keithscott

Today I noticed a new addition at a car collector's residence near my home here in Bend, Oregon. A '59 De Soto Adventurer two door hardtop. Car is complete with trim, except the paint is a white pearl with a gold top, and the interior is redone, except in mauve vinyl and a red dash cover. One of the last things I would have imagined would to find a '59 Adventurer almost in my own back yard. Last year, a red and white '55 Fireflite convertible drove past my house. The license plate on the '59 Adventurer is Washington State #453NKJ, and expiration date 2003.

There were 590 Adventurer 2 door hardtops and 97 Adventurer convertibles produced for 1959, and the '59 Adventurer was the last limited edition high performance model for DeSoto. The 1960 DeSoto Adventurer would not be a candidate for Certified Milestone status because it was not a high performance model, and it had in addition to the 2 door hardtop, a 4 door hardtop and a 4 door post sedan.

The 1959 DeSoto Adventurer should be seriously considered for Certified Milestone declaration by the Milestone Car Society. The '59 Adventurer has the same credentials as the Certified Milestone '56, '57, and '58 Adventurers, being a limited edition high performance model with it's own high performance engine (though it was optional on all '59 DeSotos, unlike the '56 thru '58 models), own special trim and interior, and exclusive interior, and was also the most expensive DeSoto as well. Only 590 '59 Adventurer 2 door hardtops and 97 convertibles were produced. The 1960 Adventurer would not be a candidate for Milestone Car status, since it was not a high performance model, and it also had both a 4 door post sedan and 4 door hardtop in addition to a 2 door hardtop. The '59 Adventurer should indeed be a Certified Milestone.

The '59 DeSoto Adventurer should be a Certified Milestone by the Milestone Car Society in addition to the '56, '57, and '58 Adventurer, since the '59 is also a limited production, high performance model with it's own high performance engine and styling trim and interior, and being only two models, a hardtop coupe and convertible. The '59 DeSoto Adventurer does have all the credentials to be a Certified Milestone as the Certified Milestone '56, 57, and '58 Adventurers. All the Letter Series Chrysler 300s are Certified Milestones, from the first C-300 of 1955, and the Last Letter Series 300, the 300L of 1965. I have already posted this mention on the DeSoto Club Message Board. Keith Scott Bend, Oregon scottkey@msn.com