Desoto

Last Day of Production: 1961 DeSoto

Two U.S. automobile brands came to the end of the line in 1960-61. One was the Edsel, Ford’s biggest mistake that shut down early into its third year. The other was DeSoto which had been around since 1928, but… more»

Built Like a Bridge: 1934 DeSoto Airflow

The Airflow was an automobile ahead of its time. Built under both Chrysler and DeSoto brands in the mid-1930s, the Airflow’s design was driven by aerodynamics, so the body was sleeker in appearance than most of its contemporaries. This… more»

Same Family Since 1977: 1960 DeSoto Adventurer

DeSoto had been a Chrysler Corp. brand since the 1920s. But by the 1950s, it was getting to be too much like a Chrysler for buyers to tell the difference. So, in late 1960, almost a year to the… more»

1 of 911! 1961 DeSoto 2-Door Hardtop

I’ve been attending car shows for fifty years and I’ve yet to see a 1961 DeSoto up close and personal. Have you? Only 3,034 were made (911 2-Door Hardtops, 2,123 4-Door Hardtops) before the Chrysler Corporation pulled the plug… more»

Two Owner Barn Find: 1939 DeSoto DeLuxe

The interesting thing I find about cars from the era that produced this 1939 DeSoto was the various body styles that were available. Our subject car, discovered by T.J. is a two-door touring sedan but others were available and… more»

A Warehouse Full Of Classic Cars And Parts!

Barn Finds reader T.J. recently spotted this warehouse chock full of cars and parts for sale in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and we’d like to thank him right off the bat for bringing this large collection to our attention!  Not only… more»

Dad’s Pair: Two 1955 Hemi DeSotos

The seller’s father purchased two 1955 DeSotos to restore, but now they are being sold. One of the projects, a two-door Fireflite Sportsman Firedome Special Coupe, has been started, while the Firedome sedan remains intact. Could these be the… more»

One-Owner Barn Find! 1951 DeSoto Custom

American car makers began slicing and dicing the market into socio-economic niches back in the 1920s. Over at Chrysler, Walter P. was late to the trend, as Ford and Chevrolet already had low-, middle- and high-end offerings. The brand-new… more»

73k Original Miles: 1957 DeSoto Firedome Sedan

Chrysler may never have climbed the dizzying heights to become America’s Number One vehicle manufacturer, but its contribution can’t be understated. The 1980s K-Car range changed the automotive landscape, pushing platform sharing and badge engineering to a new level…. more»

Original and Beautiful: 1948 DeSoto Club Coupe

The owner of this car describes it as a 1948 Chrysler DeSoto Custom Club Coupe, but you can leave out the Chrysler bit and call it a DeSoto—a brand fast receding in the taillights. Named not after its founder… more»

Mostly Original Survivor? 1959 DeSoto Fireflite

DeSoto was a storied division of Chrysler Corporation from 1928 to 1961. It was part of a four-division family that also comprised the Dodge and Plymouth. But by the late 1950s. things were getting crowded and Chrysler discovered there… more»

Solid Survivor: 1949 DeSoto Custom Coupe

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… more»

Last of the Breed: 1961 DeSoto Two-Door Hardtop

In the 1950s, DeSoto was knocking the ball out of the park. The nameplate had migrated upscale from a bread-and-butter necessity in the immediate post-war period, to a fashionista by 1957. That year, Virgil Exner gave the car exuberant… more»

1-Of-18? Original 1957 DeSoto Firedome Convertible

Rarity claims must always be taken at face value when made with no documentary evidence. However, when a classic rolled off the line in limited numbers many years ago, they begin to look plausible. Such is the case with… more»

Just Out of the Barn: 1954 DeSoto Firedome

Chrysler’s DeSoto brand was still hanging in there in 1952 when the Firedome models were introduced. They would hold various positions in the DeSoto line-up, beginning with the top series through 1955. They were big, boxy-looking cars that would… more»

BF Auction: 1934 DeSoto Airflow

The Airflow, sold by both Chrysler and DeSoto divisions, was designed with aerodynamics taken into consideration in the build. While the automobiles were arguably more slippery, they were awkward looking for the times (1934 to 1937) and many buyers… more»

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