Engine - 383 cubic-inch OHV V8
Transmission - TorqueFlite push-button automatic
Horsepower - 350 at 5000 rpm
Production - 590 Sportsman 2-doors for 1959

“Pure Gold…In Ride, Pride and Pleasure”

Occasionally referred to as the ‘Golden Adventurer’ due to the standard gold paint and accents, this nomenclature was bolstered by DeSoto’s own marketing which proclaimed it, “pure gold…in ride, pride and pleasure.” The Adventurer name and styling was inspired by two earlier Ghia concepts designed by Virgil Exner in 1952 and 1954 for DeSoto (with the 1952 car being designed by Exner and the 1954 car by Giovanni Savoneuzzi). Following their show appearances, Exner kept the Adventurer I while the Adventurer II was sold by Ghia to King Mohammad V of Morocco.

In 1957, the Adventurer’s potent V8 engine produced one horsepower per cubic-inch, becoming the first production automobile to do so. By 1959, the engine’s displacement had increased to 383 cubic-inches, producing 350 horsepower. The 1959 hardtop coupe was an ideal blend of performance, luxury, and quintessential style. These ornate two-door variants are exceptionally rare, with only 590 units produced. All hardtop coupes came standard with automatic transmissions and a high level of power equipment, making them as comfortable as they were powerful.

This 1959 DeSoto Adventurer Hardtop Coupe represents one the few made, and incorporates the forward thinking push-button transmission selector and climate control, as well as an ingenious swivel front seat for easy entry and exit. With its copious gold exterior trim and glimmering Casino Corde upholstery, this automobile truly lives up to the “Golden Adventurer” eponym.