A brief history of DeSoto cars (a Chrysler division) The car itself was a mid-price, six cylinder, 55 horsepower bargain. DeSoto provided engineering advantages such as an oil filter and Lockheed hydraulic brakes that were either optional or not offered by contemporary makes. DeSoto niceties included standard automatic windshield wiper, ignition lock, brake light, full-instrumentation ...
DeSoto cars, 1928-1961, with specifications Written by Chrysler Corporation, 1966 On , the Detroit Free Press reported: "Probably no development of the past five years has created so profound a stir in the automobile industry as the current announcement that the new De Soto Six, which will be presented to the public in the next three months, is to be built by Chrysler.” With ...
Chrysler also built this model in Canada in spite of its low volume. Desoto Diplomat models were built in the U.S. and Canada for export. As with the Dodge D25, these cars were P15 Plymouths with a facsimile Desoto grill and Desoto badges, which perhaps allowed Chrysler to sell them at a higher price.
1928-1957 Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Fargo, and DeSoto Car, Truck, and Military Vehicle Model Data Guide by Gerald Wilson The model chart was an annual publication which printed the starting and ending serial numbers of all Chrysler models from the begining to date. As such it is the most...
Corporation-wide quality problems resulted in some horribly built cars. It's said that DeSoto four door hardtops leaked so badly that occupants were wise to exit the car to avoid drowning. One 1957 DeSoto Adventurer went through four transmissions, three power steering units, two new double point distributors, new valve guides, and a new radiator.