HIGHLIGHTS
- Believed to be the only one of its kind in the UK
- Popular film prop car
- ‘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
- Good condition exterior with gloss black finish
- Rare ‘Suicide Door’ option
- Resprayed in 2019 in original colour scheme
- A few minor marks and bubbles but do not detract from the overall appearance
- All original chrome, trim and badges
- Original ‘Fluid Drive’ insignia
- Windshield visor
- Fully undersealed in 2020 but showing some areas of surface corrosion
- Would ideally benefit from a wire brush and undersealing regime to protect the underside for the future
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
- Vendor states that it runs and drives well and starts on the button
- Engine bay appears solid with surface rust but would benefit from detailing to bring it up to the standard of the bodywork
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 good 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.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
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