1936 DeSoto Airstream

228ci I6 | 3-Speed Manual | Art Deco Dashboard Trim

Extended Warranty
LOT #

260455717

Pre War Car

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OFF MARKET VEHICLE
All the information and photos on this listing are from when this vehicle was originally listed on ExoticCarTrader.com
Make:
Model:
VIN:
6053202
Lot Number:
260455717
Condition:
Used
Odometer:
59,915 miles
(Exempt / TMU)
Engine:
228ci I6
Drive Type:
Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD)
Transmission:
Manual/Standard
Exterior Color:
Black
Interior Color:
Brown
Vinyl Wrap:
Vehicle Location:
Michigan
  • 1936 DeSoto Airstream 4-Door Touring Sedan
  • 228ci I6
  • Single-Barrel Carburetor
  • 3-Speed Manual
  • RWD
  • Black Exterior
  • Brown Interior
  • Chrome Front & Rear Bumpers
  • Dual Cowl-Mounted Auxiliary Lamps
  • Suicide Rear Doors
  • Running Boards
  • Art Deco Dashboard Trim

Extras Included in the Sale

  • Extra Motor with 45k miles
  • Front end parts and additional items

Overview of 1936 DeSoto Airstream For Sale by Owner

The 1936 DeSoto Airstream represents a fascinating chapter in pre-war American motoring, arriving during an era when automotive design embraced both mechanical durability and the dramatic styling influences of the Art Deco movement. Positioned as DeSoto’s more conventionally styled alternative to the radical Airflow, the Airstream offered familiar proportions while still incorporating sleek modern touches for its time. This 1936 DeSoto Airstream 4-Door Touring Sedan shows approximately 59,915 miles and stands as a rare surviving example of Chrysler Corporation craftsmanship from the golden age of American automobiles. With its long sweeping fenders, distinctive pre-war styling, and charming period details, this DeSoto offers collectors an authentic glimpse into motoring from nearly nine decades ago.

Exterior and Interior

The exterior of this 1936 DeSoto Airstream 4-Door Touring Sedan is quintessential pre-war Americana, with elegant proportions and design elements that instantly transport you to another era. Finished in black, the body’s flowing fenders, upright greenhouse, and commanding chrome grille create a stately presence that modern vehicles simply cannot replicate. Chrome front and rear bumpers, dual cowl-mounted auxiliary lamps, and classic running boards add both character and authenticity, while the rear-hinged suicide rear doors enhance convenience and provide one of the most memorable styling cues from the period. Every angle of this sedan reflects an age when automobiles were designed with both craftsmanship and ceremony in mind. The interior of this 1936 DeSoto Airstream 4-Door Touring Sedan captures the warmth and artistry of 1930s automotive design. The brown cabin presents a simple but elegant environment centered around the remarkable Art Deco dashboard trim, whose geometric styling serves as a reminder that even utilitarian family sedans once carried architectural inspiration. Thin pillars and expansive glass create an airy cabin feel, while the upright seating position reinforces the commanding driving experience expected from a pre-war automobile. Unlike modern cars built around technology, this DeSoto offers a tactile, mechanical connection that enthusiasts of vintage motoring deeply appreciate.

Engine

Under the hood sits DeSoto’s dependable 228ci inline-six, a naturally aspirated flathead engine fed by a single-barrel carburetor and paired with a 3-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels. In period, this durable powerplant was valued less for outright performance and more for its smooth operation, simplicity, and long-term reliability. Like many Chrysler Corporation flathead engines of the era, it earned a reputation for robust engineering and straightforward serviceability. The manual gearbox ensures a fully analog driving experience, while the rear-wheel-drive layout and body-on-frame construction reflect the honest mechanical design principles of pre-war American automobiles. This is motoring in its purest historical form.

Walk-around Video of this DeSoto Airstream

1935 Ford Model 48 Deluxe 5-Window Coupe

For Sale
ASK: $53,297
Miles: 73,548
Estimated: $538.28/mo

The 1935 model year marked an important turning point for Ford, introducing a more streamlined design, improved suspension, and a refined version of the legendary flathead V8 that helped make affordable eight-cylinder performance accessible to American motorists. Nearly a century later, the Model 48 remains a celebrated example of prewar American automotive craftsmanship, particularly in the desirable Deluxe 5-Window Coupe configuration. This 1935 Ford Model 48 Deluxe 5-Window Coupe, showing 73,548 miles, comes finished in its original Coach Maroon color, complemented by a refurbished Brown cloth interior, red wire-spoke wheels, and distinctive wide whitewall tires. What truly sets this example apart is its remarkable history of AACA recognition, with the seller reporting Junior and Senior First Place awards, five Preservation awards, and a prestigious Grand National First Place award from the Antique Automobile Club of America. These distinctions are especially meaningful within the collector-car community, where authenticity, historical accuracy, and presentation are central to judging. Powered by Ford's celebrated 221ci flathead V8 and equipped with a three-speed manual transmission, a rear rumble seat, and a factory radio, this award-winning Deluxe Coupe combines prewar character with an impressive record of recognition among dedicated antique automobile enthusiasts.

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