The DeSoto Suburban is an automobile produced by DeSoto from 1946 through the 1954 model year. The Suburban was a continuation of DeSoto's long-wheelbase models, first introduced in 1946.
8-657: While in production, the Suburban was available under the DeSoto Deluxe , Custom and Powermaster model designations. The Suburban differed from other DeSotos in that the four-door sedan rode a 139.5 in (3,543 mm) wheelbase, creating a car that was capable of carrying eight passengers as shipped from the factory. The car accomplished this eight-passenger capacity through the use of factory-installed jump seats . Suburbans were powered by Chrysler's inline six-cylinder engine, which delivered sufficient power to move
16-466: The 1946, 1947, 1948 and first half of the 1949 model years used DeSoto's prewar bodies. A fully redesigned Custom was launched in the second half of 1949, along with a redesigned Deluxe, and these cars are referred to as “1949 Second Series” models. In 1950, the Custom gained DeSoto's first station wagon body style, which was not offered as a Deluxe and gave the choice of optional wooden panels bonded to
24-481: The Custom, and was powered by Chrysler's L-head 237 cu in (3.88 L) six-cylinder engine , delivering 109 bhp (81 kW) at 3600 rpm. The DeSoto had full instrumentation. Deluxes produced during the 1946, 1947, 1948 and first half of the 1949 model years used DeSoto's prewar bodies, slightly updated following the end of World War II . In 1948, low-pressure tires became standard equipment. Custom models, along with Deluxe models, produced during
32-457: The base car for DeSoto's Custom Limousine model, an automobile seldom built on speculation, but more realistically upon customer orders. DeSoto dropped its limo build-outs at the end of the 1949 model year, finding it cheaper to sell and ship the cars to third-party vendors for customization. Despite its popularity with taxi firms, DeSoto being the second most popular manufacturer to the industry leader Checker , Chrysler's planned 1955 restyle and
40-509: The exterior steel body. The Custom also received DeSoto's first hardtop coupe, which featured pillarless door design and offered interior equipment and refinement from the convertible, and again, the Deluxe was excluded from the premium body style. Standard equipment included two-speed electric windshield wipers, a trunk light and full carpeting. In 1951, the brakes grew to 12 inches in diameter. The Deluxe remained DeSoto's base model until it
48-415: The factory-complete car; at nearly two tons, the vehicle mated to this engine was capable of cruising speeds, but not jack-rabbit starts. Most Suburbans were shipped with an optional rooftop luggage rack. With no station wagon in its line-up, the Suburban was at once a car for consumers who needed a large-capacity automobile, and a car almost ready-built for the taxi cab industry. The Suburban also formed
56-467: The spin-off of Chrysler's Imperial into its own distinct series spelled the end of the long-wheelbase Suburban at the end of the 1954 model year. DeSoto Deluxe 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
64-530: 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. The Deluxe shared its engine with
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