Metal Car Bumper

I have a metal car piece for sale. It looks like a front or back bumper of a car.
Unfortunately, I do not know what model car it belongs too. I want to see if someone knows what it is, because I would hate to just throw it away.

Hard to say, but a Dodge or De Soto from the fifties would be close.

1957 Desoto, front bumper.

Yup!
Nevada 545 nailed it.

A classified ad in Hemmings Motor News will connect you with DeSoto collectors who need a new front bumper!

Is anyone here serious? How could that bumper be identified?

Some photo research will get us there unless nevada545 has already done that.

Nevada owns a '57 Desoto…And yes, it’s worth a few bucks…More than a few to the right person…

I confess, I had to look it up. I thought it was a '59, I got my years mixed up. Desotos have distinctive front ends.

I have always been a fan of Chrysler products, 25 years ago I had a 1962 Chrysler 300 (sport series), my buddy had a 1961 Imperial. I don’t have anything that old now, I have a few Chargers, a 1970 Plymouth Fury and a Duster.

That bumper would be a great find for someone restoring a '57 Desoto but I doubt there are many being restored, they have become quite rare. If you don’t find a buyer don’t thow it away, I’ll buy it and hang it on the wall.

Yes, it is definitely a bumper for a 1957 DeSoto. Although there isn’t a lot of collector interest in the DeSoto, there was one model called the Adventurer that was interesting. In 1956, it was a special model that came in egg shell white with a gold band on each side. I believe that it was a special model in 1957 as well. Later model years, the Adventurer just became the top trim line. DeSoto sold moderately well in 1957, but it was downhill for the DeSoto after that. There were a few 1961 DeSotos produced before production ceased.
Chrysler products from 1957 through 1959 had severe rust issues. Your bumper would be important to someone restoring a DeSoto of this period.

Here’s what the whole car looks like:

Fun times.

1957 Desoto.

I’d like to have a Desoto Adventurer, two four barrels and 345 horse power.

Those were beautiful cars and really very nice. Fast, comfortable, handled well. My BIL had one way back in 62 or so. Always liked the 57’s and 58’s. I didn’t know they had any worse rust problems than the rest of the cars back then but maybe. They really didn’t do any rust prevention and lots of places that held water and salt and promoted rust like the holes for the clips for the trim all over.

I don’t know where you are but you might try calling Denver Bumper. They do restoration on old bumpers and are pretty big and good. I’m not sure if they stock them or not but you have a gem and they might be able to refer you if they don’t buy them. Just do a google on them.

You might also google for Desoto forums and owners clubs and find out about a selling price. An un-crunched bumper can be pretty valuable.

As long as the bumper’s not rusted through anywhere, it should be able to be re-chromed and look like brand new!

I think there is someone out there who really needs this bumper and has a pocketful of cash. I hope you find them.

List it on eBay, a 30 day auction, and you WILL find that person…They will be fussy, so take some good pictures and describe it very accurately, noting any defects…Don’t use words like “perfect” unless they are accurate…

Yep ebay would be a good one or this guy was looking for one. Just do a google and you can make maybe $3-500 on it.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=664488

DfromSD Even if it has rust and rust holes it can be re-chromed. What they do is weld up the holes. I have had many bumpers with holes and rust re-chromed and they looked better than new.

Thanks you guys for your help! I would have never been able to figure out what car it was from.