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DeSoto Custom Brougham 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)
Brougham Overview:
DeSoto Custom (Brougham). 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 6, it’s perfect for larger families.
The 1946 DeSoto Custom Brougham predates the establishment of modern safety testing organizations like Euro NCAP. Safety features were rudimentary by today's standards, focusing primarily on structural integrity and basic braking systems, without advanced occupant protection.
3.9 (109 Hp) Tip-Toe Shift Verdict:
Performance Verdict
Featuring the innovative Tip-Toe Shift semi-automatic transmission, this variant offered a smoother, more convenient driving experience than the standard manual. The 109 Hp 3.9L engine remained consistent, providing gentle power delivery suitable for comfortable travel.
Fuel Economy
The Tip-Toe Shift system, while enhancing driving ease, likely had a negligible impact on fuel economy compared to the standard manual. Consumption would remain typical for a large, carbureted engine of the late 1940s.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Spacious and comfortable interior, typical of American sedans.
- • Robust and reliable inline-six engine for its era.
- • Classic post-war American styling with distinctive DeSoto grille.
- • Available Tip-Toe Shift semi-automatic transmission offered driving convenience.
Cons:
- • Modest performance by modern standards, not built for speed.
- • High fuel consumption compared to contemporary vehicles.
- • Lack of modern safety features (expected for the era).
- • Manual steering and braking require more effort than modern cars.
Specifications:
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | DeSoto |
| Model: | Custom |
| Generation: | Brougham |
| 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: | 6 |
| Doors: | 2 |
| 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: | 64 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 5265 mm mm |
| Width: | 1923 mm mm |
| Height: | 1687 mm mm |
| Wheelbase: | 3086 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, 279 mm |
| Rear brakes | Drum, 279 mm |
The hidden gems or the annoying flaws? Expose the truth about the DeSoto Custom!