In writing for Barn Finds, you tend to notice some interesting aspects of the classic car marketplace. While the ups and downs of favorites such as full-classics, Corvettes, Thunderbirds, Mustangs, and various other crowd favorites get discussed frequently, one of the overlooked subjects is bargains in the marketplace for first-time classic car buyers. These folks must get a good first experience preserving, driving, and working on an older automobile, or they will abandon the hobby. They are also most likely on a tight budget. So, what can we suggest for such folks? How about something from the immediate postwar family of MOPARs? A great example would be this fresh from long-term storage 1949 DeSoto Custom Coupe.
Why would those folks do well to start with a car like this? The first reason is price. These cars can be had all day and every day for less than $10,000. Second, they have a high survival rate due to their tank-like construction and outstanding build quality. Chrysler was known for its engineering ability and quality during that period, and there is a lot of evidence to back that up. Their cars were frumpy but solid. The third reason is that they are straightforward to work on. Powered by an inline six-cylinder engine that was in production for decades, these cars are easy to find parts for, and you can work on just about any part without the need for special tools. Your old Craftsman 300-piece tool kit will suffice for 95% of the work required.
If you are looking for an example to get started with, then this 1949 DeSoto Custom Club Coupe is a great candidate. The seller doesn’t tell us much about this car. What little we are told that it is not running but that it is, in their opinion, a nice car to restore or customize. Then, they suggested that a Hellcat motor would be nice for a custom project. Don’t do that. Anyway, the biggest issue with the car is a dented-up driver’s side door. While the damage isn’t significant to the point that a good body man couldn’t get it back in shape, a new door and the required chrome trim are included with the sale. The rest of the body looks fine, and the paint and chrome are presentable.
Inside we see that the original upholstery has been replaced, but someone forgot to recover the floors. The reupholstery job likely took place a few decades ago but is surely good enough to be used again after a thorough cleaning. As for the floors, my thought is that these would have been covered with rubber matting with some form of heat and sound insulation underneath. However, if any of our readers know how DeSoto handled this in 1949, please let us know in the comments. Being that this car was a Custom, it benefits from more chrome and a bit higher level of trim than its Deluxe stablemate. One interesting non-factory addition is the glass door knob on the end of the shifter.
Unfortunately, there is no picture of the engine in the ad. All we are told is that it does not run. Unless someone has performed an engine swap, the new owner should find a 237 cubic inch inline six-cylinder engine backed up by a Fluid Drive transmission. These transmissions bridged the gap between a manual transmission and a full-automatic one and were not known for making the car any faster. They are fairly simple units, and this one should be good to go after some preventative maintenance, seals, and new fluid.
This one might be a good choice if you are looking for a solid first classic car. It needs a little bodywork, but this 1949 DeSoto Custom Coupe for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Bedford, Ohio, has a lot of potential. The asking price for this black beauty is $6,500, and it will even come with a replacement door and the necessary chrome. Thanks to Ted for the neat tip!
1949? I was using Google to look at more images of this model and noticed the grill was different. Seems to match a 1947 model.
1949 was a transition year, with a refresh arriving in the last half. This was an early 1949 car.
Good write up Jeff, but how about some more pictures for those of us who don’t Facebook? I remember these from when I was a kid and liked their bulbous look. Tank like? You bet. And in Bedford, twenty minutes away.
I don’t Facebook either, but if you “X” out of the sign-in popup, it will let you see the ad.
I think the glass knob on the end of the shifter is original to the car.
Phil, the closer view of the dash seems convincing enough you’re right. The presumed windshield wiper knob (top of dash), along with the cigarette lighter, and what’s left of the other control knobs look like a match. Make a mold of a good one, mix clear epoxy, dip the cleaned metal “heads” into the epoxy as it sets up, and reconstruct at least one handsome and eye-catching feature.
For me, the body and trim damage would prevent me from recommending this to a first-time buyer. You can’t just pick up a catalog and order replacement doors and trim, which is a big part of why cars like Mustangs, Chevelles, and Darts are so popular for first-timers.
As it says in the write-up (twice!) and in the ad, a replacement door and trim are included with the car.
Always happy to find a CONTEMPORARY especially a Delightful DeSoto! A 1947 model, I learned to drive on a55 Black DeSoto Firedome and have loved them through their unfortunate demise in 61(which for me was DeSotos Grand finale). Family friends had a 49 or 50 DeSoto 🤔 Carryall. A unique sedan with fold down rear seat providing extra length for cargo. 😉 Hope this Car GO to someone who will give it the R E S P E C T it deserves! And be sure to tell em Groucho sent you!
It’s a bit hard to be sure from the pictures, but in addition to the driver’s door being damaged; the panel behind the door appears compromised as well. You would have to get under it to see if the frame and/or rocker is damaged. If it’s worst case scenario then proper repair will be probably beyond the skills of most hobbyists. The seller doesn’t include a picture of the replacement door but chances are that you will need to paint it to match the car. Maybe you could get by with a rattle can paint job but it will always stick out as different than the rest of the car. Being a non-runner doesn’t help the cause either. The real question is does the engine turn over. If it isn’t locked then you have a good chance to get it to run because these old flatties are nearly impossible to kill. And yes it is a well built car; tank like if you will. Fluid Drive is indeed the transmission residing in this car from what I can ascertain from the picture including the pedals. It’ll get the job done but it delivers 0-60 eventually acceleration. Because this is a Custom model, I think it should have carpet rather than a rubber mat. All things considered this car has potential especially since it’s a coupe. I think the asking price is probably optimistic but if you could buy it for a couple of thousand dollars less; than you might have a viable project. I hope someone can get back on the road in the condition that it was intended by the Chrysler folks. Please NO Hellcat nonsense. It won’t fit anyway. GLWTS.
My first car bought in 61 for $20. Had a small dent in the right front fender, needed a 5# hammer to pound it out.
Wow, what agreat 49 Desoto, but the fluid drive can be more problems than you think. There are no mechanics left alive who know how to restore and service them. I got a 48 Chrysler 8 with fluid drive and thankfully all the 3 electrical components were replaced and rewired correctly. And paying for those components and rewiring them is no easy task. And that may be what you’re looking at doing on this one. Entire drivers side looks a little beat up, not just it’s door. That and the fact it’s not even running or stopping, is a big gamble. Even at this price.
sadly these cars are overlooked because most people look for mustangs, corvettes and you know what i mean, i have a 48 desoto coupe very much like this car, but mine is running, driving, able to be driven, i went to the rod run in pigeon forge, tn about a month ago with a $7,500 sign on it and had really 2 people interested in it. the car is not a show car but a decent car for the money drove it about 50 mikes to the show only thing it needs is a gas tank, i use a marine tank in the trunk. maybe next time i’ll cange the badges from deluxe to super sport.
LOL and LOVE DeSoto. Your story is a GAS! TANKS! 👍