I have a '48 Chrysler Windsor that's virtually the same as all the Chrysler Corportion cars from '46 to early '49, prior to the release of the new '49 Chrysler Corp., cars, that were released mid-year. The light in the center of the trunk lid is the one and only brake light. The two lower lights on each side of the back of the car work in unison and are the tail and signal lights. I owned my car for a few years prior to learning this. And I wanted to clear this up if anyone buys one of these cars so that, if need be, they could inform a police officer of how the rear lights work. Regarding the "hair" carpet. You were close, Jay. Chrysler used Hogs Hair for carpeting. I believe it was the most the durable carpeting back in the day. The deep red carpeting on the floors is a modern replacement and I think it looks more beautiful than does Hogs Hair.
Thank you so much for all of that information that is why this channel exists because a lot can change in 80 years.. trying to keep this information out there for anybody that wants it and keep these cars on the road is the end goal =)
@@What.its.like. Thank you for saying that, Jay. It was very nice of you to acknowledge what I'd written. And I've corrected an error I'd made in typing "truck" when I meant "trunk."
The only things I know about this car was in the television show "Happy Days", The Cunningham family car was a 4 door version of this. These were popular among taxi drivers after the war.
I’m not a fan of the styling but would take this over the Chrysler equivalent I think that Chrysler looks worse.. that time period had some interesting design choices, 1939 Buick that’s an interesting design choice
Not only that but the Cunninghams had a Suburban - the most expensive car in the line. That was a long wheelbase 9 passenger model and as expensive as a Buick Roadmaster. When my Dad was growing up there was a family who always got the long wheelbase Desoto - in part because the the wife was more than just large, and she could ride comfortably in the back. I'll have to ask him what they did after 1954 when the lwb option went away!
Good job on a great car! The inside mirror is a standard mirror as equipped at the factory. The center light on the trunk is a brake light. The lights on the rear fenders are parking/running/turn signal lights.
Thank you glad you liked this episode really cool 58 Eldorado brougham today and then 60s tomorrow and 70s the day after thought it would be cool to give that a try
This car had a fascinating “automatic “ transmission. The ‘safety’ clutch was only used to shift into reverse, or to change from low to high or high to low gears. Because it had a torque converter, you theoretically could just leave it in high all day long- BUT zero to 60 might take a minute or two! My tastes are a bit strange, but I generally like the car’s styling, but I think the waterfall grill was better implemented on the Airflow or on the 39 Buick.
I’ve been looking for an airflow to do I think that those are super underrated cars or what they were they were like the American equivalent of the Tatra if I got the opportunity to do a tatra you could bet your butt that I would totally cover that car, that’s one of those holy grail cars that I never saw
@@What.its.like. Yes, the Tatra was a very interesting car. It was called the Nazi killer, for important Nazi officials that drove Tatras often died from roll over wreaks, from driving too fast around corners. The Tatra was the inspiration for the Porsche-designed VW Beetle, a product of the Nazi Regime.
Hi Jay, this DeSoto is stunning!!! It has been meticulously restored inside & out. This is a very good review!! When I was a kid the man that lived across the street from my grandmother had a four door 46 DeSoto that looked like it just rolled off the assembly line!!! I thought that it was a funny old car & the old man must have been well into his eighties!!! Thanks for sharing another exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂
Jay, I love this styling. The '46 DeSoto was iconic here in the New York City area because of the DeSoto Skyview Taxicab, which was the big 8 passenger sedan with the jump seats in the back plus a large sunroof which tourists used for eyeballing the tall buildings. Front fenders are pontoon styling and the center trunk light came on by itself when the brakes were applied. I seem to remember that being the only brake light when I saw these cars back in the '50s.
It's amazingly modern for a 46', and i can see why people like the bodies, often referred to as 'bathtubs'; very fluid and sylish in their own right. Thanks again Jay for the great tour of the DeSoto convertible, its a pleasure watching your presentations. 🎁
Enjoyed the video! I noticed a common looking starter solenoid near the battery. My '48 has the solenoid built into the top of the starter, as do all the '46-'48 DeSotos and Plymouths. Would love to know if the owner found a replacement for the stock starter (something I've researched, but it seemed to not be possible), or if this solenoid is operating something else?
Even though I'm not a real big fan of the styling, I can see how some people might get into it. The car and its restoration looks great. Excellent video.
