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.
@randylucas2458 Dad's had the old flat-head 6, but had a 3-speed semi automatic transmission. Start out in 1st, use clutch for 2nd, let off the gas, it went into high. Or you could let off the gas (clunk) to 2nd, then clutch into high. Not a speedy car, very heavy with thick sheet metal and big chrome teeth for a grill. Very reliable, lots of room. Big back seats for dates at the drive-in movies.
@randylucas2458 I'm envious, would like to have that old car now. Dad sold it to cousin Pete in 1969 for $100. Still a good car, he sold it when they moved to Atlanta from Ohio.
@@mikefannon6994 well I'm looking for 25 grand for it but I'm also waiting for my new valve guides to come in so if you're interested I can always contact you after I put the guides in it
@@mikefannon6994 this has the Hemi engine in a 2-speed semi-automatic there is no clutch but you do have to shift up and down it's a pretty cool car it's got the big teeth it reminds me a lot of my 2012 Charger even though it's a bubble car they're very similar
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
The 1950’s was a period of transition from low rpm, high torque low hp engines to high rpm, higher hp engines. Also displacements were pretty modest in the early 50’s. They went from the high 200 to low 300 cubic inch engines to bigger engine displacements of low/mid 300 cubic inch to over 400 cubic inches by the late 1950’s and were switching from flathead L head valve in block to better breathing overhead valve in head designs, switching from 6 volt to 12 volt electrical systems and were applying lessons and technology derived from the high power piston aviation engine designs of WWII. They were even fooling around with gas turbine designs, which eventually turned into a dead end. The 1950s were a giant technology change and upgrade through the cars.
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.
You left out the top of line 1954 and 1955 Fireflite Coronado which had a special tri color paint of Coronado Green (a little green color), black and white. Although many dealers did not like the black and had their body shops repaint the black to white.
So Cadillac was named after a French explorer, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, who founded the fort and later city of Detroit, and DeSoto was named after a Spanish explorer and conquistador, Hernando de Soto who was involved in expeditions in Nicaragua and the Yucatan Peninsula. He played an important role in Francisco Pizarro's conquest of the Inca Empire in Peru, but is best known for leading the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern-day United States (through Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and most likely Arkansas). He is the first European documented as having crossed the Mississippi River.
This video was poorly resourced. By 1955 , CHRYSLER CORPORATION had FIVE MAKES…NOT FOUR: PLYMOUTH, DODGE, DeSOTO, CHRYSLER, and the newly separated IMPERIAL.
I didn't finish the video but it appears you omitted an important and unique model designed for the taxicab/limousine market, the 139.5" wheelbase, jumpseat-equipped, 1946 to 1954 DeSoto Suburban. It ranked second only to the Checker in the taxicab market, but was dropped when the restyled 1955 models were introduced.
You pretty much got tge history of desoto completely wrong. Although in the usa, tge desoto brand of chrysler Corp ended, it didn't not end in the rest of the world. Desoto became chryslers export brand which also included trucks. Desoto branded cars and trucks were produced around the world with chrysler spinning it off in 1979. As an independent brand desoto truck production finally came to an end in 2016 in Europe. Many can be seen on the road today in eastern Europe and the middle eastern countries. Also. You forgot Chrysler's fourth brand in 1960 in the USA, Imperial dodge plyouth and chrysler 4 brands
Surprisingly, not that much. I own a 55 DeSoto that I have had for about 40 years, and it's only worth about ten grand. The engine by itself is worth about two grand because it is a running engine. My old girl is due for another re-do, but it's still a running driving car.
5:09 there's my car it's not exactly an automatic you have to shift it up and you have to shift it down between the two gears there is no clutch pedal however
@@IBR-SRT it's a 2-speed semi-automatic you have to shift it up and you have to shift it down you can pull up to a stop sign in second gear and then put it down into low but it's still got to be done
Undoubtedly very interesting but the extremely monotone style of speech without punctuation and intonation makes it impossible to go through the story. Instead of just summing up facts omitting good storytelling, perhaps make it captivating for the audience by applying rest moments, intonation and clear punctuation and stops; all well timed of course. You lost me personally at least at ~59 seconds due to the extremely monotonous character, which is a true shame.
