr 25, 2020 at 4:49pm

        It’s clearly a 1951, you can tell by the tail lights.

        Like 0
  6. Howard A Howard AMember
    Apr 25, 2020 at 6:22am

    This is fun and could be a new feature. Not to upstage you, Josh, but can anyone name this ultra heavy duty truck?

    Like 2
    • IkeyHeyman
      Apr 25, 2020 at 7:39am

      Oshkosh?

      Like 1
    • J-
      Apr 25, 2020 at 10:30am

      My first antique car at 15 a 53 desoto but def not exact !
      Toothy grin!
      J-

      Like 0
      • AllenMember
        Apr 25, 2020 at 1:28pm

        J-
        Aaaarrrrgh! ‘ Makes me feel old. When I was 15, ’53 DeSotos were two years old!

        Like 2
    • BR
      Apr 25, 2020 at 12:10pm

      It’s not ultra heavy duty, just a two-ton 4×4 International.

      Like 1
    • Dave
      Apr 25, 2020 at 2:27pm

      I have a tougher challenge…as I’ve been rooting through a bunch of CB magazines from the mid Sixties there are many photos of dashboards with rigs hung beneath them. One was an early Corvair, another a 66 Oldsmobile.
      If the sitemeisters are up for it the magazines can be found at americanradiohistory.com.
      One photo I saved has a new Hy-Gain antenna mounted on the trunk lid of a 1968 Charger R/T. Can’t tell if it’s a rotbox or numbers matching but it looked pretty good.

      Like 0
  7. Robert Weldon Bartlett
    Apr 25, 2020 at 8:22am

    1937 Chevvy Maple Leaf

    Like 1
  8. Connecticut Mark
    Apr 25, 2020 at 8:38am

    Power wagon

    Like 1
  9. Francisco
    Apr 25, 2020 at 8:42am

    It’s an old metal tractor seat.

    Like 1
  10. Jerry
    Apr 25, 2020 at 9:19am

    I think it’s a ‘52 DeSoto.

    Like 0
  11. Grandvillesteve
    Apr 25, 2020 at 9:19am

    Diamond T ?

    Like 1
  12. Ray Romero
    Apr 25, 2020 at 9:20am

    Kenworth.

    Like 1
  13. George Louis
    Apr 25, 2020 at 9:26am

    Maybe a White?

    Like 1
    • Driver jay
      Apr 25, 2020 at 11:09am

      I’ll go with White too.

      Like 1
  14. Don
    Apr 25, 2020 at 9:31am

    I believe it’s an International, probably late 40’s to early 50’s

    Like 1
  15. Dave
    Apr 25, 2020 at 9:36am

    I’m thinking 1950 Desoto. My Dad had a 1950 Plymouth and they look very similar except for the toothy grille on the Desoto.

    Like 0
  16. AllenMember
    Apr 25, 2020 at 9:41am

    On the truck, I’m going to guess Diamond T.

    Like 1
  17. wjsvb
    Apr 25, 2020 at 9:48am

    The DeSoto is a ‘51: the rounded hood is 51-2 and the taillights are 50-51 so…

    Like 6
  18. Pete Phillips
    Apr 25, 2020 at 9:48am

    1952 DeSoto Suburban

    Like 1
  19. Roy Williamson
    Apr 25, 2020 at 9:56am

    This is a 1953 DeSoto 4 door Sedan Deluxe.

    Like 0
  20. Christopher
    Apr 25, 2020 at 9:59am

    Where do you get parts for old semi’s like the one pictured here?
    You don’t see old trucks on the highway. I would imagine there is a group of truck restorers that know of how to put them back on the road.

    Like 1
  21. Chuckster
    Apr 25, 2020 at 10:02am

    Why do fools get such a kick out of busting windows?

    Like 12
    • Duaney
      Apr 25, 2020 at 4:51pm

      They’re lucky I’ve never caught them because there would be some real sorry vandals.

      Like 1
  22. William A
    Apr 25, 2020 at 10:03am

    1953

    Like 0
  23. Dave R.
    Apr 25, 2020 at 10:23am

    Front axle looks like 4WD? Walter Sno-Fighter?

    Like 1
  24. Miguel
    Apr 25, 2020 at 10:53am

    I think Wheeler Dealer’s did an episode on a DeSoto like this but it was the car version. I think it had the same toothy grin, though.

    Like 1
  25. jwaltb
    Apr 25, 2020 at 11:31am

    Funny, I thought the grille was from a Mercury. And my family had a DeSoto Suburban brand new! A great car-

    Like 2
  26. tom norman
    Apr 25, 2020 at 11:36am

    It’s a 1951 look at the tail lghts

    Like 0
  27. Maestro1
    Apr 25, 2020 at 11:43am

    I think it’s an International.

    Like 1
  28. Todd Fante
    Apr 25, 2020 at 11:44am

    53 desoto firedome

    Like 0
  29. 56ChevyGuy
    Apr 25, 2020 at 12:12pm

    1951 DeSoto.

    Like 2
    • LarryS
      Apr 25, 2020 at 12:34pm

      Yep. ’51.

      Like 2
  30. Chris
    Apr 25, 2020 at 1:04pm

    51 or 52 DeSota Deluxe

    Like 0
  31. John S.
    Apr 25, 2020 at 1:11pm

    What ever it is, it has a ’49 to ’51 Mercury grille… oh wait… most of the Mercurys have that grille… oh wait… Maybe they came from… oh wait… what were we talking about? Oh yeah… a big ol’ un-identified truck… I sure am glad I don’t have A.D.D. … oh look, a squirrel!

    Like 12
  32. bill
    Apr 25, 2020 at 1:45pm

    Desoto,1954, There is another one located on a farm in Laurel Delaware You can see it from Rt. 13 north it’s a 4 door. if someone buys it and needs parts. One in De has glass but a damaged rear door on the drivers side.

