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DeSoto Custom 7-Passenger 3.9 (109 Hp) Tip-Toe Shift
Overall Rating
DeSoto Custom:
The DeSoto Series S-10 is an automobile produced by DeSoto from 1942 through to the 1952 model year. While in production, the Series S-10, which was sold with the trim package DeLuxe, was DeSoto's entry-level car, and was offered primarily as two-door and four-door sedans while the Custom offered upscale interiors and appearance including a 7-passenger sedan and the extended-wheelbase Suburban sedans. The body was claimed to be "rust proofed".
The DeLuxe differed from the more upmarket Custom line by having less trim, fewer standard features, and plainer interiors in fewer color combinations. A six-tube and an eight-tube radio were optional....(Read more on Wikipedia)
7-Passenger Overview:
DeSoto Custom (7-Passenger). With 260 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. Rear‑wheel drive offers dynamic handling and sporty feedback. A four-door car with a separate trunk, ideal for families and daily commuting. With seating for 7, it’s perfect for larger families.
The 1946 DeSoto Custom 7-Passenger predates modern safety testing standards like Euro NCAP, which began in 1997. Safety features were rudimentary by today's measures, focusing on basic structural integrity rather than advanced occupant protection systems.
3.9 (109 Hp) Tip-Toe Shift Verdict:
Performance Verdict
Identical engine performance to the standard 3.9L, but the Tip-Toe Shift offers a smoother, more convenient driving experience for its time.
Fuel Economy
Similar to the standard manual, fuel economy remains a characteristic of 1940s large displacement engines with carburetion.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Exceptional interior space for 7 passengers
- • Classic post-war American styling and presence
- • Robust and relatively simple mechanicals for its era
- • Comfortable ride quality on period roads
- • Historical significance as a post-war family vehicle
Cons:
- • Very poor fuel economy by modern standards
- • Lack of modern safety features and crash protection
- • Performance is leisurely, not suited for modern traffic speeds
- • Parts availability can be challenging for specific components
- • Requires specialized maintenance due to age and classic status
Specifications:
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | DeSoto |
| Model: | Custom |
| Generation: | 7-Passenger |
| Modification (Engine): | 3.9 (109 Hp) Tip-Toe Shift |
| Start of production: | 1946 |
| End of production: | 1949 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Sedan |
| Seats: | 7 |
| Doors: | 4 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 109 Hp @ 3600 rpm. |
| Power per litre: | 28.1 Hp/l |
| Torque: | 260 Nm @ 1200 rpm. |
| Engine displacement: | 3877 |
| Number of cylinders: | 6 |
| Engine configuration: | Inline |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 2 |
| Fuel injection system: | Carburettor |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Engine oil capacity: | 4.7 l |
| Coolant: | 16.1 l |
| Cylinder Bore: | 87.31 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 107.95 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 6.6:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel tank capacity: | 76 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 5723 mm mm |
| Width: | 1956 mm mm |
| Height: | 1700 mm mm |
| Wheelbase: | 3543 mm mm |
| Front track: | 1448 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1524 mm |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the rear wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Rear wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 4 |
| Transmission type | Automatic |
| Gearbox type | Tip-Toe Shift |
| Front brakes | Drum, 305 mm |
| Rear brakes | Drum, 305 mm |
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