Oh c’mon you don’t have to be a car buff. Puh-leeze. Pop culture will inform people. These cars were before my time but tv/movies/cartoon can be great teaching tools. I think there was a Looney Tune where Porky Pig was starting a car but Daffy Duck was under the hood. The old cars had a “choke” knob/lever and Daffy was literally choking when it was activated. And old cars seem to have a starter pedal down on the floor, left foot actuated? I only have experienced turning a key but yet I’m aware of the old timey stuff. What about Packard? Or the amazing Duesenberg cars? Seems that’s the origin of the phrase “that’s a doosey” came from. In the Pixar Cars movie is the fabulous Hudson Hornet. Hudson is long gone. But lots of us today have an idea of what they were like. Edsel? In the Muppet Movie, Fozzie mentions being a bear in his natural habitat: a Studebaker! 😂 I could go on, but I don’t want to date myself by saying I was about old enough to drive when Saturn came out. Wonder if kids today know Saturn? Olds? Or R.E.O. and their Speedwagon (or perhaps the namesake band). My daughter got me into the Bizarre Adventures of some Joe and she mentions a Robert E. O. Speedwagon character and I nearly spit my lunch/dinner out 🤣 So try and have some perspective. Like that food critic in that Pixar movie. 😊
Vehicles with a starter button on the floor, the button was right-foot activated, usually placed just above the accelerator. Some early 60s GM cars had the starter built into the accelerator- you would press the pedal all the way down, and it would "start with a roar" as everyone said.
The Firesweep should never had been built , Dads 1957 DeSoto was a very dependable ,Beautiful and Fast car,,.with no problems Chrysler Corp did a bad decision panic in 1960, It was their own fault , They allowed Dodge and Plymouth to get out of their lanes with a upscale models , Chrysler had too many low end models too ,,. Chrysler should have dropped half of the styles naming in each Make and DeSoto would be a more common car today . Virgal Exner got too far into the deepend in 1959 and did not recover.. He either needed a long Vacation of inspiration or a different boss that was leading Him ,,. In my Opinion There Was no more beautiful car than the 1957 and 58 DeSotos of All American auto Makes ,He should have tinkered with that style a yr or too longer ,. the only thing comes close is the 69 Mark 5 . and T-birds
This was awful. Video and narration don’t match. Showing Groucho on what’s my line , at the end when you’re talking about the company failing is ridiculous. De Soto was a sponsor of the show. The video and narration suggest they are speaking about the company in the video. It’s stupid.
Please try to match the models you're talking about with the ones shown.
Right.. Entirely too much footage of that 1952 model driving through ocean spray. That was pointless.
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.
I have a 1954 DeSoto firedome sedan it has the fire Dome motor obviously it also has the two-speed power shift semi-automatic transmission
@randylucas2458 Dad's had the old flat-head 6, but had a 3-speed semi automatic transmission. Start out in 1st, use clutch for 2nd, let off the gas, it went into high. Or you could let off the gas (clunk) to 2nd, then clutch into high.
Not a speedy car, very heavy with thick sheet metal and big chrome teeth for a grill. Very reliable, lots of room. Big back seats for dates at the drive-in movies.
@randylucas2458 I'm envious, would like to have that old car now.
Dad sold it to cousin Pete in 1969 for $100. Still a good car, he sold it when they moved to Atlanta from Ohio.
@@mikefannon6994 well I'm looking for 25 grand for it but I'm also waiting for my new valve guides to come in so if you're interested I can always contact you after I put the guides in it
@@mikefannon6994 this has the Hemi engine in a 2-speed semi-automatic there is no clutch but you do have to shift up and down it's a pretty cool car it's got the big teeth it reminds me a lot of my 2012 Charger even though it's a bubble car they're very similar
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
@@seed_drill7135 I should have mentioned that in my video now that you bring it up
Pontiac came up with their EFI in '57. But GM used air suspension in '58, requiring a swap out.
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
As I was told, I was born in the back seat of a 1952 DeSoto. A little strange for a birth in 1963.
born? more likely ...conceived
@@reasonablespeculation3893 they were roomy back there!😛
My dad bought a '57 Fireflight. That was a very fast and comfortable. Many U.S. road trips all across our great Southwest.
