1954 DeSoto Firedome

This 1954 DeSoto Firedome had its chrome repaired and its paint redone. We stripped the chrome, removed the trim, soda blasted the paint and effected a small amount of metal repair. The chrome was shipped off and some of it was redone as much as five times to repair all of the damage from extensive pitting.

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Arrival

Body & Paint

Finish

The Volvo 1800 design was originally attributed to Frua of Italy. In reality, the design was a family affair, done primarily by Pelle Pettersen, the son of 544 designer Helmer Pettersen. The car looked Italian, very much a product of the 1950s rather than the 1960s with neat tail fins and a short greenhouse with a tall beltline. Early cars were assembled by Jensen in West Bromwich, England. In 1966, the Volvo 1800 was upgraded to a four-cylinder engine was updated to 115 hp. Its top speed was 109 mph.

The Guinness world record for highest mileage in the same vehicle is held by owner, Irv Gordon, of a 1966 Volvo 1800, which as of September 17, 2013 is 3 million miles.