Is there such a thing as a cool Desoto?

1940 4 door...

 

never was a big mopar fan (guess causes most of my buddy,s are ) but i have seen some nice rides made out of them . any car is cool if you build it the way you want

 

A group of very nice detail shots on the DeSoto Airflow. Sorry, I don't remember where I ran across this!

 

I wasn't aware that there was a DeSoto that wasn't cool. Huh. Learn somethin' new every day!

 

'36 Desoto is among my favorite art deco cars. I dig pennon style hood trim.

 

I have the best of both worlds, 1950 and 1959. Both 4 doors but hey, you take what you can afford! I love the fins of the '59, but the '50 is really growing on me.

 

I drove a baby blue '50 DeSoto 4dr when I was in high school way back in '03. Chicks dig back door action, I mean 4 door action.

 

My wife's '54.




BloodyKnuckles

 

The 1954 Desoto Adventurer II that just sold on Barrett-Jackson for $1.43 million was pretty cool!

 

...a bit of DeSoto trivia,...in 28 the DeSoto came out and set a record for the most cars built in their first year of production; they held that record until the Ford Falcon came out in 1960. The next year was DeSoto's last year of production.

 

Right on, Rusty. The previous record-holder was the new line, Pontiac, in their fledging year, 1926. I wonder what the prior record-holder to THAT was???

 

DeSoto actually has a pretty cool history in the race circuit for a short time. Look up a guy called "Peter DePalo".

DeSotos, in my opinion at least, designed some of the nicest looking cars made. The fact that you don't see them much makes most DeSoto projects a worthwhile quest.

 

Butch, thanks! I doubt many people think even ONCE about whether DeSotos were used in racing. (Though, I know they did okay in boats!)

I take it, you mean DeSotos from the Hemi whale era 'til the end of the make??? I can't imagine the PowerMaster doing much in serious '50s or early '60s racing, even on dirt.

So how do we find this Peter DePalo? Is he a HAMBer, or do we just Google him?

 

I'm going off of memory but many companies back in the day, especially during "depression era" times used racing as means of promotion. DeSoto sponsored a few race drivers to help boost and promote the brand. You would have to google it or contact the DeSoto clubs but if memory serves me correct they broke some records. If I have some time I will see what I can dig up.

Always was a fan of the DeSotos, even the 4 door variety. Lots of these cars were melted down and scrapped because everybody wanted the Fords & Chevys. Unfortunately they were left to rot for a long time.

The more people who are interested in DeSotos the better because that helps preserve the remaining inventory.

Here is a link to start with
http://www.allpar.com/history/desoto.html

Mike

 

Here are a couple more to add to the variety already posted. Yes Desotos are cool. Some of the ones already posted definately fit the bill.

First is one I took pictures of at a show and shine (my favorite so far). The second is the one I got my motor and grill from. I sold the rest to a man who needed a body to restore.

 

Butch and Scribe, though I see somethig special in all DeS models (whether made under old Walt, Keller or Woolson), my favorites are the '55-'57 and the immediate post-war ones, '46-'48. The LATTER are affordable, whereas anything pre-war is pretty much unreasonable for a rodder to use for a project (lest it's solid enough to blast). The 2 two Keller series from '49 to '54 are not my faves, as I've said. But it doesn't mean I hate 'em.

Just MO. Doesn't mean DeS wouldn't make good rods. It's just that they were destroyed left and right when nobody wanted even a running DeSoto. Pre-war is very rare. Post-war is tough, 'cause they're now scarce for the reason stated.

 

Thanks to DeS fan AldenJewell of FlickR, here's the ad art for the hidden-headlight DeS models
for '42. These are pretty rare, as the U.S. auto companies only completed somewhere between
30 and 40 percent of the '42 production runs before the federal government clamped down in
February '42 and converted all industrial production to the war effort. IF ANYBODY KNOWS OF
A '42 RODDED, I'D SURELY LOVE TO SEE IT! Myself, I could really see this as a custom, with the
extraneous trim shaved, lowed, etc. Cruise yer a-- off! LOL. And a real custom has to leave off
the bumper guards.

 

1942 DeSoto club coupe (featuring Airfoil headlights).
Imagine THIS chopped and lowered!

 

1955 DeSoto Firedome convertible. Hell, if it looks so good in lo-res,
ya KNOW it's look great in a sharp hi-res pic, eh?

 

The '56, presented in its best aspect. The waterfall/toothy grille was gone, as DeSoto turned
the corner from its previous dowdy roots. I LOVE the deluxe headlight bezels. These are
rare, as most work-strike cars used the standard chrome rims, simplified from the '55 version.