The Desoto Fire Dome Hemi had only @ 180 HP ? Wow .
The FireFlite 57 Hemi developed nearly a HP per cubic inches.
The 1950’s was a period of transition from low rpm, high torque low hp engines to high rpm, higher hp engines. Also displacements were pretty modest in the early 50’s. They went from the high 200 to low 300 cubic inch engines to bigger engine displacements of low/mid 300 cubic inch to over 400 cubic inches by the late 1950’s and were switching from flathead L head valve in block to better breathing overhead valve in head designs, switching from 6 volt to 12 volt electrical systems and were applying lessons and technology derived from the high power piston aviation engine designs of WWII. They were even fooling around with gas turbine designs, which eventually turned into a dead end. The 1950s were a giant technology change and upgrade through the cars.
I remember them well they were classy.
55 Desotos were real beauties!
Nice to see a pile of DeSoto photos of cars with Australian licence plates and right hand drive.
I own a 1954 DeSoto firedome sedan it is a great car
The POWERMASTER was the 6 Cylinder.
The FIREDOME was the Hemi V-8.
I got a 54 fire Dome I love the motor in that car
Subscribed. I agree about showing the cars you’re talking about. I know some are. Congrats on your channel and Best to you!
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).
thats just great, but youre not supposed to drive down the middle of the road.
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.
@@michaelbenardo5695 I got my answers from articles and Wikipedia
Knock off the loud music
You left out the top of line 1954 and 1955 Fireflite Coronado which had a special tri color paint of Coronado Green (a little green color), black and white. Although many dealers did not like the black and had their body shops repaint the black to white.
Good job!
So Cadillac was named after a French explorer, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, who founded the fort and later city of Detroit, and DeSoto was named after a Spanish explorer and conquistador, Hernando de Soto who was involved in expeditions in Nicaragua and the Yucatan Peninsula. He played an important role in Francisco Pizarro's conquest of the Inca Empire in Peru, but is best known for leading the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern-day United States (through Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and most likely Arkansas). He is the first European documented as having crossed the Mississippi River.
DeSoto was a typical European butcher.
This video was poorly resourced.
By 1955 , CHRYSLER CORPORATION had FIVE MAKES…NOT FOUR:
PLYMOUTH, DODGE, DeSOTO, CHRYSLER, and the newly separated IMPERIAL.
I didn't finish the video but it appears you omitted an important and unique model designed for the taxicab/limousine market, the 139.5" wheelbase, jumpseat-equipped, 1946 to 1954 DeSoto Suburban. It ranked second only to the Checker in the taxicab market, but was dropped when the restyled 1955 models were introduced.
As a teenager in the 1970's and 80's Desoto was synonymous with outdated, jalloppie, clunker, ect
I was a teen then also but no one I knew had ever seen or heard of a DeSoto until Happy Days mentioned one.
You pretty much got tge history of desoto completely wrong. Although in the usa, tge desoto brand of chrysler Corp ended, it didn't not end in the rest of the world. Desoto became chryslers export brand which also included trucks. Desoto branded cars and trucks were produced around the world with chrysler spinning it off in 1979. As an independent brand desoto truck production finally came to an end in 2016 in Europe. Many can be seen on the road today in eastern Europe and the middle eastern countries. Also. You forgot Chrysler's fourth brand in 1960 in the USA, Imperial dodge plyouth and chrysler 4 brands
I mainly focus on the American car scene thank you for sharing
I wonder what price you could get today for an original 1951 DeSoto V8 Hemi. Talk about the perfect engine for a rat rod.
Surprisingly, not that much. I own a 55 DeSoto that I have had for about 40 years, and it's only worth about ten grand. The engine by itself is worth about two grand because it is a running engine. My old girl is due for another re-do, but it's still a running driving car.
Get rid of the ANNOYING "NOISE" accompaniment and I may return.
Poor car driven in the salt water...
What about the FIREWOOD for 58????
5:09 there's my car it's not exactly an automatic you have to shift it up and you have to shift it down between the two gears there is no clutch pedal however
Powerflight 4 speed trans. Right???
