DeSoto's very first model year, 1929, set a US first-year production record of 81,065 cars — a record that stood for 31 years until the 1960 Ford Falcon finally broke it.
Lead trim: Six Series K 174.9 cu in Chrysler I6 (1929)
DeSoto SixK · 1929–1933
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a DeSoto Six 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.
FactDeSoto's very first model year, 1929, set a US first-year production record of 81,065 cars — a record that stood for 31 years until the 1960 Ford Falcon finally broke it.
The DeSoto Six was first introduced on August 4, 1928 as a 1929 model (Series K, updated to CK in mid-1930) and was a badge-engineered version of the 1928 Chrysler Six with the same 109.75 in wheelbase, offering a smaller 174.9 cu in (2.9 L) Chrysler I6 ("Silver Dome"; the roadster had the high-performance "Red Head") and an overall length of 169 in, with hydraulic 11 in four-wheel drum brakes and 19 in wood-spoked wheels. Four two-door body styles and three four-door styles (including a touring car convertible) were offered; all two-door choices listed at $845 and the DeLujo Sedan was the top model at $955; trim packages used the Spanish terms "cupe", "coche" and "de Lujo" (the roadster was the "Roadster Espanol") in honour of Hernando de Soto, and by 1931 English terms were used. The affordable price for a Chrysler straight six helped a record sales pace and an all-time high for any American car at its introduction, helped by Chrysler's 1929 24 Hours of Le Mans entry. The infobox lists 174.9, 205.3, 217.8, 228.1 and 236.7 cu in DeSoto sixes across the whole Six family without dating each.
Collectors Spotted in the DeSoto Six Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the DeSoto Six yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six Series K 174.9 cu in Chrysler I6 (1929) | 1929–1929 | 2.9 L Inline-6 | 55 hp | — | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
DeSoto's plain-looking Airstream outsold its own futuristic, streamlined Airflow stablemate by three to one in 1935 — buyers chose the ordinary-looking car over the more advanced one.
DeSoto's very first model year, 1929, set a US first-year production record of 81,065 cars — a record that stood for 31 years until the 1960 Ford Falcon finally broke it.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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