Thanks Jay! DeSoto delightful 😀 A beautiful tank I would be proud to drive. The chrome and the details in styling are great. Lots of headroom indeed. 😂
Hey Jay, I hope you have had a great Christmas and this new year does some great things to you. Just one thing though: is it just my device going crazy or is there actually no audio in their video? *EDIT:* Nevermind, the audio actually works in this video! I appreciate the coverage of classic cars, especially ones from independent brands and now-defunct brands. Those old cars are probably some of the closest things you can get to a time machine in real life, because stepping into one is like a window into how things used to be in the past. Thanks for reading, and have a nice day! :)
Happy new year to you and your family =) I don’t know why RUclips glitches like that I’ve heard that a few times now not with just this episode but others
That's a nice DeSoto... I do have to say that I like the '41-42 front end a bit better, though... The retractable headlights are super cool. I'm pretty sure that the center mounted red light on the trunk lid is the sole brake light... The ones on the fender tips were running lights/turn signals... If I remember correctly. That Chrysler Fluid Drive sure was smooth... But overly complicated. It also slipped like nobody's business. If I remember, you were meant to start the engine in neutral and step on the clutch... You'd then select either "High Range" up, or "Low Range" down. Each range has 2 gears. Then you'd just let the clutch out.... The car would sit still until the driver hit the gas pedal. Once the car was rolling, the driver could upshift by letting off the gas pedal until they felt a "clunk"... That would mean the transmission upshifted, so the driver could get back on the throttle. You could come to a complete stop without depressing the clutch, but the car would still be in either "Low 2" or "High 2"... They didn't downshift automatically... But if course the driver had the option of clutching at a stop and shifting down again. Just seems like a real workout to me 😂
Yeah me too it was a step in the right direction with two steps back in speed and economy.. and it’s a little complicated just imagine if that came out today.. in a world we’re you have to put labels explaining not to drink battery acid
Nice introduction for the new year, Jay, The cars that moved from the step-up period are special to me. The Buick Roadmaster style is what I immediately think of. Big solid looking, as if they machined out of billet, with padded seats added. I think of an example I saw down in Venice Beach when I lived there. It was a bit of a wreck, but kept me transfixed. More, please jay. One distinguishing feature of this generation of cars were the pedals which descended into the floor/firewall, and did not pivot from below the dash, some of them were more extreme than others.
I love Desoto cars. This one looks like a real challenge to restore! So many crazy lines! Luckily, this one is gorgeous. I'm surprised it only weighs in at 3500lbs or so. It looks 5500lbs!
This is one of those automobiles that at first glance I never paid too much attention to, the design just didn't strike me as very attractive and the grill looked a little excessive in style to me, but the more that I looked at it up close with the various; lines and curves I can appreciate it more, so I would totally agree that it's an acquired taste. I think they steering wheel and instrument panel are very decent looking.
Those radiused rear side windows are something that Chrysler offered in DeSoto- and Chrysler-badged convertibles and coupes at least through the 1956 model year.
I really wish there was you could do that on the Facebook group here’s a link share as many pictures as you want on there as well as if you have any videos I really wish RUclips would get to a point where we could do that on here facebook.com/groups/707697117215381/permalink/996515725000184/?mibextid=K8Wfd2
@@What.its.like. I like that it is all original, unusual model…. Only 600 made in 1951-52 combined. Also two tone vinyl interior. Least: very slow acceleration… will easily cruise at 70.
That's not the original gas pedal the car came with. It's a Chevrolet gas pedal cover commonly sold in the late 1950s & early 1960s. Reason I know this is the dealer tried to sell my Dad this pedal cover when he bought our 1960 Chevrolet. The wide mat at the base was supposed to help women driving with high heel shoes on. They literally had a rack full of them hanging in the service shop at Chevrolet dealers back then. Notice the marking "Safety Clutch" on the clutch pedal---that denotes Fluid Drive equipped (semi-automatic).
@@What.its.like. in the early days of tv Groucho Marx hosted a quiz show called “You Bet Your Life “. Sponsored by DeSoto. And the tag line of the commercials was “Tell Them Groucho Sent You “!
Not one of your better videos. You missed the opportunity to show us one of the most unique radios of any auto. You zipped through the dash without pausing long enough to even notice the clock. If you don't know what a switch or button is for ask the owner before you shoot the video.
Thank you! Missed several features, one of which is the deluxe radio that changes the color of the illumination as you adjust the tone. Speedo changes color too as speed increases, going from green to yellow and then red. Gas pedal cover is a common accessory. The round part should be on the floor to protect the carpet from wear where the dirvers heels rests. Cool car deserves more research before making the video. Even the matching lucite dash knobs are worthy of note. I've had a '47 for years.
The band is Bread- the song is “Guitar Man”.
