£11,000
offers 0
1949 Chrysler De Soto S10 Custom De Luxe
auctions.single.seller.popular
auctions.single.seller.view-count
auctions.single.seller.images
HIGHLIGHTS
- Believed to be the only one of its kind in the UK
- Fully restored
- ‘Fluid Drive’ auto transmission
- Kept in storage for almost 30 years
THE APPEAL
The De Soto S10 is one of a rare breed of cars introduced during World War Two, introduced in 1942 and kept in production for over a decade, latterly as an off-shoot of Chrysler.
Named after the Portuguese explorer Hernando De Soto, the model as a more upmarket model, offered in two trim levels – Deluxe and Suburban.
The Deluxe was the entry-level car, with a 3.9-litre six-cylinder engine and a choice of manual or three-speed ‘Fluid Drive’ automatic transmission. This one is a Fluid Drive, built in Detroit in 1949 and imported to Europe as a restored car in 1991, where it lived for 29 years as part of a private collection in the Netherlands.
It was brought to the UK in 2020 by the vendor and has been in occasional use since, as well as being in regular demand as a film or TV prop, which makes it an ideal opportunity as a business investment as well as a one-of-a-kind classic car
![]()
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
- UK V5C
- MOT and tax exempt
- Believed to be the only 1949 De Soto Deluxe in the UK
- File of bills, invoices and importation documents
- Invoice for new clutch a cost of £1,800 in 2022
- Non-transferable age-related registration number
THE INTERIOR
- Gorgeous green velour trim with front and rear bench seats, reupholstered in 2020 by Ryedale Upholsters in Elvington, N Yorks
- Art deco dash with wonderfully intricate dials
- Wood-effect Bakelite door trims and steering wheel
- Art deco dash with chrome ‘waterfall’ speaker grille
- Wood-effect knobs and dials
- Renewed carpets
- Original headlining with gentle patina
- Gorgeously intricate and beautifully presented throughout
THE EXTERIOR
- Excellent exterior with gloss black finish
- Rare ‘Suicide Door’ option
- Resprayed in 2019 in original colour scheme
- A few minor marks and bubbles, but nothing of any significance
- All original chrome, trim and badges
- Original ‘Fluid Drive’ insignia
- Windshield visor
- Structurally superb with no signs of any welded repairs underneath
- Fully undersealed in 2020
THE MECHANICS
- 3.9-litre straight six
- ‘Fluid Drive’ auto transmission
- 109-bhp
- This car has the optional feature known as the Tip-Toe Hydraulic Shift. This means it's an automatic and drops into high gear when you get over 35 mph
- Two-pedal automatic
- Runs and drives well, starts on the button
SUMMARY
One thing’s for sure with this car – you won’t see another coming the other way! It’s believed to be the only one of its type in the UK and is in fantastic overall condition – easy to drive, a pleasure to observe and a guaranteed talking point at shows and events. It’s in wonderful, preserved condition with a believed-genuine mileage and is perfect for TV and film work thanks to its WW2 styling and incredible presence. A one-off opportunity to acquire something truly unique.
Vehicle specification
- Year 1949
- Make Chrysler
- Model De Soto
- Colour Black
- Odometer 74,464 Miles
- Engine size 2878
Listing Details
- Seller Type Trade
- Town Knaresborough
- Location Yorkshire
- Country United Kingdom
The Gallery
Make an offer
This seller is open to offers. Enter the amount you’d like to pay and if your offer is accepted, a member of the team will be in touch.
Under offer
This seller has accepted an offer.
Click the star to watch the listing and keep an eye on it in the favourites section of your account, or search for something similar.