DeSoto Airstream 1936

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The DeSoto brand was introduced by Chrysler in 1928. Walter Chrysler had already tried to take over the Dodge factory in 1926 but failed. This may have infuriated him and he started to think of launching a direct competitor, which became the DeSoto. In 1928 Chrysler was successful in another attempt to take over Dodge, but by that time, the production facilities for his new brand were almost up and running and in August 1928 the first Series K-models (model year 1929) were introduced. They became an immediate hit and actually held a sales record (80,000) for a first year new model that was only surpassed more than 30 years later by the Ford Falcon.
The DeSoto was named after Hernando De Soto, the Spanish explorer who traveled quite a lot of North American territory about 400 years ago. There was no apparent reason for selecting this name, but it was not a first, as during 1914-1915 a Zimmermann produced car was also named De Soto, with little success.
The DeSoto Six was joined in 1930 by the CF-Series, which shared its new L-Head I-8 engine with the Dodge. The DeSoto became a typical middle-class vehicle, priced slightly below the Dodge (The Plymouth brand, also introduced in 1929 was the entry level Chrysler Group car) and was reasonably successful until 1934. The Eight cylinder model had already been discontinued in 1933, but for 1934 the only available model became the Airflow, based on Chrysler’s controversial model that may have been efficient, but failed to attract buyers. Sales for 1934 plummeted and in 1935 the much more conventional Airstream model was introduced, which crossed the bridge during the period of the introduction of the all new S3-six series in 1937.
The Airstream models (1935=Series SG, 1936=Series 1) could be had in a number of body styles but the only engine available was the inline six displacing 241.5 cu.in and producing 93 BHP. They were designed under the direction of Raymond Dietrich, a highly regarded former custom body designer and former coachbuilder (of Packard fame) who would lead Chrysler designers out of the Airflow era.

The Airstream gave DeSoto a reason to celebrate at last. Sales shot up 116 percent for 1935, thanks to the new models. DeSoto would keep the popular Airstreams coming for 1936—while phasing out their version of the Airflow. DeSoto Airstreams for 1936 did have subtle changes. The chassis was lowered by an inch, while the 1936 version’s 117” wheelbase was longer by the same measure. A metal roof insert replaced the soft inserts of earlier cars. Independent front suspension, introduced in 1935, and the excellent 4-wheel hydraulic brake system helped make the cars a pleasure to drive.
The Airstream shown here is a 1936 (S1) Business Coupe, of which almost 2600 were produced. It was on offer at the 2008 Bonhams Quail Auction.