Oh man you got it very first one too you’re like the second viewer I must’ve made that too easy this time anyway congratulations =)
@@What.its.like. Thank you Jay! Keep up the great work!
WHAT A NICE CAR .REALLY ENJOY YOUR VIDEOS I COLLECT 118 SCALE CARS .WISH I COULD FIND THAT ONE
Thank you =)
I have a 47 Windsor that's almost identical that I would sell
I’m sure this design was in the film Grease. I love the car and wouldn’t change a thing. It’s a classic.
I have a '48 Chrysler Windsor that's virtually the same as all the Chrysler Corportion cars from '46 to early '49, prior to the release of the new '49 Chrysler Corp., cars, that were released mid-year. The light in the center of the trunk lid is the one and only brake light. The two lower lights on each side of the back of the car work in unison and are the tail and signal lights. I owned my car for a few years prior to learning this. And I wanted to clear this up if anyone buys one of these cars so that, if need be, they could inform a police officer of how the rear lights work.
Regarding the "hair" carpet. You were close, Jay. Chrysler used Hogs Hair for carpeting. I believe it was the most the durable carpeting back in the day. The deep red carpeting on the floors is a modern replacement and I think it looks more beautiful than does Hogs Hair.
Thank you so much for all of that information that is why this channel exists because a lot can change in 80 years.. trying to keep this information out there for anybody that wants it and keep these cars on the road is the end goal =)
@@What.its.like. Thank you for saying that, Jay. It was very nice of you to acknowledge what I'd written. And I've corrected an error I'd made in typing "truck" when I meant "trunk."
The only things I know about this car was in the television show "Happy Days", The Cunningham family car was a 4 door version of this. These were popular among taxi drivers after the war.
I’m not a fan of the styling but would take this over the Chrysler equivalent I think that Chrysler looks worse.. that time period had some interesting design choices, 1939 Buick that’s an interesting design choice
Not only that but the Cunninghams had a Suburban - the most expensive car in the line. That was a long wheelbase 9 passenger model and as expensive as a Buick Roadmaster. When my Dad was growing up there was a family who always got the long wheelbase Desoto - in part because the the wife was more than just large, and she could ride comfortably in the back. I'll have to ask him what they did after 1954 when the lwb option went away!
It’s delightful it’s delicious it’s DeSoto!
Hahaha yeah =)
@@What.its.like. I remember that was a jingle that DeSoto had as a commercial in the 1950s.
Good job on a great car! The inside mirror is a standard mirror as equipped at the factory. The center light on the trunk is a brake light. The lights on the rear fenders are parking/running/turn signal lights.
os acabamentos são todos perfeitos..parabéns.
Cool You are into it ! Great
=) glad you dig this episode
Beautifully lines on this De Soto... Another great job, Jay.
Thank you glad you liked this episode really cool 58 Eldorado brougham today and then 60s tomorrow and 70s the day after thought it would be cool to give that a try
This car had a fascinating “automatic “ transmission. The ‘safety’ clutch was only used to shift into reverse, or to change from low to high or high to low gears. Because it had a torque converter, you theoretically could just leave it in high all day long- BUT zero to 60 might take a minute or two!
My tastes are a bit strange, but I generally like the car’s styling, but I think the waterfall grill was better implemented on the Airflow or on the 39 Buick.
I’ve been looking for an airflow to do I think that those are super underrated cars or what they were they were like the American equivalent of the Tatra if I got the opportunity to do a tatra you could bet your butt that I would totally cover that car, that’s one of those holy grail cars that I never saw
@@What.its.like. Yes, the Tatra was a very interesting car. It was called the Nazi killer, for important Nazi officials that drove Tatras often died from roll over wreaks, from driving too fast around corners. The Tatra was the inspiration for the Porsche-designed VW Beetle, a product of the Nazi Regime.
Love a DeSoto. Like the grill on this model. But especially love the 55-57. Some of the most beautiful cars of that era and so underrated
I’m a huge Exner fan.. I think that’s when Chrysler was firing on all cylinders =)
Hi Jay, this DeSoto is stunning!!! It has been meticulously restored inside & out. This is a very good review!!
When I was a kid the man that lived across the street from my grandmother had a four door 46 DeSoto that looked like it just rolled off the assembly line!!! I thought that it was a funny old car & the old man must have been well into his eighties!!! Thanks for sharing another exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂
Thank you fir sharing that story what a great memory =) 1958 Cadillac Eldorado brougham coming today
@@What.its.like. Very cool Cadillac, thanks Jay!! 🙂
Jay, I love this styling. The '46 DeSoto was iconic here in the New York City area because of the DeSoto Skyview Taxicab, which was the big 8 passenger sedan with the jump seats in the back plus a large sunroof which tourists used for eyeballing the tall buildings. Front fenders are pontoon styling and the center trunk light came on by itself when the brakes were applied. I seem to remember that being the only brake light when I saw these cars back in the '50s.