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The '56 Pacesetter 'vert was not technically an Adventurer, though
it was decked out in Adventurer scheme. It was a Fireflite special
edition fitted with all the Adventurer heavy-duty components --
suspension/brakes, beefed up Powerflite trans, plus the Adventurer
341 dual-four intake and Carters. Sorry for the lo-res, BUT better
than NO pics, right?




Immaculate '56 DeSoto Pacesetter, owned by Larry Zappone
of Woodinville, WA, a member of the Walter P. Chrysler Club,
from whose site this was sourced. Sincere thanks to Larry
and to the Walter P. Chrysler Club.

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Appreciation is expressed to HubcapCafe.com for this rarely seen rear view of the '56 DeSoto.




Special plastic hood insert. Quality repros are available today but cost a whopping $300 !


<TABLE border=0 width=360 bgColor=#c6e2ff><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=200>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DESOTO PACESETTER[/FONT]

</TD><TD width=150>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]SPECIFICATIONS[/FONT]
</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]TOP SPEED
[/FONT]
</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]115 mph* (184 km/h)[/FONT]
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]0-60 mph (0-96 KM/H) [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]10.2 sec[/FONT]
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]ENGINE TYPE [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]V8[/FONT]
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DISPLACEMENT[/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]341 ci (5,587 cc)[/FONT]
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]TRANSMISSION[/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2-speed auto[/FONT]
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]MAXIMUM POWER [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]320 bhp (239 kW) @ 5,200 rpm[/FONT]
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD height=21>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]MAXIMUM TORQUE [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]365 lb ft (495 Nm) @ 2,800 rpm[/FONT]
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD height=21>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WEIGHT[/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]3,870 lb (1,759 kg)[/FONT]
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TD height=21>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]ECONOMY[/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]14 mpg (4.95 km/l)[/FONT]
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[ * : It should be noted that
DeSoto test drivers went
considerably FASTER on
Chrysler's proving grounds,
and the 341 also excelled
in trials at Daytona Beach.]

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

Source: How Stuff Works

Motor Trend timed an Adventurer at 10.5 seconds 0-60, 17.5 seconds and 81 mph in the quarter, and claimed to have recorded a top speed of 144 mph.

Don MacDonald in the July 1956 Motor Trend: "The Chrysler had better high-speed throttle response, and its competition-bred suspension gave it the edge in cornering, but critics admitted that DeSoto had produced the genuine article. "All honest and available, 320 horsepower is enough to make any car a bomb."

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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>​

 

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One more for GotGas




1957 DeSoto Adventurer, the first U.S. production model to achieve 1 hp per
cubic inch. Sorry, 'Vette guys; the mechanical FI on the 'Vette was special
order. The Adventurer was NOT ONLY production, it was now a full-fledged
DeS model offering, not a special-edition Fireflite any longer.

 

Before I sign off for tonight, I just want to emphasize how much I wanted, as a kid, to lift one of the larger DeS Hemis (since I couldn't afford a Firepower anyhow) and stick it in something lighter, such as a coupe, roadster or maybe a '56 Dodge coupe.

WHY won't the lottery come through, I ask?

 

'41 DeSoto Custom business coupe, thanks to MotorBase.
The fog lights aren't stock, and I'd simplify the bumper and
put some cool wheels on it. Otherwise, raking the rear and
cutting the front springs a turn is about all I'd do to this beaut.

 

1942 DeSoto Cyclone concept by Alex Tremulis. This was
to have been a sort of complement to the Chrysler Thun-
derbolt, concept car that did get built. Alex's DeSoto,
however, had plenty of influence of cars to come, IMO.
Anybody notice a resemblance to the Tucker he designed
after taking over there?

 

The actual PRODUCTION '42 DeSoto, the only one ever to use
retractible headlights. This ad art exaggerates the low profile
of the real thing, below. When DeS returned after the war, the
headlights on the hurry-up models were fixed, but the so-called
"waterfall grille" was nearly as ostentatious and continued.
The treatment morphed into the "toothy" grilles that lasted all
the way through 1955!

 

Thanks to Kit Foster and Wayne Graefen, one of the
keenest -- and rarest -- DeSotos ever. There were just
568 DeSoto convertibles built in the war-shortened '42
model year, and the Fifth Avenue edition was, frankly,
LOADED. Besides drop-top and two-tone paint, the
Fifth Avenue offered the hideaway head lamps, crystal
naked-ladyhood ornament and a cigarette dispenser,
right in the steering wheel hub.