“Runs great” is what the seller says about this equally great looking 1950 DeSoto Deluxe Club Coupe. It’s on Craigslist in Maple Lake, Minnesota with an asking price of $5,300. This has the potential to be a great deal if it checks out to be as nice as it looks in the photos.
Now THAT’S a grille! DeSoto made the top of the line Custom and the entry-level Deluxe until 1953 when the V8 models were designated “Firedome” and the inline-6 models were “Powermaster”. DeSoto built 10,703 Deluxe Club Coupes in 1950 in its giant new factory. Hagerty lists the #3 “good” value of a 1950 DeSoto Deluxe Club Coupe as being $9,000 so this could be a good buy if there isn’t a vast amount of work to do on it.
This is another one of Chrysler president P.T. Keller’s “hat” cars, where men could wear their hats while driving, like cultured men the world over should be doing. Just like now!.. wait a minute.. The seller mentions that this car had a new paint job in 2015 but there is no mention if any rust was encountered or repaired, or if any body filler is hiding under the paint. These cars were advertised as being “rust-proofed” by DeSoto, but obviously unless they were made out of aluminum or Duroplast like a Trabant, they can rust as much as any other vehicle can. It looks good, though, but a personal inspection is always the best idea.
The interior is original, but this is the only photo that’s given in the ad. You can see that there will be a fair amount of work to do here, including that driver’s window with the crack and tape on it. Hopefully the bones are solid, most of the cosmetic bits and pieces can be restored and/or updated as the next owner drives and enjoys the car. There are no engine photos and the seller says that it runs great and there was a new battery installed a few months ago. This car should have a 237 cubic inch inline-six with 112 hp, and of course a three-speed manual with a column-shifter. This really looks like a good, solid car to me, with some interior work to do to keep things interesting. What do you think about the price of this one?
Snow tires on the back? Wow.
Welcome to Minnesota. : )
Deluxe models were also available with the “Tip Toe Hydraulic Shift with Gyrol Fluid Drive”. You start out in 1st gear like a regular manual transmission then you didn’t need the clutch to shift into 2nd and 3rd . Kind of a weird set up. My Dad had a 50 Dodge Coronet with the fluid drive.
The Custom model also had Fluid Drive as mine does (’49 @ 33,000 original miles). After the initial shift, you no longer need to shift, even from first unless you choose to do so. Unless of course, reverse is used.
Why didn’t they paint the inside garnish moldings when it was repainted? Things like this have to have you wondering. This vehicle would have to be inspected in person. Triple “A” would send a person over to check it out for a $125.00 and talk to you over the phone while he is doing it. You ask the questions.
Scotty, you say cultured men should wear hats? Of course they should. I even wear a hat, nearly every day, although it says ‘Ruger’ on it. In that photo you sent me you’re even wearing a hat. Well, a beanie; it looked like it was cold out.
If this is as sound as it looks in the photos I’d say it’s a decent buy. It might never bring the attention of a ’36 Cord at a car show but you’ll get a lot of people talking about it. There’s a guy in my car club that did a full body-off resto on a ’47 club coupe, then put almost 50K miles on it afterwards. Hardly a moment’s trouble. He even hitched the flatbed trailer behind it and towed his antique Rumley tractor to some threshing shows. Maybe a little slower than the guy with his diesel-powered 1-ton truck but he still made it, along with a lot more attention….
Looks like it has the very rare black electrical tape steering wheel 🕵
I enlarged the picture and it looks like the car was only painted without repair.. It apears to me like there was scale rust along the bottom of doors and behind that was only painted over…. Still not a bad car if this is so
These are great quality car with an economical smaller engine than the Chrysler that shared its body. I had a 41 busisness coupe Desoto years ago. Would sit for months and start right up anytime I wanted to drive it. I would prefer the straight 8 and a Chrysler but at this age you have to take what you can find. Nice looking car.
Poor paint job, the hood does not match the fenders. Who mixed the paint, looks like they did not use enough on the hood; and then let it leave the shop like that. My family was in the auto paint business from 1955 to 2005 and we would never let a car go out the door with that poor paint work. MAACO or EARL SCHEIB could of done a better job.
I dont understand hot rodders (especially the ones who like rat rods)…….I see gold here. 3″ chop, big modern hemi, modern suspension and brakes. cool wheels. This car has very limited collector value, and yet could be turned into a SHOW STOPPER……all that chrome….wow I just see potential. As the older iron gets higher in price, some of the less desirable cars offer an achievable price point to build a cool rod.
Hi steve, I agree, whether us old farts like it or not, that’s exactly what will happen to this, ( although, truth be known, I’m having a hard time finding a picture of someone that actually did that to a ’50 DeSoto) and that’s ok, I suppose. As long as it’s not altered too radically on the outside.
👎👎
My family had a ’50 DeSoto convertible for many years;slow as molasses,but extremely dependable;probably the best car in snow of anything else at that time.The only rust spots,after several years of salty Massachusetts roads were two,under the backup lights.I remember the dash lights were “black light”,quite unusual for the time.It was a very handsome car,and I’d love to find one now!
If you put lipstick on a pig….. Not too bad, but not $5k. $2k maybe, considering all the inspecting and work to be done. Next car please.