Thank you so much for sharing the story as well as insight greatly appreciate it =)
@@What.its.like. You are welcome.
It's amazingly modern for a 46', and i can see why people like the bodies, often referred to as 'bathtubs'; very fluid and sylish in their own right. Thanks again Jay for the great tour of the DeSoto convertible, its a pleasure watching your presentations. 🎁
Glad you dig =)
Enjoyed the video! I noticed a common looking starter solenoid near the battery. My '48 has the solenoid built into the top of the starter, as do all the '46-'48 DeSotos and Plymouths. Would love to know if the owner found a replacement for the stock starter (something I've researched, but it seemed to not be possible), or if this solenoid is operating something else?
I’m not sure does anyone else know
I love this model. My favorite De Soto.
Even though I'm not a real big fan of the styling, I can see how some people might get into it. The car and its restoration looks great. Excellent video.
Thank you and to be fair I’m not into this body style either this was a weird design period across the board
Look underneath the trunk lid and see whether or not there is any wiring for a third tail light.
Never mind, the wiring is indeed there so it is an electrical light.
It looks like there may be 2 wires going into the trunk lid. If so that red lens on the trunk may be a rear light or brake light.
Thanks Jay!
DeSoto delightful 😀
A beautiful tank I would be proud to drive.
The chrome and the details in styling are great.
Lots of headroom indeed. 😂
Lots of chrome
Hey Jay, I hope you have had a great Christmas and this new year does some great things to you. Just one thing though: is it just my device going crazy or is there actually no audio in their video? *EDIT:* Nevermind, the audio actually works in this video!
I appreciate the coverage of classic cars, especially ones from independent brands and now-defunct brands. Those old cars are probably some of the closest things you can get to a time machine in real life, because stepping into one is like a window into how things used to be in the past. Thanks for reading, and have a nice day! :)
Happy new year to you and your family =) I don’t know why RUclips glitches like that I’ve heard that a few times now not with just this episode but others
That's a nice DeSoto...
I do have to say that I like the '41-42 front end a bit better, though... The retractable headlights are super cool.
I'm pretty sure that the center mounted red light on the trunk lid is the sole brake light... The ones on the fender tips were running lights/turn signals... If I remember correctly.
That Chrysler Fluid Drive sure was smooth... But overly complicated.
It also slipped like nobody's business.
If I remember, you were meant to start the engine in neutral and step on the clutch... You'd then select either "High Range" up, or "Low Range" down. Each range has 2 gears.
Then you'd just let the clutch out.... The car would sit still until the driver hit the gas pedal.
Once the car was rolling, the driver could upshift by letting off the gas pedal until they felt a "clunk"... That would mean the transmission upshifted, so the driver could get back on the throttle.
You could come to a complete stop without depressing the clutch, but the car would still be in either "Low 2" or "High 2"... They didn't downshift automatically... But if course the driver had the option of clutching at a stop and shifting down again.
Just seems like a real workout to me 😂
Yeah me too it was a step in the right direction with two steps back in speed and economy.. and it’s a little complicated just imagine if that came out today.. in a world we’re you have to put labels explaining not to drink battery acid
You are missing 4 ashtrays , 2 on the seat backs and 2 below the rear windows R&L The rear view mirror is standard
Thank you for pointing that out
Nice introduction for the new year, Jay, The cars that moved from the step-up period are special to me. The Buick Roadmaster style is what I immediately think of. Big solid looking, as if they machined out of billet, with padded seats added. I think of an example I saw down in Venice Beach when I lived there. It was a bit of a wreck, but kept me transfixed. More, please jay. One distinguishing feature of this generation of cars were the pedals which descended into the floor/firewall, and did not pivot from below the dash, some of them were more extreme than others.
Thank you so much for adding that =) I’ve never saw the 42 in person I didn’t know about the pedal situation
@@What.its.like. Yes, pedals were not suspended until Ford introduced the suspended pedals on their 1952 line of cars.
Didn't Howard Cunningham have a suburban in happy days?
that De Soto is a nice car Justin, I like the interior a lot.
I like the interior of this one as well it was very spacious and super comfortable =)
I love Desoto cars. This one looks like a real challenge to restore! So many crazy lines! Luckily, this one is gorgeous. I'm surprised it only weighs in at 3500lbs or so. It looks 5500lbs!
