Buz Kirkel was selling an NOS Western WMCE 1 (yes, number one) 1959 Chrysler Saratoga 2-door HT in Ballard Green/Sherwood Green. I just had to jump on it. It is #3 of 30 in this color. Gorgeous color combo!
However, not my only Saratoga. French Dinky issued a diecast version way back in 1961. The French firm had decided to settle on 1/43 scale and this was the first American car they made as a proper 1/43 (most others were about 1/48). Not too bad for 60 years ago, color aside.
Then a week later Buz released another group, including this 1959 DeSoto Fireflite convertible. In Bimini Coral with top down, this is #1 of only 10.
And once again, I have a French Dinky '59 DeSoto, a 4-door hardtop Diplomat. Front views are similar, but what's going on with that Plymouthy rear end?
This was a foreign issue DeSoto, made for non-US, non-Canadian markets per Wikipedia. So a few would have been seen on European roads. Note too the smaller-than-43 size of this older issue by French Dinky.
Buz Kirkel was selling an NOS Western WMCE 1 (yes, number one) 1959 Chrysler Saratoga 2-door HT in Ballard Green/Sherwood Green. I just had to jump on it. It is #3 of 30 in this color. Gorgeous color combo!
However, not my only Saratoga. French Dinky issued a diecast version way back in 1961. The French firm had decided to settle on 1/43 scale and this was the first American car they made as a proper 1/43 (most others were about 1/48). Not too bad for 60 years ago, color aside.
Then a week later Buz released another group, including this 1959 DeSoto Fireflite convertible. In Bimini Coral with top down, this is #1 of only 10.
And once again, I have a French Dinky '59 DeSoto, a 4-door hardtop Diplomat. Front views are similar, but what's going on with that Plymouthy rear end?
This was a foreign issue DeSoto, made for non-US, non-Canadian markets per Wikipedia. So a few would have been seen on European roads. Note too the smaller-than-43 size of this older issue by French Dinky.
The French Dinky Desoto is Canadian, note the Plymouth tail fins joined to the Desoto front clip.
And a few more 1959 Desotos. The black Adventurer is a Western Models kit, the station wagon, Brooklin and the blue four door hardtop a modification of a Western kit, a replica of a 1:1 car I once saw on the streets of Venice California circa 1990.
I had a copy of the French - colour aside - Saratoga and can confirm it was also produced in a pale lilac with navy accents which I've seen at much higher prices, suggesting it is quite rare. If one watches French movies of the '50s and early '60s we see a lot of US cars in France.
Adding to the late '50s Chrysler Corp. theme: Western 1959 DeSoto Fireflite & Brooklin '59 Chrysler 300.
