1961 Desoto Hardtop 72920 Miles Glacier White Coupe 361 cubic inch V8

Vehicle Description

Vehicle Original VIN :440-565-5335
Final year of Desoto production. Only 911 2-door hardtops built. Strong-running 361 cubic inch V8 with TorqueFlite automatic. Power steering & power brakes. One repaint, original interior. Rare Highway Hi-Fi. Exner fins from the end of an era!
The Desoto guys must have known the end was coming because they didn’t even bother naming the cars in 1961. It was simply “Desoto hardtop” and “Desoto sedan.” Production ended early, with only 911 of these handsome 2-door hardtop coupes being built. Styling kept a lot of Virgil Exner’s brilliant lines, adding some trim to differentiate the ’61s from the ‘60s, but make no mistake, this big coupe looks dramatic anywhere it goes. This is a mostly original car with one older repaint in Glacier White, which is the factory color. The paint job is holding up rather well, with a soft shine that could almost pass for original enamel. There’s straight bodywork underneath with good panel alignment and doors that snick shut easily, a hallmark of Mopars from this period. And, of course, chrome and stainless trim is a big deal on this car, with most of the brightwork being very good to excellent—only the rear bumper shows some flaking chrome. Twin antennas on the fins is a cool touch, and we’re pretty sure you won’t see another 1961 Desoto anywhere you go. This is a cool car.
The blue cloth and vinyl interior is mostly original and in excellent condition, including the slick high-back driver’s seat that seems to highlight the captain’s chair as the most important. The space-age dash features pushbutton controls for both the transmission and the heater/defroster, and that complex steering wheel is just too cool. Aside from some minor staining on the carpets (which could easily be hidden with a floor mat), it remains in excellent condition throughout with no splits or rips in the upholstery. Even the door panels look great, echoing the shape of the fins outside. Other slick details include the dash-mounted rear-view mirror, the rotary-style clock (not functional but still pretty cool), and the band of textured bright trim that runs from end to end. The original AM radio remains in the dash (it powers up but does not tune stations) and is joined by an ultra-rare Highway Hi-Fi unit underneath (we have not tested it). The headliner features bright chrome bows and the back seat has plenty of spread-out room for adult-sized passengers. There’s also a massive trunk with correct cardboard bulkheads, matching blue carpets, and a full-sized spare with jack assembly.
The Desoto is powered by a 361 cubic inch V8 making 265 horsepower and a rather stout 370 lb-ft. of torque, making this massive car feel surprisingly swift in today’s traffic. It starts easily, idles so smooth you almost can’t feel it, and pulls well at almost any speed. It’s quiet and unobtrusive thanks to a stock-style exhaust system, and the engine bay itself is nicely detailed with factory finishes and equipment. The engine block itself is silver, there’s a massive air cleaner up top, and plenty of room for easy service access, which is always nice. You’ll note that there’s an alternator instead of a generator, an innovation that Chrysler embraced long before the other big names. The TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic offers smooth shifts and with the 361 V8 pulling it around, this car feels lighter than it is. We believe there are 3.23 gears out back, helping with its effortless feel, and thanks to that torsion bar front suspension, ride quality is excellent. Looking underneath, you’ll note that this massive Desoto is a unit-body car, and all the critical structural elements are completely solid, including the floors, rockers, and trunk pan. A newer dual exhaust system and gas tank make it ready-to-roll, and there are modern air shocks out back to help keep this big coupe on an even keel. Stopping power is good for its age, and the 14-inch wheels and factory hubcaps are wrapped in relatively recent 215/75/14 wide whitewall radials.
Documentation includes a service manual supplement and a factory parts list.
The 1961 Desoto might be a polarizing car, but there’s no denying that showing up in this sleek coupe gets attention. We find the sleek shape attractive and we love the road manners—smooth and effortless. If you like your cars a little bit out of the ordinary but still capable and dramatic, this Desoto has a lot to offer. Call today!
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