Aussie DeSoto Ute

[DaveBuckle]

Found on FB MarketP ...
1954 Plymouth motor - would it be an acceptable/doable option for the DeSoto?
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...728646513986/?

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by DaveBuckle

Found on FB MarketP ...
1954 Plymouth motor - would it be an acceptable/doable option for the DeSoto?
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...728646513986/?

Hard to see from the pics if it is a 25" long engine . I had a engine out of a mid-fifties car and it was the shorter 23" long engine with 3 and 1/4" bore . Maybe you would have to alter the engine mounts location in order to fit a 23" engine in the 41 ute. Looks like that motor for sale has the later internal water pump by-pass system ( head gasket has an extra hole ) , the earlier 1940s engines had a external by-pass with a short external hose and a wider fan belt. You could use a 23" engine but there is some degree of fiddling around involved .... There should be some examples of the correct type of Canadian engine around as used in the T110L trucks and other 1940s Canadian sourced Chrysler products.

This will upset you but the original engine from my army 41 DeSoto ute ended up in the Knox tip . All out of my control, a house move and a family member who hates old cars . This persons idea of a good time was an afternoon using a Stihl cut off saw to cut up old cars and tip them....

[Mike K]

On Facebook Market Place

[Mike K]

Film of a army Plymouth/Dodge ute

https://www.facebook.com/10001150537...63156470744525

[DaveBuckle]

Loved the footage.
I did sell the ute to a fellow who is part of a museum in Adelaide area (where it originated from) - it went to a good home with intentions of restoring it to running condition.
I have now sold off most of my "works ín progress" collection to purchase a restored and running F15A.

[Mike K]

A unusual wartime pic of a DeSoto army ute: the civilian Victorian reg. number (FA 341) was issued around 1943. A military vehicle that was paid for with funds raised by a contest during the war. The young lady in the pic, Gladys Marriott, she is wearing the sash, is mentioned in the 'wartime secrets of Chesterville road' article https://localhistory.kingston.vic.go...of%20Moorabbin.

A further twist to all of this is: there are relatives of Gladys Marriott living around here !

I have gone through the AWM126 books..can't find this particular DeSoto listed. A few of these DeSoto utes were disposed to 'Buckle Motors' which is funny considering the original posters name !

https://victoriancollections.net.au/...7d672e1dd33483

Historical information
This photograph shows members of the community outside the Moorabbin Council Offices, handing over a brand-new utility truck for use by the Australian Comforts Fund, in support of the war effort. It was purchased with funds raised by contestants in Moorabbin's 'Popular Girl Quest'. Contestants received a vote for each penny they collected. The winner was Gladys Mariott, pictured centre wearing a sash, who raised £528 10s, earning her 126,800 votes. In total, the contestants raised more than a thousand pounds, which enabled the purchasing of the new utility truck.