The Desoto was Chrysler's mid market car, and it faced strong competition from Oldsmobile, Buick, and Mercury during 1949 - 1952. The standard Desoto sold in North America used two "shorter on the outside - larger on the inside" bodies which were shared with the higher cost Chrysler. Desoto actually built four car lines, but only two were sold in North America. The standard Desoto was built on a 125.5 inch wheelbase, in Deluxe and Custom trim. The fluid drive was standard on Dodge but an option on the Desoto. Desoto Deluxe and Custom models all used the same flat head 6 cylinder engine that had been used for decades, but for 1951 - 1952 the 276.1 cid (4.1 liter) version from the Chrysler Windsor replaced the smaller Desoto version. Desotos were available with a manual transmission, fluid drive manual, and fluid drive/torque converter semiautomatic transmissions like the car you see here has.This '52 Desoto Custom four door sedan has benefited from an older restoration to bring it to the standards you see today. Finished in Dublin Green with a Marine Green top, the car is a wonderful driving example of a post war Desoto. The paint is in wonderful condition with no major imperfections showing. The front and rear chrome bumpers have both been rechromed during the restoration and look better then when they came from the factory. The same goes for the front grill and stainless trim going around the car. Inside, the seats have been refinished in a burgundy cloth that is in great condition. The same goes for the back seats. The carpet is new as well as the door panels and headliner. The dash is as nice as it was when it was new and everything works as it should. Even the clock works! Steering wheel is solid with no cracking. The only notable imperfection is the broken knob at the end of the shifter. Under the hood, the inline 6 cylinder runs great and is incredibly smooth. The transmission is a semiautomatic transmission that shifts as it should. This was an expensive option in 1952 and is rarely seen today. The engine compartment is very clean and shows no signs of damage or rot. In the trunk you will find a full size spare as well as a jack. It's been nicely upholstered with carpet to match the interior. The underside is very solid with no rot that we have seen. VIN number is 50256163 and the current mileage shows 45,670.