Yeah it looks heavier than the weight it so.. it’s built like a tank the doors are interesting
Has a total of 5 ashtrays
This is one of those automobiles that at first glance I never paid too much attention to, the design just didn't strike me as very attractive and the grill looked a little excessive in style to me, but the more that I looked at it up close with the various; lines and curves I can appreciate it more, so I would totally agree that it's an acquired taste. I think they steering wheel and instrument panel are very decent looking.
Totally agree =)
The little chrome circle just above the speedometer is the high beam indicator.
Thanks for pointing that out.. I pointed out the turn signals because some people thing turn signals came out in the 50s
Dios los cría y el diablo los junta. Qué pareja, de ampanga!!!!
Those radiused rear side windows are something that Chrysler offered in DeSoto- and Chrysler-badged convertibles and coupes at least through the 1956 model year.
Thank you for sharing that information
That molding between the fender and quarter PNL is called a bead
Rita Coolidge "We're All Alone"
Bread “Guitar Man”
Love it....but I think that I'd prefer a big four door actually....🤨🤔😎
yes to the brake light!
=) that is cool feature
I would like to learn from each video if the car had heating and/or a/c.
1st car to have AC was 1940 packard then WWII happened and would come back in the 50s heater/defrost was an option
This body style has never been a favorite of mine, but this one is stunning. Gorgeous restoration! I bet Santa was the first owner.
Totally agree =)
Is there a way to post pictures of my 47 Chrysler Windsor on here?
I really wish there was you could do that on the Facebook group here’s a link share as many pictures as you want on there as well as if you have any videos I really wish RUclips would get to a point where we could do that on here
facebook.com/groups/707697117215381/permalink/996515725000184/?mibextid=K8Wfd2
Interesting that the trunk lid hinges are not on the edges of the trunk lid.
The back of the Desoto looks like a 1941 Plymouth.
That’s what I thought as well the springs really helped that trunk lid wasn’t heavy at all
Center lamp is a brake light…. Used on all Chrysler products in the 1940s
Awesome =)
I own a 1951 DeSoto Suburban.
I’ve what do you like the most about it and what do you like the least
@@What.its.like. I like that it is all original, unusual model…. Only 600 made in 1951-52 combined. Also two tone vinyl interior.
Least: very slow acceleration… will easily cruise at 70.
Oh that’s awesome I didn’t know they were so rare, thank you so much for keeping her going =)
The gas pedal is round on the bottom. I suppose it is for womens high-heeled shoes.
I was thinking the same thing just never saw one like that until this one
Howard Cunningham would certainly drive this as well as a 1948 model.
=)
That's not the original gas pedal the car came with. It's a Chevrolet gas pedal cover commonly sold in the late 1950s & early 1960s. Reason I know this is the dealer tried to sell my Dad this pedal cover when he bought our 1960 Chevrolet. The wide mat at the base was supposed to help women driving with high heel shoes on. They literally had a rack full of them hanging in the service shop at Chevrolet dealers back then. Notice the marking "Safety Clutch" on the clutch pedal---that denotes Fluid Drive equipped (semi-automatic).
Thank you so much for sharing all that insight =)
Band is David gates and bread, the song is guitar man.
Yep =)
'Drive a Desoto before you Decide'
=)
Guitar Man by bread
Yeah great song =)
I have a 47 just like this
Tell them Groucho sent you!
=)
@@What.its.like. in the early days of tv Groucho Marx hosted a quiz show called “You Bet Your Life “. Sponsored by DeSoto. And the tag line of the commercials was “Tell Them Groucho Sent You “!
I know it's heresy but I'd love to see this restomodded by Ikon.
It's not a gage it's a cluster
If it's not Moe hair, maybe it's Larry's hair. It can't be Curley's hair though as he has none!
Hahaha
@@What.its.like. Glad you liked that one!
Not one of your better videos. You missed the opportunity to show us one of the most unique radios of any auto. You zipped through the dash without pausing long enough to even notice the clock. If you don't know what a switch or button is for ask the owner before you shoot the video.
Thank you! Missed several features, one of which is the deluxe radio that changes the color of the illumination as you adjust the tone. Speedo changes color too as speed increases, going from green to yellow and then red. Gas pedal cover is a common accessory. The round part should be on the floor to protect the carpet from wear where the dirvers heels rests. Cool car deserves more research before making the video. Even the matching lucite dash knobs are worthy of note. I've had a '47 for years.
I love this model. My favorite De Soto.