1941 DeSoto Custom Two Door - 38K Miles - Great History - Turn Key

1941 DeSoto Custom Two DoorWhat a great find! Our seller (who will be 90 on his next birthday!) has owned this well-loved DeSoto for almost 20 years. He found it when it was owned by the original family that purchased it when new. The documentation includes laminated copies of the original title and paperwork as well as the original dealer brochure. During his stewardship, he has restored is as needed to keep it original in appearance as well as mechanically. He was told when he purchased it that the mileage of just less than 38,000 is true, original, actual mileage and as a retired Chrysler Engineer, he believes it to be so. Regarding restoration, the car was repainted in the original color of Navy Blue (looks to be Dupont #6049). He has an album with pictures of the work for historical interest. The undercarriage looks excellent as you can see in the pictures. Mechanically, it starts, runs and drives as you would expect a vehicle with life long excellent care should. It was driven from our sellers home to our location (about a 40-minute drive). Most of the fabric of the interior is original and for his use as a weekend driver and enjoyment at the various local shows, he wanted to keep it that way. He provided minimal repairs as shown in the pictures. All of the dashboard items and details tend to support the low mileage and indoor storage and care over the years. Check out the trunk and the ORIGINAL spare tire with the pinstriped steel wheel. If you become its new owner, you'll find the trunk filled with boxes of spare parts and items that Hermann gathered over the years and a car cover as well. You'll love the attention and the conversations this very cool DeSoto will spark! And, it's such a great "low dollar investment" to enjoy the classic auto hobby and high-quality community!
The 1941 model year marked the lauch of DeSoto's Rocket bodies. They were longer, wider, featured a lower belt line and alligator-style hood. In an attempt to curb battery theft, DeSoto put the hood release inside of the passenger compartment. Styling features for 1941 included a grille with 14 curved vertical bars on either side of a center panel, three horizontal bars across the front end, above the grille and concealed running boards.
DeSotos were offered in S8, Deluxe or Custom trim levels, on both regular (121.5") and long (139.5") wheelbases. Deluxe models got a 100 horsepower 228 CID 6-cylinder engine. Custom models got 105 hp out of the same displacement engine due to an increase in compression ration from 6.5:1 to 6.8:1. Mated to those engines was Chrysler's Fluid Drive and Simplimatic Transmission. The Deluxe body styles were the same as they were for 1940. Custom models could be had in a new Town Sedan configuration. Unlike regular sedans with "suicide" doors in the rear, Town Sedan doors swung forward. Custom models had chrome strips on the tail lamps and chrome reveal moldings on the body. Two-tone paint was an option on any non-convertible model. Running boards could be deleted on all models.
DeSoto sold 85,890 cars for calendar-year 1941, putting it in 10th place in sales for the year.* *Jim Benjaminson, "Illustrated Plymouth & DeSoto Buyer's Guide -- DeSoto: 1940s", allpar.com, https://www.allpar.com/old/buyers-guide/d-1940s.html.

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