Guys, Found this 4 door De soto for $1500. Can anyone tell what year it is ? Havent seen it yet in person but looks pretty complete and solid besides the dirt. Would you do anything out of it ? in other words..., would you spend a penny on it ? I find it pretty interesting besides being a 4 door. What a cool dash also. UPDATE: Damn no, look at the flat six...... Thanks Diego
I have a 51 and 52 2 door sportsman hardtop(s), one with that grill, the other none...if it is in good condition it alone can fetch up to $1000.00 If you have others or are planning on fixing it, it is worth the money. Otherwise it would just be a risk to buy..
Hey time, Yeah, I know the grille is valuable but Id consider making a ride out of it. Parts are pretty hard to find I guess ....., thats why you talk about risk ?
Yes, I have found that the 1950-1952 desotos are the hardest to find parts for....in good shape no less...AND they are pretty much only interchangable with the higher end Chryslers of the same years. They arer VERY specific cars... If the car was near me....I would buy it.
The grill's worth a couple of hundred bucks. If it has a Hemi, 276 Firedome, most likely, thats cool. But most importantly if you like the car, get it, $1500 is pretty cheap.
If it's a Firedome, it's got the Hemi in it. If it's a Powermaster, it's a 6 cyl. I could use the front bumper and pan off of it if it gets parted out.
Did DeSoto have the Hemi in 51? I thought the FireDome came out in 52, and Chrysler was 51. If it is a Hemi, however, for sure get it if you like it. It's old and cool and will still get looks even with the dreaded doors of four.
I think you're right about that. How confident are we that this is a '51? What sets it apart from the 52s?
So, we are nto sure its a 51 ? Does the dash tell anything ? Anyway, what sixes came on the powermasters ?
Most Desotos that went to South America were rebadges Plymouths sold as Diplomats. That one looks like an American model. MOst likely it is a 251 cu in flat 6 with a clunkomatic semi auto trans. Looks like it doesn't need much in the way of body parts, and mechanical parts should be fairly easy to find (in the US at least) Get it cleaned up mechanically sound and enjoy it. I believe it is a 51. Lots of information on the Imperial club site regarding the semi auto trans. Car if stock will be 6V positive ground electrical. If semi auto there is an electrical connection between the carb and the transmission.
Hi Plym, Those period tranny names, etc are so funny. What is a clunkomatic semi auto tranny supposed to be ?!?! If you say mechanical parts are easy to find I'll go with it.I was talking to the guy and he may let it go down to $800. I think it must be a cool car for driving. And even being a 4 door it looks quiet appealing. D.
Clunkomatic was the name given by users to the mopar M4 and M6 Semi automatic transmissions. Named for the way they operated, Depress clutch and select transmisson range. Ounce the gear was selected, the clutch could be released with the brake applied and then the car could be driven without the clutch till the next it was reversed or till a diffeent forward range was selected. Basically the transmission is a dual range two speed, however low range is only needed for slippery conditions, heavy loads or real slow going, I think low range is only good for about 25 mph. However in high range the brake is released and the car is accelerated to about 18 to 20 mph, then the gas pedal is fully released, the governor and ignition inturupter do their thing, there is an audible clunk as the next gear is selected. The gas pedal can now be depressed again and the car will drive normally as a car in high gear. Slowing to a stop and holdig the brake on will allow the transmission to shift to the lower gear again, and be held against the brake, then accelorate away again repeating the release clunk drive sequence. A word of caution, these transmission have no park, the emergency brake must function or the wheels need to be chocked to keep the car from rolling away. There is a fluid coupling between the engine and transmission that provides no compression braking whent he engine is shut off. These transmissions were a stop gap reaction to the GM dynaflow and Hydromatics. They led to the development of the fully automatic power flite and torque flite rasnmissions. The marketing name for the Desoto M6 semi automatic transmission was Tip Toe drive. Chrysler called the same transmission Fluid torque drive, and Dodge called the Gyro Matics. Found in a few pickups of the era they were Truckomatics. If you get the car and it is a fluid semi automatic, a trip to the technical section on the Imperial club website is a must read.
Theres the engine. Still dont know about the tranny...... Although cheap....., too much work ahead for a Sunday ride....
Funny ..cause I have a 46 2 door sedan on here for sale 440 / 727 -- 8 3/4 rear all new suspension brakes Not one decent offer ..
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