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 I suppose the variation may have to do with the lack of various models and sizes. Where a more modern interpretation of a DeSoto could be, for instance, Dodge with three different models/sizes such as the Polara (C body), Coronet (B body), and Dart (A body), in ’39, it was usually a single platform (full-size) with different bodies. Let’s examine this one in detail and I’ll try to explain further.
DeSoto’s trim levels included DeLuxe and Custom and they were spread over a Four-Door Touring Sedan (five or seven passenger), a Seven Passenger Deluxe Sedan (four-doors), a Two-Door Touring Sedan (our subject car), a Two-Door Club Coupe, and a Two-Door Business Coupe. This Watertown, Connecticut barn find is a DeLuxe trim level car and is one of 7,400 Two-Door Touring Sedans assembled in ’39.
The seller tells us, “71,000 original miles two owner car with all documents. No rust nice patina.” Yes. it appears to be pretty sound. The listing states this DeSoto as possessing a green finish though the images look gray to my eyes – not that it matters at this point. The important thing is that there does not appear to be any corrosion or body panel damage. One of the more notable features of cars of this generation was the grille. They are a leading, immediately noticeable, brand identifying characteristic. Often they’re damaged, especially by the time a car reaches 85 years of age. And that, fortunately, doesn’t appear to be the case here as this DeSoto’s grille shows as un-kissed. Also, note the oblong shape of the headlights – a bit of a refreshing twist on a very common (and necessary) component that is usually circular in nature.
The images of the grey cloth upholstered interior are not very telling but it appears that, as is often the case, the back seat’s in better shape than the front. All-in-all, however, the environment shows well and I don’t see evidence of mouse-house construction taking place. The dash is centered with a typical for the era, obvious chrome speaker grille though I do not believe this sedan is radio equipped. Note the three-on-the-tree shifter, what DeSoto called “Handi-Shift”. It was a new feature for ’39 having replaced the customary floor-mounted lever.
Powering this DeLuxe sedan is a 93 HP, 228 CI, in-line, flat head, six-cylinder engine. The seller clams that it, “runs and drives great, over drive works.” It’s hard to tell much about a car’s powerplant from one, not too revealing image but the engine compartment shows as original with the exception of some newer sparkplug leads.
This is a nice find (thanks T.J.!) as sedans from this era seem to usually come equipped with four-doors and not two. And that’s one of my concerns, I can see someone picking this car up and trying to hot rod it. That would be unfortunate, especially considering that DeSoto is a fallen-flag marque and it’s always encouraging to find a car from a discontinued brand that still bears originality. Interested parties will find this barn find here on Facebook Marketplace where it’s available for $12,000. That price seems a bit stiff but hold that thought and tell me, if you were to be the new owner, what would you do with this 1939 DeSoto Deluxe Two-Door Touring Sedan?
Looks to be a real nice surviving De Soto with that wonderful modern three on the tree. Probably would clean up really nice with today’s detailing materials. Keep it off the interstate and should cruise the 2 lane highway just fine. Might be priced a bit high as a car such as this doesn’t have a huge following now a day. Just amazing how some people get all excited about a new electric car, to me it’s like comparing new features of a washing machine. Just don’t care.
If you don’t care don’t buy one. Nobody’s making you.
Those are cool headlights,
but where would you ever find replacements?
If TV reality shows( as if) have taught me anything, people save a lot of crap. Remember, after the war, these cars were plentiful, and worn out. Many times, the unusual headlights( and tail lights too) were saved. I’d have to think one would pay dearly, however. I believe, the bodies were scrapped and the chassis and motors went into the Powell vehicles.
They use bulbs, they are not complete units.
This car has a radio, you can see the volume & tuning knobs, the station presets are the small vertical buttons on the right side, same radio that was in my 39 Plymouth.
’39 was the last year for the BIg 3’s use of the non-sealed beam headlights, like some of today’s cars, you just replaced the bulb, but, they were not nearly as bright as the sealed beams of 1940. Now, if you replace the ’39 bulb with an LED, you might keep the look, but be better able to look as a driver at night. And Chrysler Corp shared many parts across the four “brands”, let alone the models within the brand, as it did in the 1960’s, as did GM and Ford. My old school Chevy dealer, when I was a kid in the early 1950’s, showed me a Cadillac part and a Chevy part, in their boxes, they were identical, but the Caddy part cost twice as much as the Chevy part, but the Caddy’s owner did not want a Chevy part in his car, and insisted on paying more!
“[T]he Caddy’s owner did not want a Chevy part in his car [ . . . ].”
Your observation calls to mind a memory from almost six decades ago.
I was sixteen and working part-time at a local repair garage when a customer brought a new 1967 Oldsmobile. It was his and his wife’s first new car, their pride and joy, and he was giddy with delight to show it off. And rightly so, for the car was gorgeous. He subsequently learned, however, that the car’s engine, though it bore Oldsmobile markings and livery, was actually made by Chevrolet. Disillusioned, he traded the car for a Buick, whose distinctive engine design (which we now call “nailhead”) could not have been faked.
Who gives a crap about a stock DeSoto these days? This car deserves to be turned into a modern drivable street rod. Chrysler powered of course.
These year Desotos aren’t very desirable restored to its stock condition. They do still have great body styling, especially the front grill. For that reason I can see this being a good candidate for a custom build. A Semi/Hemi V8 1955-58 Chrysler engine would be my first choice. Would take some further modifications for sure.
nice looking car, would make a great street rod, had mine out yesterday driving to Crystal Lake from Wisconsin, very little interest from anyone, times have changed.
Regardless of what the next owner decides to do with the car; this a solid starting point. I’d clean it up and check the safety items and hit the road. I’m part of the demographic who likes and appreciates this era of cars. But I wouldn’t pay 12K. Half of that and we can talk. Not so many years ago this car might have sold at the current asking price. Not these days because potential buyers are aging out of the hobby. The seller probably won’t be overwhelmed with calls from prospective buyers. One of the few things today that have gotten less expensive.
Way back when my dad had a 39 Dodge 7 passenger sedan. The shifter was on the floor so I was surprised to see this one on the column. My dad bought his Dodge in Oklahoma in around 1941 move to Provo Utah, then after my mother died in January 1949 he move to Washington state, then in 1950 moved to Redding California all the time driving that old Dodge. There were no Interstate highways in those days. I was very young and have limited memories of that car, I do remember the pop up seats between the front and rear seats. It was a black car and the heater under the dash on passenger side had no defrosters so my dad kept a rag draped over the steering column to wipe the windshield on cold rainy days.
God Bless America
I read again that this 39 Desoto is in driving condition with its original drivetrain working properly. For that reason, I’d say leave it alone. But $12k is a little rich for this car, because they’re just not that desirable in stock condition. Older guys who liked them, as is, are just gone. I think $6500-$7000 is a more realistic price for what this is.
born in ’37 i can appreciate the fact that when saw one coming you knew what it was. as a friend of mine’s wife said,
todays models for the most part all look the same:like
suppositories tapered front flat rear.
there are exceptions:mustang, charger,camaro, challenger
For 12K? It’s a reasonable price for this car. Ready with a little tinkering and safety check to be a weekend driver for doughnuts, farmers market, happy hours, etc.