DeSoto Cars

DeSoto Cars - Random Listings From Our Picture Gallery

1955 DeSoto Fireflight Sportsman 2-Door Hardtop	1955 DeSoto Fireflight Sportsman 2-Door Hardtop 1955 DeSoto Fireflight Sportsman 2-Door Hardtop Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Date: September 13, 2009 Location: Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing Address: 137 SW 16th Avenue (Exit 341 Interstate 75) City/State: Ocala, Florida 34473 Phone: (877) 271-3278 Website: http://garlits.com by Douglas
1954 DeSoto 4-Door Sedan	1954 DeSoto 4-Door Sedan 1954 DeSoto 4-Door Sedan Location: The Payson Arizona Car Show in Payson, AZ. Date: April 30, 2005 Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Keywords: pictures photos vintage classic american car by Douglas
1958 DeSoto Firesweep Convertible	1958 DeSoto Firesweep Convertible 170,000.00 USD Offered For Sale at the: Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction January, 2008, Scottsdale, Arizona Barrett-Jackson Auction Company 7400 E Monte Cristo Ave Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Phone: 480-421-6694 Facsimile: 480-421-6697 Website: www.barrett-jackson.com 1958 DeSoto Firesweep Convertible 170,000 LotNumber 1252 This is absolutely one of the best restored 1958 De Soto Firesweeps on the planet. It has the extremely rare Spring Edition chrome package which includes the filler panel in the side sweep and chrome stripes on either side of the rear license plate. The underneath of this car looks as good as the top side. Look closely at the quality of this restoration. Also has a factory Benrus self winding "watch" in the steering wheel and a factory 16 2/3 record player along with a original records from Chrysler Corp and even the recorder form. This car has a 350cid V8, the only year this engine was made for De Soto, Dodge and the Plymouth Fury. by Douglas
1960 DESOTO ADVENTURER 4DR	1960 DESOTO ADVENTURER 4DR 11,500.00 USD 1960 DESOTO ADVENTURER 4DR White & Turquoise with Turquoise & Blue interior, excellent condition. Original except for paint - new paint, engine rebuild, new tires, new radiator, brakes, dash pad and carpet, trans. resealed, bushings front end, power steering pump, new 4 barrel carb, chrome. You can drive this car anywhere! Price: $11,500. Call Sell It Now Motors/Classic Cars 318-467-2320 NEWELLTON, LA by SellItNow
1956 DeSoto Fireflite Convertible	1956 DeSoto Fireflite Convertible 1956 DeSoto Fireflite Convertible Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Location: The Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance in Rochester, Michigan, August 7, 2005. by Douglas
1936 DeSoto Airstream Convertible	1936 DeSoto Airstream Convertible 1936 DeSoto Airstream Convertible Location: 2009 Concours d'Elegance Amelia Island, Florida Date: March 15, 2009 Photos By: Douglas Wilkinson by Douglas
1947 DeSoto S-11C Suburban	1947 DeSoto S-11C Suburban 1947 DeSoto S-11C Suburban National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada. Photos By: Douglas Wilkinson by Douglas
1953 DeSoto 4-Door Sedan	1953 DeSoto 4-Door Sedan 1953 DeSoto 4-Door Sedan Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Location: The National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United States, Auburn, Indiana. by Douglas
1954 DeSoto Adventurer II Ghia Concept Car	1954 DeSoto Adventurer II Ghia Concept Car 1954 DeSoto Adventurer II Ghia Concept Car Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Location: The Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance in Rochester, Michigan, August 7, 2005. by Douglas
1957 DeSoto Adventurer Convertible	1957 DeSoto Adventurer Convertible 1957 DeSoto Adventurer Convertible 57 Heaven Car Museum Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater 1600 W. Hwy. 76, Branson, MO 65616 Phone: 800-985-3144 417-335-2600 Date: June 11, 2009 Photos by Douglas Wilkinson by Douglas

• List All the DeSoto Cars

DeSoto Cars

Some said Chrysler planned to introduce the DeSoto to force bankers Dillon and Reed to sell him Dodge, but the car was already in production when Chrysler finalized the purchase of Dodge. The DeSoto was launched in 1928 as a 6-cylinder car to compete with Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Nash. The new line sold well with over 90,000 DeSotos produced in the first twelve months.

In May, 1930, DeSoto starts the model year with its K-Series cars but switch to the CK Finer Six.

Carl Breer, executive engineer for Chrysler Corporation, was fascinated with aerodynamics. The Chrysler and DeSoto Airflow automobiles, the results of Breer's experiments with streamlined shapes, took six years to develop defore they were introduced in 1934, the tenth anniversary of Chrysler. Although the Airflow never really succeeded with the buying public, it was an important engineering and styling achievement that influenced automotive designs for years.

Downdraft carburetion, floating power, a vacuum-operated clutch and free-wheeling were introduced within the next few years but the big news for 1935 was the introduction of the Airstream series. Proving to be a successful sell, the DeSoto Airstream was continued for 1936, available with DeLuxe or Custom features. The 6-cylinder L-head engine produced 93 hp and an optional overdrive transmission gave greater fuel economy and less engine wear.

The Airstream series was replaced by the Model S-3 in 1937 when Desoto began building its new Detroit factory; the first exclusively DeSoto manufacturing facility. Production remained there until 1958 when DeSoto properties became the home of Chrysler Imperials.

DeSoto played a valiant part during WWII with the responsibility for fuselage section assembly for the Martin B-26 Marauder; the manufacture of parts for Bofors anti-aircraft cannon; building of wing sections for the Hell-Diver aircraft; and construction of B-29 nose sections with parts supplied by the Chrysler and Plymouth factory assemble lines.

Following the War, material shortages, labor difficulties, and the huge task of converting plants back to civilian production delayed the introduction of the 1946 models until March of the year.

While these new models were almost identical to those of 1942, they did offer some design changes including new front fenders with conventional exposed headlights, redesigned grille and doors, new bumpers and updated ornamentation. These models carried on during 1947 and 1948.

In 1949, the DeSoto's lady hood ornament was replaced by a bust of Hernando DeSoto which glowed in the dark with the headlights on. Total production for DeSoto in 1949 was 95,051 vehicles, which placed the company 14th in the US.

When Desoto was first marketed, it was to fill the gap between Dodge and Chrysler, giving the company the full spectrum of the automotive sales market, putting the company on a fairly even model-to-model competition with GM. Right from the start, Desoto was a leader in style with unique grilles through the 1930s and 1940s, and distinctive trim and interior appointments into the 1950s; however, by 1960, this marque's role was starting to shrink as the top-line Dodge almost overlapped the bottom-line Chrysler, filling in the gap that had been occupied by Desoto for almost 30 years.

Chrysler discontinued DeSoto production in 1960.

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