The disappearance of DeSoto

Please try to match the models you're talking about with the ones shown.

Dad bought a new 1953 Desoto when I was 2. My earliest memories are of that fine car. I got to drive it on dates in high school. He sold it in 1969 when I graduated. Dad really took care of all his cars, I don't remember the Desoto ever having a problem. Wish I could find one today.

Bell Model 47B helicopter (with removable top) at 6:12. Driving that Desoto in the surf is a big mistake. The brake housings will fill with sand-laden water requiring a brake job.

DeSoto actually offered an early attempt at electronic fuel injection as an option in 1958. Unfortunately, it wasn't ready and they had to warranty swap them for regular carburetors. Only one or two survive today.

Our family had a '60 DeSoto Fireflite, the low end trim model. It was a 4 dr hardtop, (no sedan post). A big V-8 that had to have high test gas. It was fast, but was hampered by the 2 speed Powerflite transmission, a light duty unit that wasn't much. It really needed the 3 speed Tourqueflite trans. The body looked just like a '60 Chrysler, only changes were grille and taillights.

I enjoyed your program. There is a lot of good information here as well as the fun to look at video content. The biggest improvement you could make is in editing- focus on better synchronizing your video with the narrative. Keep working at this and ignore negative commentary from grouches . The Desoto brand was a casualty of Chrysler Corp. product planners scrambling to deal with a fast changing auto market of the late 50s and early 60s which wanted fewer traditional big medium priced cars and more smaller, economy cars. Also Chrysler Corp’s overall market share was rapidly declining due to a big hit to their reputation from poor quality of the 1957 model year , and buyers tiring of the Forward Look tail fins.

In my opinion, De Soto's biggest problem was to abandon its traditional (2) model line up. It really enjoyed a unique position in that its models where basically the same car (wheelbase interior room etc.) with the only real difference being appointments. Later the difference included two different engines. However, it was still one basic car with different appointments. When they tried to compete with Dodge, it's image was diluted. In the publics mind, De Soto's traditionally were an alternative to driving a Chrysler which was perceived as a rich mans car.

As I was told, I was born in the back seat of a 1952 DeSoto. A little strange for a birth in 1963.

The '61 Desoto shown in the movie "Mississippi Burning " has to be the only example I have ever seen driving...I'm 76, don't recall ever seeing one as a kid

In 1971 I was a high school senior and my friends and I would visit junk yards to fix the POS cars we had. On one visit I saw a strange looking car, it turned out to be a Desoto. I had never seen one before, the keys were in the ignition, so I took them. Several years later Happy Days would premier and Mr Cunningham drove a Desoto in the show. I still have those keys, they're aluminum and feel flimsy in my hand.

My dad bought a '57 Fireflight. That was a very fast and comfortable. Many U.S. road trips all across our great Southwest.

Why, early in this video, do you show a 41 Dodge when you are talking about the 42 DeSoto? The DeSoto was not a Dodge, it was a retrimmed slightly cheaper Chrysler 6. Then, you talk about the new 1949 DeSoto, but you show a 46 - 48 car. Now, you are calling the 53 Powermaster 6 DeSoto's flagship when that was DeSoto's base series. The FireDome V8 was the flagship. Later in the video, you are talking about the 56, but keep showing pictures of the 53. Then, you talk about the Firesweep being introduced as a 56, when it came out in 57, not 56, and was the first DeSoto that was Dodge-based. The Firesweep, because of it's low price instantly became the dominant seller, with severe repercussions. That car severely hurt DeSoto's reputation, as the 57 Dodges and Plymouths are very poor-quality cars. DeSoto sales fell sharply in 58, as that was a severe recession year. ALL cars experienced a big drop in sales, except for the Rambler and the new for 58 4 seat Thunderbird, but DeSoto sales didn't recover at all for 59, so Chrysler panicked and pared the model lineup back, way too much. The Adventurer became the 1960 version of the Fireflite, and the 1960 Fireflite was the 1960 version of the FireDome. No convertibles and no station wagons were offered, so sales fell sharply. There was a 61 planned, so it was produced only until the parts for it were used up. As for inter-divisional competition, that was partly from the expensive, (for a Dodge), Regal Lancer for 1958, then in 1961, the Chrysler division fielded a cheap Newport series. That car, priced a tiny bit cheaper than the DeSoto, but carrying the Chrysler name, killed the DeSoto for good and ALSO cheapened the Chrysler, and the Chrysler division never got back it's prestige after than big mistake. THAT is what killed the DeSoto, that 57 Firesweep and the 61 Chrysler Newport. I truly wish you youngsters would quit thinking you know "everything" when in fact you don't know -hit from Shinola about cars unless they are Datsuns or Toyotas. Research your subject BEFORE making a video.

Subscribed. I agree about showing the cars you’re talking about. I know some are. Congrats on your channel and Best to you!

I remember them well they were classy.

The POWERMASTER was the 6 Cylinder. The FIREDOME was the Hemi V-8.

The Desoto Fire Dome Hemi had only @ 180 HP ? Wow .

I own a 1954 DeSoto firedome sedan it is a great car

Nice to see a pile of DeSoto photos of cars with Australian licence plates and right hand drive.

This video was poorly resourced. By 1955 , CHRYSLER CORPORATION had FIVE MAKES…NOT FOUR: PLYMOUTH, DODGE, DeSOTO, CHRYSLER, and the newly separated IMPERIAL.

My dad had a mid-50's model Desoto. It had ball bearings (instead of bushing) steering linkages and would follow the crown of the road (hands off).