    Like 1
    • Duaney
      Apr 25, 2020 at 4:52pm

      54’s have a one piece curved windshield and different grille

      Like 0
  33. Speedy Gonzalez
    Apr 25, 2020 at 2:59pm

    1951 DeSoto Custom?

    Like 1
  34. Maverick
    Apr 25, 2020 at 3:27pm

    Looks like the car from happy days.

    Like 1
  35. LOWRIDA
    Apr 25, 2020 at 3:32pm

    looks like a 53 Merc from the front but the back SCREAMS 49-52 Plymouth

    Like 0
  36. Willowen
    Apr 25, 2020 at 4:57pm

    I was gonna say ’52, because my grandpa’s ’53 had a one-piece windshield. But I’m pretty sure the ’51 consensus has it right.

    That was my first automatic drive, and probably my biggest early car as well. The phrase “Sitting in the living room and driving the house” kept coming to mind …

    Like 1
  37. SteveMember
    Apr 25, 2020 at 6:00pm

    The Desoto limo was probably a NY taxi cab. The roof rack was a very common feature on these long wheelbase taxis.

    The truck looks like a Diamond T.

    Like 1
    • Tom Wasney
      Apr 25, 2020 at 8:42pm

      51 Desoto limousine

      Like 1
    • Bill McCoskey Bill McCoskeyMember
      Apr 26, 2020 at 5:17pm

      Steve,
      I’ve done a lot of investigating of the NYC taxicabs over the years, and I am familiar with the Taxicab Commission requirements and regulations.
      Back then DeSoto ruled the NYC taxicab world, as they were willing to use the Chrysler Windsor 7-passenger body with the small DeSoto 6-cylinder engine.
      While DeSoto did offer the “Traveler” with the roof rack, often used by hotels and resorts, the NYC regulations for taxicabs forbid roof racks, instead allowing the cars to have folding rear trunk racks.

      So this is not a NYC Taxicab.

      Like 0
  38. Gunnar
    Apr 25, 2020 at 10:17pm

    Howard,it looks like a 30’s Indiana.

    Like 1
  39. bobhess bobhessMember
    Apr 26, 2020 at 6:11am

    Got to wonder how many California ’49 and ’50 Mercs are still running around with DeSoto grills. Victor on Custom Garage has a ’50 or’51 custom Merc tail dragger convertible with this grill in it. The grill looks huge, even on a car as big as the Merc.

    Like 1
  40. Howard A Howard AMember
    Apr 26, 2020 at 6:22am

    Yawn, waking up , WOW, I didn’t mean to derail the thread. The truck pictured, ( leaning forward with anticipation),,,is a 1946(ish )Marmon-Herrington. It’s a stout mother. It is located near me in a freight yard and appeared to be a CDOT highway truck. It had no name badges, but the vin. tag confirmed it is a M-H model MH555. Thanks to all that tried, anyone else got one?
    https://www.pinterest.com/pin/344384702754358284/

    Like 2
    • JJS
      Apr 26, 2020 at 6:51am

      Marmon – Herrington did not manufacture trucks, they modified trucks for specific purposes. Still need to know what the base truck is.

      Like 0
      • Howard A Howard AMember
        Apr 26, 2020 at 7:15am

        You may be thinking of the Marmon-Herrington 4×4 Ford conversions. M-H did indeed build cars, trucks, and FWD( I believe) parcel vans. They offered a tank for WW2, but was rejected. After the war, the heavy truck market faded and they concentrated on 4×4 conversions.

        Like 3
      • JJS
        Apr 26, 2020 at 8:28pm

        Upon further review, M-H looks to be the likely choice. It’s not an Oshkosh. They had their name across the top of the radiator shell. It’s not an FWD. They had a larger grill.

        Like 1
  41. TML
    Apr 26, 2020 at 8:43am

    52 Desoto Deluxe

    Like 0
  42. TML
    Apr 26, 2020 at 8:44am

    1952 Desoto Deluxe

    Like 0
  43. Dick Romm
    Apr 26, 2020 at 4:37pm

    FOR SURE, it’s a 1951 DeSoto Suburban….A suburban because of the luggage rack, and a ’51 because of the tail lights. The ’52 six cylinder cars did NOT have the hood scoop, but they had taillights without the crosspieces of chrome. The reader who said the trunk passes through to the interior is right. These long wheelbase cars with suicide rear dorors had 2 regular bench seats, and a smaller, but ‘full width’ 3rd seat which could fold down, and with the 2nd seat (on tracks) moved all the way forward against the back of the front seat, you had about 6 ft clear space..all-wood floor with chrome strips running its length. Heavy for that 6 cylinder engine, but our ’47 Suburban pulled a 21 ft trailer.

    Like 0
  44. Fred Alexander
    Apr 26, 2020 at 8:12pm

    51 DeSoto – – – my mother had one – – -I parted one out when I was customizing my 51 Chevy 2 dr and used the grille teeth and the tail lights on the Chevy. Not my mothers though one that was in a salvage yard.
    Sold the Chevy after all the Frenched headlights and custom interior.
    Bought a 42 Mercury 4 dr. all original 35k mile car. and on and on – – –

    Like 0
  45. Arne Nilsson
    Apr 27, 2020 at 9:32am

    hi is the Black 1961 desoto still avaiebly??:Arne

    Like 0
    • onree
      May 2, 2020 at 12:15pm

      Huh??

      Like 1
  46. linda c
    May 2, 2020 at 1:18am

    1949 mercury

    Like 0
    • Fred Alexander
      May 4, 2020 at 9:05pm

      DeSoto Tail Lights

      Like 0

Leave A Comment

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

*

Barn Finds