There's a high and low gear range with a torque converter to shift into low 2 and high 2?
@IBR-SRT 2 speed semi-automatic
@@IBR-SRT it's a 2-speed semi-automatic you have to shift it up and you have to shift it down you can pull up to a stop sign in second gear and then put it down into low but it's still got to be done
Sounds like the Dynaflow, used in Buick cars, late 40s.
You misspelled Watching at the very end
Thank you for watching to the very end
Actress Barbara Rush at 7:31?
I honestly have no clue 😅
Undoubtedly very interesting but the extremely monotone style of speech without punctuation and intonation makes it impossible to go through the story. Instead of just summing up facts omitting good storytelling, perhaps make it captivating for the audience by applying rest moments, intonation and clear punctuation and stops; all well timed of course. You lost me personally at least at ~59 seconds due to the extremely monotonous character, which is a true shame.
Your commentary and visuals are disjointed in numerous instances!
Oh c’mon you don’t have to be a car buff. Puh-leeze. Pop culture will inform people.
These cars were before my time but tv/movies/cartoon can be great teaching tools. I think there was a Looney Tune where Porky Pig was starting a car but Daffy Duck was under the hood. The old cars had a “choke” knob/lever and Daffy was literally choking when it was activated. And old cars seem to have a starter pedal down on the floor, left foot actuated? I only have experienced turning a key but yet I’m aware of the old timey stuff.
What about Packard? Or the amazing Duesenberg cars? Seems that’s the origin of the phrase “that’s a doosey” came from. In the Pixar Cars movie is the fabulous Hudson Hornet. Hudson is long gone. But lots of us today have an idea of what they were like. Edsel? In the Muppet Movie, Fozzie mentions being a bear in his natural habitat: a Studebaker! 😂
I could go on, but I don’t want to date myself by saying I was about old enough to drive when Saturn came out. Wonder if kids today know Saturn? Olds? Or R.E.O. and their Speedwagon (or perhaps the namesake band). My daughter got me into the Bizarre Adventures of some Joe and she mentions a Robert E. O. Speedwagon character and I nearly spit my lunch/dinner out 🤣
So try and have some perspective. Like that food critic in that Pixar movie. 😊
Your giving me very good video ideas right now. Thank you.
Maybe a deep dive into packard or edsel or Hudson
@@IBR-SRT Start the names of cars with an UPPER case letter, ie, Packard, not packard, and Edsel, not edsel.
Vehicles with a starter button on the floor, the button was right-foot activated, usually placed just above the accelerator. Some early 60s GM cars had the starter built into the accelerator- you would press the pedal all the way down, and it would "start with a roar" as everyone said.
Hey lets drive my new car on the beach,getta whole lotta salty water under it?
It was an ad to demonstrate desotos toughness
The Firesweep should never had been built , Dads 1957 DeSoto was a very dependable ,Beautiful and Fast car,,.with no problems Chrysler Corp did a bad decision panic in 1960, It was their own fault , They allowed Dodge and Plymouth to get out of their lanes with a upscale models , Chrysler had too many low end models too ,,. Chrysler should have dropped half of the styles naming in each Make and DeSoto would be a more common car today . Virgal Exner got too far into the deepend in 1959 and did not recover.. He either needed a long Vacation of inspiration or a different boss that was leading Him ,,. In my Opinion There Was no more beautiful car than the 1957 and 58 DeSotos of All American auto Makes ,He should have tinkered with that style a yr or too longer ,. the only thing comes close is the 69 Mark 5 . and T-birds
The name of your channel is misspelled. Might be best to start over with proper spelling
💋
If this is the best you can do when reading from a prepared text, STOP! You need to do a lot better if you want a UA-cam following. Regards.
This was awful. Video and narration don’t match. Showing Groucho on what’s my line , at the end when you’re talking about the company failing is ridiculous. De Soto was a sponsor of the show. The video and narration suggest they are speaking about the company in the video. It’s stupid.
Poorly done. Shows little knowledge of the subject. Uses public domain video and it often doesn't match the text. Thumbs down, no subscription.