I love it... I first learned to drive on a 1950 Dodge Meadowbrook with three speed fluid drive... excellent cars these are! Wish they still made them like that, and maybe, if I'm lucky enough, I'll get one again to drive around...
I traded my Honda 125 motorcycle for a car like this. Never needed a hotel room. I could completely lay down in the back seat and not touch either one of the doors, it was so wide. This was a car I wish I still had. My best friend liked it so much, he bought a 1948 Plymouth. We had great fun driving around Winter Haven Florida, when we we in high school.
We have a 48 Dodge like this one. We like it. Reliable (remember this is 70 years old). Comfortable, and super easy to drive.....except for parallel parking!! But it is kinda slow, vacuum windshield wipers pretty much suck, handles like a cabin cruiser (floats around), but just take it easy and it all works nice. And inexpensive. They just don't call for a lot of money....perfect IMHO
What's cool is the 48 was designed with a 3rd gear fluid drive. Which is to say, once in third gear no need to go back to 1st, u slow at a stop, then slowly accell and drive on...😉
NOT! The four speed with a semi automatic was a different setup and was often called Simplimatic, Prestomatic, Tip-toe shift etc. This car is simply a 3 speed manual with fluid drive, negating the use of the clutch when coming to a stop. The four speed unit was coupled to a fluid coupling with a low range and high range, with 2 speeds in each range. You had to shift between low range and high range, or reverse, but there was no need to use the clutch unless shifting between the ranges. You could leave it in low range and shift automatically between 1 & 2nd all day, or leave it in high range and shift automatically between 3 & 4th gear all day. There were other iterations that Chrysler used as well with a fluid coupling and even some with a torque converter, before the fully automatic Powerflite came out in 1954. Read more www.allpar.com/mopar/m6.html
Sounds like electric wipers may have been an option, I got my car from the original owner in 1964 with 16,000 miles on it. It was pretty well optioned self cancelling turn signals, deluxe radio, clock and heater. I have a parts car that has the cheaper 6 tube radio and clock delete, I'll have to check on the wipers...
When I was a kid in the 70's my sister's BF had a '55 Ford Crown Victoria, but his brother had a '48 Dodge Fluid Drive 2 Door Sedan like this one. Did it use Whale Oil in the Trans?
I love it... I first learned to drive on a 1950 Dodge Meadowbrook with three speed fluid drive... excellent cars these are! Wish they still made them like that, and maybe, if I'm lucky enough, I'll get one again to drive around...
I traded my Honda 125 motorcycle for a car like this. Never needed a hotel room. I could completely lay down in the back seat and not touch either one of the doors, it was so wide. This was a car I wish I still had. My best friend liked it so much, he bought a 1948 Plymouth. We had great fun driving around Winter Haven Florida, when we we in high school.
Haha Love the no hotels need about this car! That is amazing, thank you for sharing
We have a 48 Dodge like this one. We like it. Reliable (remember this is 70 years old). Comfortable, and super easy to drive.....except for parallel parking!!
But it is kinda slow, vacuum windshield wipers pretty much suck, handles like a cabin cruiser (floats around), but just take it easy and it all works nice.
And inexpensive. They just don't call for a lot of money....perfect IMHO
In 1968 I was 16 and bought a 48 Dodge from my neighbor for $35, yep the good ole days indeed.
What's cool is the 48 was designed with a 3rd gear fluid drive. Which is to say, once in third gear no need to go back to 1st, u slow at a stop, then slowly accell and drive on...😉
Nice car. Fluid Drive is a 4 speed semi automatic transmission.
NOT! The four speed with a semi automatic was a different setup and was often called Simplimatic, Prestomatic, Tip-toe shift etc. This car is simply a 3 speed manual with fluid drive, negating the use of the clutch when coming to a stop. The four speed unit was coupled to a fluid coupling with a low range and high range, with 2 speeds in each range. You had to shift between low range and high range, or reverse, but there was no need to use the clutch unless shifting between the ranges. You could leave it in low range and shift automatically between 1 & 2nd all day, or leave it in high range and shift automatically between 3 & 4th gear all day. There were other iterations that Chrysler used as well with a fluid coupling and even some with a torque converter, before the fully automatic Powerflite came out in 1954. Read more www.allpar.com/mopar/m6.html
True the gyro matic came out in 49.
I have saved a 1948 Dodge 2dr Coupe really a gem.
my folks had a 48 four door, dark green. 3 speed, fluid drive.
I meant the vacuum wipers suck....But the car is a pleasure.
My 48 Dodge sedan has two speed electric wipers, came from the factory that way. They work great.
Sounds like electric wipers may have been an option, I got my car from the original owner in 1964 with 16,000 miles on it. It was pretty well optioned self cancelling turn signals, deluxe radio, clock and heater. I have a parts car that has the cheaper 6 tube radio and clock delete, I'll have to check on the wipers...
your De Soto is a very rare car. It is indeed a 3 speed Fluid Drive.
4 speed 2 gears in low range and 2 gears in high range
When I was a kid in the 70's my sister's BF had a '55 Ford Crown Victoria, but his brother had a '48 Dodge Fluid Drive 2 Door Sedan like this one. Did it use Whale Oil in the Trans?
Any idea about an average price value ?
Is it still available?
I have saved a 1948 Dodge 2dr Coupe really a gem.