Historians generally agree that the Spaniards’ search for the Fountain of Youth is nothing but a myth. I’m not quite so sure. Here is Hernando de Soto himself, blessing (or knighting?) the car that is his namesake. Sadly, not much has been heard from the Spanish explorer since the demise of the DeSoto division. After cashing his company stocks, the Conquistador was last seen heading back to Florida.
Someone got paid traveling to DeSoto dealers across the US, costumed as Hernando DeSoto? Local photo op for dealers? A little something to get a human interest spin for a dealer who normally bought half sections of pages twice a week?
I can see a character in a Coen brother’s movie with that job, traveling in a company DeSoto, sleeping at roadside motels, and going through a bottle of Old Crow every week. A young actor thinking that portraying DeSoto across the country could lead to a stint or bit part in Hollywood.
If DeSoto had survived the 20th century as a Chrysler division and brand, it would be challenged by those who feel a need to judge historical figures by today’s politics and end up with Aunt Jemima, and the Land O’ Lakes maiden, and find himself conquered.
If DeSoto’s legacy hadn’t been white washed years ago there would be no need to set the record straight today. In school we learned that he was an “explorer”. Well while he explored he killed, tortured, raped, plundered and enslaved natives or anyone else that he felt like. He wasn’t that happy guy pictured with the car salesmen.
What you’re describing is general Spanish exploration policy from the 1490’s thru the 1580’s. When you the greatest nation on Earth a God’s Anointed (well, the Pope said so), you don’t need to worry about the feelings or condition of anyone else. It kept going that way until they started running into the English a few too many times.
“Someone got paid traveling to DeSoto dealers across the US, costumed as Hernando DeSoto?”
I’d bet not. Chrysler probably commissioned the build of 1, or 5, or 20 Hernando costumes and shipped them from dealer to dealer. Whoever worked there and fit the costume got to wear it for the photo op.
Chryco could only have gotten *maybe* 10 more years, tops, out of the nameplate from a product-positioning standpoint by relaunching it as a luxury compact/midsize-only alongside the “no jr editions” Chrysler brand. Really, it was surplus to requirements as soon as the purchase of Dodge Brothers was finalized.
Is the explorer dressed more, or less realistically than Christopher Columbus in this Fiat 124 ad?
Both are usual ‘Hollywood historical” in correctness. Looks great from 6-10 feet away, get face to face and the gross errors start sticking out. Start with totally incorrect fabric.
The car in the pic does not convey “new/exciting”;could just be the photo angle.
It’s not just the photo angle. ChryCo cars at the time were dowdy.
The fountain of youth may be mythical, but I’m not sure that DeSoto’s search for it was.
I thought it was Ponce de Leon who was searching for the fountain of youth. rather than DeSoto.
This from the Wikipedia entry (so take it with however many grains of salt you deem fit) for Ponce de León:
“Though stories of vitality-restoring waters were known on both sides of the Atlantic long before Ponce de León, the story of his searching for them was not attached to him until after his death.”
“Most historians hold that the search for gold and the expansion of the Spanish Empire were far more imperative than any potential search for such a fountain.”
Why not? Back in the days when Jim & Gwen Howell still owned Howell’s Fine Motorcycles near Carlisle, PA (Harley-Davidson, Buell, and Triumph) I’d show up the weekend closest to Guy Fawkes Day for their annual Guy Fawkes Party in complete early 17th century kit, complete with a racquetball sized bore grenade launching mortar strapped to the pillion seat of the ’95 Triumph Trident.
Guy Fawkes was when Triumph USA would introduce the new year’s models, and it was a very nice party. High point of the evening, after a couple of beers, would be to take the mortar out back, load it up, and drop a few racquetballs off the cabs of the semi’s in the trucking firm’s lot about a hundred yards from the dealership. Took me 2-3 shots to get the load correct for the range, and then have fun.
The guy playing DeSoto’s boots absolutely kills me, as that was my first attempt at bucket top boots, too. Done totally wrong in that that’s just a cuff folded down to get the effect. Properly done (like the pair I have in my re-eanctor’s closet have double the length of the foldover, going down, and then back up.
What was the rationale for making boots that way?
The ‘bucket top” is the boot folded down for when the officer/gentleman is walking. The ‘bucket’ is stretched out to cover the thighs when on horseback.
I wonder if they rigged the car so the ornament lit up when he dubbed it?
Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick?
Certainly a lot more stylish in ’51 compared to this DeSoto.
Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick?
You bet. Especially when the Buick is a two-door, two-tone, four-holer, straight-eight Riviera hardtop.
And with P-N-D-L-R Dynaflow no doubt.
But those big post war Desotos with the Tip-Toe Shift Fluid-Drive did have their fans amongst the cab drivers of NYC and other metro areas. One could drive them all day in stop and go traffic and hardly ever touch that “Safety Clutch” or move the shift lever.
Did the DeSotos used for dolmuş service in Turkey get the Tip-Toe Shift Fluid-Drive? I’m betting not.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/history/cc-global-history-the-dolmus-forgotten-long-lost-americans-overseas/
My theory is that DeSoto went back to exploring but continued working for Chrysler. He is the one that discovered rich Corinthian Leather, then came back under the pseudonym of Ricardo Montalban. It was the Hollywood lifestyle and his work on the Love Boat that reversed the effects of the Fountain of Youth, and he finally got old and died.
Q: How did Hernando get into a DeSoto sedan?
A: Through the conquista door.
Did you just make that up, or had you heard it before?
We got the Hernando De Ploto version his less successful cousin.
Hernando probably slipped off here:
https://youtu.be/LS4Vbukt9Sg?si=3C04vgiNPC8XSWjl
I prefer the ’49 DeSotos .
-Nate
I remember a Seinfeld episode where George and Jerry were discussing their favourite early explorers.
George said he liked de Soto, as he found the Mississippi River, to which Jerry scoffed, “Oh like they wouldn’t have found that anyway !”
Well let’s talk about the CAR. Until 55 (when Exners FORWARD LOOK took DeSoto to record levels of production) all Chrysler Corp vehicles were tall and boxy. K. T. Keller insisted that a man should be able to wear his hat while driving. I learned to drive on a55 Black DeSoto Firedome and loved them through the final 61s. When the ADVENTURER was introduced in 56, it gave DeSoto even more appeal. While I hated the demise of DeSoto, I am happy it went out with FINS soaring high as the last of Exners fabulous OTT fabulous finned fantasies. 🎵it’s Delightful 🎶it’s Delovely 🎵its DeSoto! 🎶 And tell them Groucho sent you! 😉
Believe the Cunningham family from Happy Days family car was a DeSoto.