Description
1950 Desoto Custom for Sale
1950 Desoto Custom 5,800 Original Miles ......please be patient while the many photos load.....
Another amazing time capsule has found it's way to Left Coast Classics! This well preserved, well maintained 1950 Desoto Custom has only 5,800 original actual miles! Having been driven under 100 miles per year on average, this one truly takes you back in time with so much originality. As you might imagine, its back-story is an interesting one.
Miss Minnie Hanna, born in 1880, purchased this 1950 Desoto Custom brand new with the proceeds from a highly-contested, quite large inheritance she received in 1914 from Mrs. Ellen C. Colby, an iconic Humboldt, Iowa figure of yesteryear. Minnie was her faithful house maid and Mrs. Colby made sure that her appreciation of Minnie was known by the $150,000 inheritance, over $3.5 million today adjusted for inflation!
Over the 17 years that Minnie owned this Desoto, she only drove it an average of 170 miles per year. She must have had other means of transportation and this special car was clearly kept indoors when not in use. In 1967 Minnie passed away and her car was advertised at an estate sale by auctioneers Anderson and Kleve on behalf of First National Bank. The car was advertised as having just 2,938 miles. (Photo of the flyer below).
The hammer came down and the winners were a local farming couple, Howard and Ethel Hellickson who must have appreciated the significance of not only the incredibly low miles on this special Desoto but the small-town story and controversy behind it all with Miss Minnie Hanna. Mr. Hellickson passed away just seven years later in 1974. His widow, Ethel, kept it stored away eventually selling it to a collector in Southern California in 1987 where it was stored inside a climate-controlled warehouse and remained until later being sold to it's most current owner here in the Sonoma Wine Country in September of 1996 with only 3,175 miles on it. Since 1996 it has traveled only 2,686 miles. It now has 5,861 actual miles on it.
When you open the door you are overwhelmed by the newness of its original interior. The scent of mohair and original wool carpeting and seat fabric is intoxicating, unlike any new replacement interior could omit. The trim, chrome, lenses, bezels, knobs are all amazingly well preserved. All of the options and accessories are in working order. The car was originally purchased with radio-delete. A factory radio was sourced and is included with the car along with an antenna and original speaker. The trunk is well preserved as well, still sporting it's original spare, jack, chock and ornate trunk mat from the factory.
The body and paint are also very well preserved with a bit of expected patina. The chrome, trim, glass and lenses are original along with the original lacquer paint which has had some touch-up here and there over the years but has remained largely untouched. The front, left fender was repainted at some point though I don't see any damage and am assuming it was likely due to scratches and scrapes.
Under the hood it is equally well-preserved, still sporting the original gray paint on the block with super clean firewall still showing grease pencil and "OK" stamps right from the factory. The car starts; runs and drives beautifully with no issues. The undercarriage is amazingly tidy and looks nearly new.
This treasured preservation car is a very special one indeed and begs for its next owner to carry on with its preservation to assure it's continuing survival. Contact Donn Dabney of Left Coast Classics at 844-533-8262.
Asking price listed on our site. This listing will end the moment a reasonable offer is made. Available only at Left Coast Classics! Direct your inquiries to Donn 844-LEFTCOA (844-533-8262) .....because life's too short to drive the wrong car....
Reserves are subject to change over the course of an auction so please do not ask. The minimum I will take for the car is the most reasonable offer I receive.
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Thank you for visiting! VIN# 50118607
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Conditions & Terms: A bid on this vehicle constitutes a commitment to buy. If you are committed and capable of purchasing this vehicle we welcome your bid! If you have any questions whatsoever please ask them before bidding. We will be pleased to answer your questions. Upon meeting the auction reserve, your bid will be considered a lawfully binding contract. By bidding on this vehicle you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.
We make every reasonable effort to describe this vehicle and use many photographs to help in this description. Please remember that this is a used vehicle. It is not new. The mileage on this vehicle has been recorded at the time of listing and is subject to change. Regardless of our commitment to describe vehicles in as much detail as possible there will be imperfections. Us failing to mention for example an item such as a paint imperfection, an inoperable switch etc, does not constitute refusal of a car by the buyer. Vehicles are complex machines with thousands of parts. Classic & special interest vehicles are broad in their differences and uniqueness. Even though we attempt to be as clear and concise in our descriptions as possible, some of these are cars that we buy and consign. They are not our own personal cars and we do not always know what to specifically look for. It may have issues that are inherent to a vehicle of its type and/or age. In short, we encourage you to ask questions. We also encourage inspections to avoid any misunderstandings. This vehicle is being sold "as-is", with no warranty, expressed or implied. Vehicle is available for an inspection prior to purchase and we will be happy to arrange one at the expense of the interested buyer. Again, the winning bidder is committed to following through on the transaction. First Time Classic Car Buyers, Welcome to the classic car hobby! But please consider that these old cars, even when in great operational order are nothing like your modern car! Please do not expect even a restored several decades old car to perform with the same preciseness or reliability as a late model car. If you're new to the hobby please feel free to contact me. I have driven classic cars continuously for over 30 years and am happy to share the joys as well as the realities involved in owning these special old cars.
Taxes and Licensing: California buyers will be charged sales tax and licensing and processed on your behalf. Out of state buyers (including other countries), we will send title and you will be responsible for registration and taxes in your own state or providence. All transactions will be charged a $55 documentation fee in addition to the sales price. If leaving the state or country, the car must be picked up by a transportation company that can provide a bill of lading, otherwise California sales tax will be charged. (All licensed transport companies provide these). Personalized plates on vehicles (if any) belong to the owner of record and cannot be included with the vehicle.
A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due within 48 hours of the auction close. The remaining balance is due within 72 hours of the close of auction, unless other arrangements were made. Accepted payment methods are bank wire transfers, cashier's checks and money orders. If you wish to obtain financing, please do so ahead of time. We reserve the right to end the auction early. We also reserve the right to verify any or all bids to ensure exceptional auction integrity. Please do not ask the reserve amount, as we will not disclose this information.
Transportation expenses are the sole responsibility of the buyer. We cannot be held liable for any problems or damages arising from or due to transportation handling. The buyer is responsible for all shipping charges and fees from point of sale to the final destination. In addition, it is the buyers responsibility to arrange & coordinate shipping. We are happy to provide a list of transporters but by providing this information we are not able to guarantee your satisfaction with the services you are provided. Please specifically ask the shipper/broker if they have experience shipping they type of vehicle you are buying! Mechanical damage can occur to classic vehicles when transported improperly, not tied down correctly, driven up and down steep ramps repetitively to load and unload other vehicles, etc. This can cause loss of fluids, clutch or suspension damage, etc. We strongly encourage using classic car specialists and enclosed transportation for these rare, old cars!
Retractions: We will not accept bid retractions. If you bid and retract you will be added to our blocked bidder list and future bids will not be accepted. If you do not follow up on your purchase you will be reported to ebay's safe harbor and we will submit your username to ebay's non-paying bidder program. Ebay allows for you to triple check your bid before finally entering the bid. To bid, you must be 18 years of age or older. If you are a bidder with only negative feedback, please contact us prior to bidding.
Feedback: We encourage you to read our feedback. We are proud of our track record and hope that it will instill the confidence needed to help you make a decision to purchase. Upon receipt of of positive feedback, we will post same.
This vehicle is being sold by Left Coast Classics, LLC a licensed vehicle dealer in the state of California.