DeSoto models

DeSoto was a mid-priced American car brand of the Chrysler Corporation. Walter Chrysler founded the marque on 4 August 1928 and named it after the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto. It went on sale for the 1929 model year as a lower-priced Chrysler product.

In 1934 DeSoto offered its version of the streamlined Airflow, which proved unpopular with buyers. The DeSoto Firedome arrived in 1952 with a 276-cubic-inch Hemi V8 and was built until 1959 as a saloon, estate, coupé and convertible, with its engine growing over the years to more than 300 hp in 1958. The Fireflite was added above it in 1955 and ran until 1960, and the Dodge-based Firesweep below it in 1957. Sales then sagged, and the new Chrysler Newport competed in the same price range. In November 1960 Chrysler announced the end of the brand, and the last DeSotos were 1961 models. See also Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth.