Retro 1941 DeSoto Automobile Christmas Theme 3" Badge Pin MoPar
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The 1941 DeSoto was a sleek, pre-war vehicle known for its
"rocket styling" and advanced engineering. Offered in Deluxe
and Custom trims across multiple body styles, it featured an elongated
alligator hood, hidden door hinges, and semi-automatic driving capabilities.
Design & Styling
Performance & Mechanicals
Models & Notable Features
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Oldsmobile Pontiac Plymouth DeSoto, Packard Hupmobile Hudson Essex Nash Graham
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Eight Studebaker OEM Standard, Airflow Deluxe Master Airstream Streamlined
Pickup, Terraplane Fleetline Fleetmaster Stylemaster Truck, Aerosedan Touring
Roadster Convertible Cabriolet, Utility 2 Two Door 2DR 4 Four Door 4DR Coupe
Sedan, Station Wagon Sport Hot Rod Custom Bomb Rat Rod GM, Lowrider Production
Art Deco Assembly Line Option, Accessory Dealer Rare Installed Factory Plated
216, Accessories Model A Model B Model T SCTA Flathead, Delivery Panel Cylinder
6 8 Speed Style Universal, Style V8 FoMoCo Mopar DPCD Vintage Antique Classic,
HP V8 Kit GPW USA Made Parts Race Gasser Dragster, Mount Patina Restore
Restoration Ton Find Crusier, Lead Sled Original Driver Show Pre-War Closed
Cab, Power COE 4WD Chassis Passenger Commercial Duty AA, 1938 1939 1940 1941
1942 1943 1944 1946 1947 1948
Dodge
Dodge Charger
Dodge Dart
Dodge Aspen
Dodge Coronet
Dodge Challenger
Dodge Charger Daytona
Dodge Lancer 770
Dodge Monaco
Dodge Super Bee
Dodge Challenger TA
Dodge Dart 270
Dodge Demon
Dodge Lancer
Dodge Mirada
Dodge Viper ACR
Extreme
1994 Dodge Stealth
Dart
Dodge Stratus
Dodge 400
Dodge A100
Dodge Aries
Dodge Caravan
Dodge Charger R/t
Dodge coupe
Chrysler borrowed
$250 million ($2,518,310,099.13 in 2021 Dollars) from Prudential in 1954 to
finance expansion, acquisition, and updating the outdated styling of their car
lines that contributed to Chrysler's failure to benefit from the postwar boom
as GM and Ford were.
Exner led the
development of the new corporate "Forward Look" styling of 1955,
beginning a new era for Dodge. With steadily upgraded styling and ever-stronger
engines every year through 1960, Dodge found a ready market for its products as
America discovered the joys of freeway travel. This situation improved when
Dodge introduced a new line of Dodges called the Dart to do battle against
Ford, Chevrolet, and Plymouth. The result was that Dodge sales in the middle
price class collapsed. Special and regional models were sold as well, including
the LaFemme (a white and orchid-trimmed hardtop marketed toward women) and the
Texan, a gold-accented Dodge sold in the Lone Star State. 1957 saw the
introduction of a new automatic transmission, three-speed TorqueFlite. Both
PowerFlite and TorqueFlite were controlled by mechanical push-buttons until
1965. 1956 saw the introduction of the 4-door pillarless hardtop (the same year
most other makes offered this body style) in all three Dodge series, Custom
Royal, Royal, and Coronet. Dodge's pillarless models were all badged
"Lancer."
1958 Dodge Coronet
Lancer hardtop coupe
Dodge entered the
compact car field for the 1961 model year with the Lancer, a variation on
Plymouth's Valiant. It was not initially successful but the successor, the 1963
Dart range would prove to be one of the division's top sellers for many years.
Chrysler made an
ill-advised move to downsize the Dodge and Plymouth full-size lines for 1962,
which resulted in a loss of sales. However, they turned this around in 1965 by
turning those former full-sizes into "new" mid-size models; Dodge
revived the Coronet nameplate in this way and later added a sporty fastback
version called the Charger that became both a sales leader and a winner on the
NASCAR circuit. This style dominated the racetracks for four years and the
aerodynamic improvements changed the face of NASCAR racing.
Full-size models
evolved gradually during this time. After Dodge dealers complained about not
having a true full-size car in the fall of 1961, the Custom 880 was hurried
into production. The Custom 880 used the 1962 Chrysler Newport body with the
1961 Dodge front end and interior. The 880 continued into 1965, the year a
completely new full-size body was put into production, the Polara entered the
medium price class and the Monaco was added as the top series. The Polara and
Monaco were changed mostly in appearance for the next ten years or so. Unique
"fuselage" styling was employed from 1969 through 1973 and then was
toned down again for the 1974 through 1977 models.
1967 Dodge Coronet
440 sedan
Dodge targeted the
muscle car market of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Along with the Charger,
models like the Coronet R/T and Super Bee were available for buyers seeking
performance. Dodge entered the pony car market segment with the Challenger
coupe and convertible for the 1970 model year. They were available with economy
I6 engines and numerous trims and options up to the "race-ready" Hemi
V8.
To offer a wider
range of cars during the 1970s, Dodge partnered with Mitsubishi Motors to
marketed their subcompact as the Colt positioned to compete with the AMC
Gremlin, Chevrolet Vega, and Ford Pinto. Chrysler would come to rely heavily on
their relationship with Mitsubishi. At the same time, Dodge marketed a version
of the Plymouth Duster, badge-engineered as the Dodge Demon. It was
inexpensive, but with I6 and V8 engines, the Demon could not achieve the fuel
economy of the four-cylinder Colt. The Demon sold in much fewer numbers than
the Duster.
1973–1980
1975 Dodge Charger
1977 Dodge Diplomat
sedan
The 1973 oil crisis
caused significant changes at Dodge, as well as Chrysler as a whole. Except for
the Colt and Slant Six models of the Dart, Dodge's lineup was viewed as
uneconomical. Although this problem affected American automakers, Chrysler did
not have the resources to respond to the changes in the marketplace. While
General Motors and Ford began downsizing their largest cars, Chrysler (and
Dodge) were slow to make change.
Chrysler was able to
use some of its other resources. Borrowing the recently introduced Chrysler
Horizon from their European division, Dodge was able to get its new Omni
subcompact on the market fairly quickly. At the same time, they increased the
number of models imported from Japanese partner Mitsubishi starting in 1971:
first was a smaller Colt (based on Mitsubishi's Galant line), then a revival of
the Challenger (Dodge Challenger) in 1976 as a compact two-door hardtop with a
four-cylinder engine.
The 1975 model year
had the Dodge Charger and Chrysler Cordoba share the same new body based on the
B platform. The Chrysler Cordoba had replaced the Plymouth Satellite Sebring.
The Charger SE (Special Edition) was the only model offered. It came with a wide
variety engines from the 318 cu in (5.2 L) "LA" series small block V8
to three versions of 400 cu in (6.6 L) big block V8. The standard engine was
the 360 cu in (5.9 L) 2-bbl small block, along with the code E58 4-bbl and dual
exhaust high-performance version (225 hp) available as an option.[33] Sales in
1975 amounted to 30,812.
1976 was the Dart's
final year in the North American market. The rear-view mirror was mounted on
the windshield rather than from the roof. Front disc brakes became standard
equipment on January 1, 1976 in accord with more stringent U.S. federal brake
performance requirements, and a new foot-operated parking brake replaced the
under-dash T-handle used since the Dart's 1963 introduction as a compact car.
The grille's parking lamps were cast in amber, whereas the previous years had
clear lenses with amber-colored bulbs. The Dart Sport 360 was dropped as a
separate model in 1976, but the 360 cu in (5.9 L) four-barrel, dual exhaust
(without catalytic converters) V8 was a $376 option (except in California) for
the $3,370 Dart Sport V8 models with automatic transmission.[34] Car &
Driver magazine tested the Dart Sport 360 in the April 1976 issue, pitting it
against the Chevrolet Corvette and Pontiac Trans Am, and found its top speed of
121.6 mph (195.7 km/h) to be second to the Corvette's 124.5 mph (200.4 km/h).[35]
Dodge's replacement
for the Dart was the Aspen, introduced in mid-1975 as a 1976 model. This new
design featured lighter weight resulting in slightly improved fuel economy; it
also had more interior and trunk room than the Dart. Front suspension was a new
design; it featured transverse-mounted torsion bars which not only improved
ride, but cornering as well. Its boxy styling gave the impression of a larger
car. However, sales had to be shared with the virtually identical Plymouth
Volare. Both cars were available in coupe, sedan, and station wagon body
styles, and in both base and deluxe trim. Despite its virtues, customers soon
found out about the Aspen's rush to market when they saw their cars experience
severe body rust within a couple of years on the road; engine and drive train
problems plagued the Aspen/Volare twins, and although the problems were largely
worked out within a few years, the final Aspens were the 1980 models. This car
was available with either a 225 cubic-inch Slant Six or a small block V8
displacing 318 or 360 cubic inches.
1976 Dodge Dart
4-door sedan
1976 was the final
model year for the Dodge Coronet, at least so far as the name Coronet went,
also its body style choices were relegated to just only two four-door models,
the four-door wagon and the four-door sedan. The former Dodge Coronet 2-door
model, which appeared for just the previous model year was replaced by the
Dodge Charger Sport 2-door model, which, itself, appeared for only one model
year. During the next model year (1977), the mid-size Dodge Coronet would be
renamed Monaco, which would be given stacked rectangular headlights and other
minor cosmetic changes, that would provide a prompt sales boost. The Coronet
and Charger were effectively replaced by the Diplomat for 1977, which was a
fancier Aspen.
Also, during that
same model year, the full-size Dodge Monaco would be renamed Dodge Royal
Monaco, which would appear for just one model year only and after that, both
Dodge and Plymouth (which would include Dodge Royal Monaco's entire Plymouth
Gran Fury counterpart line up as well) would discontinue all production of any
more full-size models. It lost sales every year until replaced by the St. Regis
for 1979 following a one-year absence from the big car market. In a reversal of
what happened in 1965, the St. Regis was an upsized Coronet. During the
following model year (1978), the mid-size Dodge Monaco (which would include its
entire Plymouth Fury counterpart lineup as well) would make its final
appearance (for all during the remainder of the 1970s).
While the Aspen got
accolades for styling and handling, the build quality was problematic, sullying
the car's reputation at a time when sales were desperately needed. It was noted
for having problems with its carburetors which resulted in frequent stalling.[citation
needed] The Aspen also had difficulties in starting, even after leaving the
engine off for several minutes.[citation needed] This resulted in several
recalls.
The Dodge Magnum was
introduced for 1978 to supplement the Dodge Charger. It was sold in two forms,
the "XE" and the "GT" and was the last vehicle to use the
long-running Chrysler B platform. The appearance was somewhat of a rounded-off
Charger and was in response to getting a car that would be eligible for NASCAR
that would be more aerodynamic, something that the 1975–1978 Charger was not.
Styling features included four rectangular headlights behind retractable clear
covers, with narrow opera windows, and an optional T-bar or power sunroof. The
Magnum was well-featured with power steering, brakes, and seats; the suspension
included Chrysler's standard adjustable, longitudinal torsion bars, lower
trailing links, and front and rear anti-sway bars. The base engine was the 318
cu in (5.2 L) V8 with Lean-Burn, while two and four-barrel carbureted 360 cu in
(5.9 L) and 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8s were optional; weight was nearly 3,900 lb
(1,800 kg).
1980 Dodge Diplomat
coupe
The Omni and Horizon
were introduced at a critical time since the company was on the brink of
bankruptcy and sought government support to survive. In 1978, Chrysler beat
Ford and General Motors to the market with a domestically produced front-wheel
drive car to challenge the VW Rabbit.[36] However, the L-bodies miscarried at
first, since 1978 was a year of strong sales for larger cars and demand for
compacts and subcompacts noticeably shrank. These initial poor sales of the
cars contributed to Chrysler's financial woes at the time, but when the company
requested federal assistance, the Omni was an important piece of evidence that
they were attempting to compete with imports and build small, fuel-efficient
cars and might be worth saving. For the three years leading up to the
introduction of Chrysler's K-cars, the Omni/Horizon was Chrysler's best-selling
model line.