The long-wheelbase Powermaster became the basis for the DeSoto Taxi — the yellow cab glimpsed in the background of Hollywood films for decades.
Median 88 hp across 108 similar cars
Lead trim: Powermaster 251 cu in DeSoto I6 · up to 119 hp
DeSoto Powermaster1953–1954
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a DeSoto Powermaster yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactThe long-wheelbase Powermaster became the basis for the DeSoto Taxi — the yellow cab glimpsed in the background of Hollywood films for decades.
The DeSoto Powermaster was built in model years 1953 and 1954 (assembled at Maywood, Wyoming Road and Windsor, Ontario) for DeSoto's 25th anniversary, taking the place of the entry-level Deluxe, as a full-size car in pillared two- and four-door sedan and station wagon models powered by Chrysler's 251 cu in (4.1 L) DeSoto I6; a curved one-piece windshield replaced the two-piece unit. It was also an eight-passenger sedan with jump seats on a 139.5 in wheelbase, the DeSoto Suburban (regular six-passenger DeSotos were 125.5 in), a version of which was the DeSoto Taxi seen in Hollywood films; early 1953 cars had minimal chrome because of Korean War demands. Chrysler of Canada built it as a 4-door sedan and a 2-door hardtop (not offered in the US) with the 265 cu in (4.3 L) flathead I6 that first appeared in the 1952 Chrysler Windsor. It was discontinued for 1955 when DeSoto moved to Firedome V8 engines.
Collectors Spotted in the DeSoto Powermaster Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the DeSoto Powermaster yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powermaster 251 cu in DeSoto I6 | 1953–1954 | 4.1 L Inline-6 | 116 hp | 208 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Powermaster 265 cu in flathead I6 (Canada) | 1953–1954 | 4.3 L Inline-6 | 119 hp | 218 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
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Owners’ builds
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Photographs
Rivals
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