The 1959 model year was a big one for DeSoto. The company had a huge celebration to recognize its 30-year association with Chrysler. Though more than 46,000 DeSotos were built in 1959, that was fewer than in 1958 (a… more»
Desoto
• For Sale • 6 Comments
One Year Only: 1956 DeSoto Firedome Seville
Though Cadillac would get a lot of mileage out of the Seville name, Chrysler used it in 1956 as an upscale version of the DeSoto Firedome, and it came with a Hemi V8. The “Forward Look” Chryslers were in… more»
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Finned Wonder: 1960 DeSoto Fireflite
Most automakers saw a big decline in sales in 1958 due to an economic recession. But DeSoto saw demand fall by 61%, and it dropped another 8% in 1959 when other car builders saw a rebound starting. So, by… more»
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Barn Dweller: 1960 DeSoto Adventurer
By 1960, DeSoto had been a Chrysler brand for 32 years. It was the fifth brand in the corporate family (surrounded by Plymouth, Dodge, Chrysler, and Imperial). Which had become one too many when the 1958 economic recession arrived…. more»
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Magnificent Roller! 1955 DeSoto Fireflite
If you’re a fan of 1950s Chrysler products, you probably fall into one of two camps. You either go for the 1955-56 models, where the cars finally moved away from being rolling boxes. Or the 1957-59 marvels, where futuristic… more»
• For Sale • 25 Comments
Wind Tunnel Tested: 1936 DeSoto Airflow
The Airflow was the first U.S. car to be designed in a wind tunnel. Its aerodynamic looks may have been an acquired taste, and Chrysler pulled the plug after three years. Between 1934 and 1937, both Chrysler and its… more»
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No Reserve 1948 DeSoto Custom Club Coupe
I’ll come right out and say it: I’ve never owned a car from the 1940s. It’s a shame, really, because it’s an important decade in the history of our country, and on top of that, it’s a decade apart… more»
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Hemi-Powered 1953 DeSoto Firedome Sedan
My advice for anyone looking to break into car collecting on a budget is to avoid setting your sights on one model year, make, or model. After all, there are so many great classics out there for sale in… more»
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Take All or Part: 1941 DeSoto Business Coupe
While DeSoto’s cars were all-new in 1941, the threat of global war was already signaling material shortages that would become a reality in 1942. One of the many models that DeSoto built before WW2 that consumed the assembly lines… more»
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Last Call 1 of 911: 1961 DeSoto
The DeSoto brand had been a Chrysler staple since 1928. But by the time the late 1950s arrived, declining sales pointed to one too many divisions at Chrysler Corp. That was also part of the problem with Edsel over… more»
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Running Project: Rare 1960 DeSoto Fireflite
DeSoto had been a Chrysler brand since 1928 and competed alongside Plymouth, Dodge, and Chrysler for many years. But by the end of the 1950s, the need for the car in the lineup was getting harder to justify with… more»
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Only One In The U.S.? 1941 DeSoto Custom
Last week, I covered this 1950 DeSoto coupe and received many interesting comments. With that thought in mind, today, I thought I’d wind it back a bit and take a look at this 1941 DeSoto S8 Custom. It’s in… more»
• For Sale • 18 Comments
Fully Restored: 1950 DeSoto Custom Coupe
I always find discontinued auto marques an interesting study. In my time on earth, I’ve counted fourteen U.S. brands that are no longer with us, compared to, by my count, only ten domestics that are still with us (eleven… more»
• For Sale • 14 Comments
1 of 2,759! 1960 DeSoto Adventurer
DeSoto was one of the longest-running U.S. automobile nameplates (dating to 1928). But by the late 1950s, it had become clear that Chrysler had one too many brands to peddle. With demand shrinking at a similar pace as the… more»
• For Sale • 8 Comments
Mostly Restored: 1939 DeSoto Touring Sedan
It’s a dizzying array of domestic automobile marques that have disappeared in the time I’ve been on this planet. Some make sense, I suppose, with all of that “survival of the fittest” business, and what have you. Others seem… more»
• For Sale • 23 Comments
Big Toothy Grin! 1955 DeSoto Firedome
DeSoto was more than a 16th-century Spanish explorer and conquistador (Hernando de Soto). It was a division of Chrysler Corp. from 1928 to 1961. Positioned between Plymouth and Dodge, it was a viable make until the late 1950s. Chrysler… more»
