National Desoto Club

My name is Steve and I have a 48 DeSoto coupe that was another persons project and has changed hands a couple times without being finished. I am in the process of finishing it and have a question on body parts. I'm located in north west NC so I would like to find something near by. My problem is with the trunk lid, it's all rusted and pinholes at the bottom edge, I have a line on one from a 1950 Dodge and wondered if they are the same, I know a lot of parts interchanged back in the 40s 50s but is the trunk one of them?

Steve,

Howdy and welcome to the message board. I don't have a parts interchange manual but I don't think the Dodge trunk lid will fit your car. I could be wrong here but it has always been my understanding that, for the most part, only Chrysler parts will interchange with the DeSoto.... and that's not even a given. However, there were a few things that would interchange with Dodge, such as tailgates on the station wagons for example, so like I said I may be wrong and in your case I hope I am!

Hang tight and I am sure someone will come along shortly that can answer that for sure.

BTW, what town in NC are you from? I am from Charleston, SC. Quite a few members in our area of the Carolinas! If you haven't joined the Club itself, I highly recommend you do so.

Best of luck on your '48!

Dean Mullinax

I'm in Elkin, straight up 77. I figured the 50 may not fit but others in the 40s may if i can find one.

Steve,

Are you able to post a photo of your car? A "coupe" may be a 2 dr sedan, a business coupe or a true coupe. Also, a photo will help us confirm not only the body style but the year or era. From there we would be more able to provide you with some interchange info.

Mark

The body styles of all the Chrysler products changed drastically from '48 to '50. Only the "early" '49s were the same as the '48s with the "late" 49s being like the '50s.

Based on this, the '48 will not fit a '50.

"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"

Steve,
My '46 - '54 reprint MoPar parts book does not list any p/n's for the deck lid of the '46 - '48 DeSoto. Not sure why that is but I'm unable to offer any confirmation on your question. Hopefully someone has an earlier version of the parts book to answer which deck lids will interchange.

thanks for posting the photos. Love those seat covers!

Mark

LOL, ya the seats are pretty cool, someone was thinking different. The measurements on the 50 i had a line on seem to be quite a bit different so I guess I need to fix it keep looking.
I did embroider the headrest in my Challenger, I like the look.

Its a ways off but go to the New Mexico craigslist. There is a wrecking yard that has a few Desotos' in it for sale or parts. Might find what you need there and they may have a shipper they use.