The automobile featured in this article is a beautifully restored 1949 DeSoto Custom Coupe. This was the car promoted with the saying “Designed with you in mind“. DeSoto was advertised as giving you modern designing without compromising safety and comfort. Even back to 1946 most American automakers stressed reliability in their advertising as opposed to performance. Performance would come a bit later.
Between 1946 and 1954 DeSoto had three different model cycles. These were 1946-1948, 1949 -1952, 1953-1954. The first post war DeSotos were manufactured beginning in late 1945.
The first post war DeSotos as well as all the Chrysler brands differed from their competition by building valve in block engines as opposed to the overhead valve design. Within a year or two they reverted back to the overhead valve models. The 1946 Dodge models were actually a reissue of their 1942 cars and this was typical of almost all automakers at the time.
Enter the New DeSoto S-13 Models
In the middle of the 1949 production year DeSoto introduced their S-13 models. These replaced the S-11’s which had lasted from 1946 through the first part of the 1949 production cycle.All of these DeSotos, from 1946 to early 1949 looked essentially similar. The S-13’s were a major change and really were post war milestone automobiles. The years 1948 and 1949 were periods of major design change for many marquees.
Along with the new S-13’s came design changes as well. The mid range positioned DeSoto S-13 had a longer wheelbase than the S-11. Design changes included less overhang on the both the front and rear. This made the overall outside length less but the interior compartment actually offer more space.
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