The recession  that year would allegedly be a significant factor in the demise of DeSoto, as well as  Edsel, Studebaker, and Packard.  DeSoto's sales were down by nearly two thirds, far worse than the competition, and represented the lowest output since 1938. The demise of the hemi and the previous year's quality problems made every Chrysler  marque less than desirable. Overall, Chrysler's production was cut in half. Imports were beginning to show up on American roads, accounting for a little over 8 percent of auto sales, as the first Datsuns and Toyotas arrived on the west coast.

Considering the data, I think you have to look at other factors to find out what happened to the auto industry. For Chrysler, you need only look to the rust problems and just plain awful quality control. Add to that the fact that although very beautiful, Exner's designs did not change significantly for 1958. In fact, were it not for wheel covers and trim pieces, you couldn't tell most 1958 models from the 1957 models. People who had bought 1957 Chrysler products weren't in the market for 1958 models, and people who had heard about 1957 Chrysler product quality problems weren't in the market for 1958 models either. 

One little publicized problem that occurred in the day was the importation of steel from Japan. Supposedly, this steel was recycled from bombed out buildings, particularly Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Nickel (quality) was not added to this crap because of cost considerations. No, it wasn't radioactive, so they say, (you can always believe the government) but it had a high slag content. What's slag? Ask James Caan. Twenty bucks if you can figure out that one. Slag is rust, and it will eventually find its way out. Combined with the lack of rust preventive measures at Chrysler (translation....bare metal) and the rather large gaps in the car bodies where water entered at will,  the effect was deadly. Supposedly this was done to aid the economy of Japan. See? Everything is "allegedly" or "supposedly" when politicians get involved. You can also blame auto company management, who looked at the cheap steel and saw dollar signs. Thanks. We really appreciate your concern. Author Ayn Rand said that there should have been an eleventh addition to the Bill of Rights....that government shall make no law concerning commerce. She was right.

Other domestic  auto manufacturers fared no better because they didn't produce cars that looked or performed any better than the previous year's models. The 1958 Fords looked identical to the 1957 models except for the Thunderbird, which became a 4 seater. No help though, and how about that Lincoln Continental? Wanna pay the gas bill for this one? Beautiful, but very thirsty.

 Meanwhile, good old GM cranked out a fleet of the most ungainly, underpowered steel tubs ever to hit the road. The crowning achievement for the Chevrolet line was the 3459 lb Impala trim package, below, powered by a 235 CID 6 cyinder engine. Optional were  the 283 V8 and the 348 truck motor. 348 equipped cars came with a case of dog food in the trunk.

Buick produced the Limited, shown below, obviously in an attempt to aid the economy of South Africa, where chromium was produced.  How would you like to polish the trim  on this baby? 

Wow. 8 mpg, and all that chrome. Sign me up.  No wonder nobody bought cars in 1958.

As for Packard and Studebaker, (want one of these? Me neither, even the name gives me the creeps)

and Edsel  (referred to as a Ford with a toilet seat for a grille) disappearing, the only question that comes to mind is how they lasted as long as they did. If you build clunky, uninspiring cars, the public will respond by not buying them. Although they may have been fine cars mechanically, especially the Edsel,

 despite its reputation, (love that convert above) the aforementioned marques simply failed to offer anything the public found interesting. Mixed in with this strange mix of lines that tried to bridge price gaps that did not exist was the DeSoto. It seemed that the company was just itching to dump the line, and 1958 gave them the excuse they needed. The DeSoto would be gone by 1961.

As DeSoto production dived nearly 70% for 1958, Chrysler Corporation panicked. DeSoto was unceremoniously yanked from the Wyoming Ave. assembly plant it had occupied since 1936. From July 1958 forward, senior DeSotos would be built along side Chryslers on Jefferson Ave. 

As the 1958 version of the 1957 DeSoto struggled to regain buyers who owned stock in Rustoleum, 

 the high profile Adventurer embarrassed itself with Chrysler's now famous fuel injection engineering blunder. For $637.20, (what did they do with the twenty cents?) performance enthusiasts could boost the Adventurer's 345 hp to 355 hp via Bendix electronic fuel injection and guarantee themselves a long walk home every night. Though futuristic, the system proved nearly inoperable and most all Bendix EFI cars were recalled and fitted with dual four barrel carburetors. The unfortunate occurrence gave ammunition to those who found the wedge-head engine an inadequate successor to the hemi. The one exception is Tom White's car, which is detailed in the Bendix section. For 1958, DeSoto would no longer appear as a sponsor on Groucho Marx' You Bet Your Life TV show.

Actually, the new 361 was a real performer. It was lighter and cheaper to make than the hemi, and it was faster. The 305 hp version in a full sized DeSoto Fireflite could get 0-60 in 7.7 seconds. The Adventurer engine, fitted with 2 Carter WCFBs, claimed 345 horsepower. Okay, they exaggerated a tad. After all, they had a tough act to follow with the 1957 hemi, which was rated at 345 horsepower as well. The extra carburetor and a slightly different cam probably didn't add 40 horses, but it looked good when you opened the hood. 

Unfortunately, only 432 people opened the hood and then opened their checkbooks. 350 coupes at $4071 and 82 convertibles at $4369 left the plant, which hardly made it worth opening the doors in the morning. Gone were the beautiful wheel covers and the hemi engine, which probably aggravated die hard Chrysler guys. You still got any color combination you wanted as long as it consisted of  gold, black, or white, and you got your nice tan-brown-whatever interior. Nice car, bad marketing. Isn't it funny how modern day car  collectors would trade their liver for a car nobody wanted 48 years ago? Hey, what the heck. I think my mother would have done the same thing if she could have after she saw what I looked like in the maternity ward. That's me on the left with my two unfortunate sisters.

The gallery is small for the 1958 Adventurer......only 5 convertibles survive today, and a handful of coupes. Not many are around because not many were built, simple math. Got one in the barn? Call me. It could be worth 50 bucks.

Need more info, or need to join the national club? Nice folks, very helpful. Go here:

http://www.desoto.org

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