1954 DeSoto Facts, Figures, and Specifications
Five Fast Facts You May Not Know
1954 DeSoto Firedome V-8 Club Coupe
1. DeSoto Hemi Gets A Power Boost
2. Powerflite 2-Speed Automatic Transmission Arrives
3. True Air Conditioning Touted
4. Directional Signals Available at No Cost
5. Styling Changes Limited to Lights, Grille & Chrome Trim
1954 – Powerflite Auto Transmission Debuts
A styling change was that the grille reverted to the nine-tooth look of 1952 – with parking lamps floating inside the grille outline. Otherwise, the front bumper guards were redesigned and looked a bit more massive. Side trim was more extensive. Power was up, but not by much. The Powerflite fully automatic transmission debuted.
1954 DeSoto Resources
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1954 DeSoto Facts – Body Paint Color Mix Codes
Click on the Paint Code Name to See the Mix Codes for the appropriate color:
1954 DeSoto
| 301 Black | |
| 305 Huron Blue | |
| 306 Azure Blue | |
| 307 Ensign Blue | |
| 308 Fountain Blue | |
| 308 Tropic Blue | |
| 315 Kerry Green | |
| 316 Forest Green | |
| 317 Pinehurst Green | |
| 318 June Green | |
| 319 Fairway Green | |
| 330 Colonial Gray | |
| 331 Slate Gray | |
| 341 Burma Tan | |
| 350 Cherokee Red | |
| 355 Aztec Yellow | |
| 383U Shara Beige | |
| 384U Cadiz Blue |
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1954 DeSoto Facts and Specifications
General Year Information – 1954 DeSoto
The annual model changeover for 1954 resulted in a car with the same basic styling as the 1953 model. Exterior changes were limited to revisions for trim moldings, grille, bumpers and taillights. The most significant change was that the grille reverted to the nine-tooth look of 1952 – with the parking lamps floating inside the grille’s outline. The front bumper guards were redesigned and looked a bit more massive.
New chrome moldings were placed on front fenders and doors. The rear fender side moldings now stretched completely to the rear of the cars and the gravel shields were redesigned. Headlight and taillight clusters were updated with the decorative bezels on top that evoked the “Frenched” look popular with customizers in that period. Interiors were upgraded in both lines. Body colors expanded to 18 from 13 and included some metallic shades.
A new, 2-speed fully automatic transmission called “Powerflite” was now offered and replaced the previous Fluid Drive and Fluid Torque units. DeSoto media said it would provide instant response with no lagging or lurching between shifts. For the Fire Dome V-8, the compression ratio was raised and larger diameter valves were installed in the Hemi V-8 as a running change late in the year. Horsepower/torque ratings jumped from 160 to 170 and torque from 250 to 355 – ostensibly from the increase in compression ratio from 7.1 to 7.5:1.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
DeSoto ranked as the twelfth largest volume manufacturer in the industry this year. However, sales dropped alarmingly, by almost 40%, due in great part to the dated styling that had merely been tweaked over the last 5 years.
Cars were promoted as “DeSoto Automatics”, as a response to the release of the Powerflite fully automatic transmission arrival. The Coronado model, mainly a trim redo, arrived mid-year/spring . The Chrysler Corporation held elaborate dedication ceremonies for its new proving grounds, at Chelsea, Michigan.
1954 DeSoto Factoids
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Chrysler was the last of Detroit’s automakers to introduce a fully automatic transmission – 14 years after General Motors introduced the Hydramatic automatic transmission and 3 years after Ford’s Ford-O-Matic. Packard and Studebaker had theirs by 1950. The Powerflite transmission was lighter and simpler in construction and operation, using fewer parts. It was durable, and was installed behind every Chrysler Corporation engine from the I-6 to the Hemi V-8.
The changes to the body styling were minimal, at a time when other makers were introducing more dynamic styling changes each year. The public’s reaction was strong, and sales dropped by 40%.
1954 DeSoto Facts – Models Offered
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POWERMASTER SERIES S20 (6-Cylinder): The word “Powermaster” was incorporated on front fender moldings and a Powermaster crest adorned the hood. A horizontal chrome handle dressed up the deck lid. Technical features included No-Sway ride control; Oriflow shocks; Safe Guard hydraulic brakes; safety rim wheels; box type frame side rails; independent parking brake: waterproof ignition; rubber insulated body mountings; tapered leaf splay-mounted rear springs and rubber insulated rear spring shackles.
Completely new interior styling was adopted with upholstery, instrument panel and all appointments color-keyed to better harmonize with exterior finish.
FIREDOME SERIES S19 (8-Cylinder Hemi): For 1954, the word “Firedome” was set into the step down front fender moldings which identified it as the V-8 model. There were also prominent V-8 emblems on the front of the hood and rear fender sides, plus a V-shaped insignia on the rear deck lid. Seven models appeared at introduction time. A one-piece rear window was added to the Sportsman V-8 hardtop, replacing the three-piece unit.
Interiors on the Firedome were upgraded and color-keyed to the body as well, and an advertising campaign was started to make sure the public was aware of these changes. A luxury four-door “Coronado” sedan was added in the spring. Outside embellishments on this car included special rear fender signature logos and small medallions on the rear roof C-pillar.
1954 DeSoto Facts – Engines
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Powermaster I-6: L-head in-line six-cylinder. Cast iron block. Four main bearings.
Displacement: 250.6 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 3.4375 x 4.500 inches.
Compression ratio: 7.0:1.
Horsepower: 116 @ 3600 RPM.
Torque: 208 ft. lbs. @ 1600 RPM.
Valve lifters: Mechanical.
Camshaft timing: Intake 236°, Exhaust 236°, Overlap 18°, Lift (Intake) 0.375″ (Exhaust) 0.375″.
Carburetor: Carburetor: Carter E9C1.
Firedome Series Hemi V-8: V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 276.1 CID.
Bore and stroke: 3.626 x 3.344inches.
Compression ratio: 7.5:1.
Horsepower: 170 @ 4400 RPM.
Torque: 255 ft. lbs. @ 2400 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake 244 Exhaust 244°, Overlap 26°, Lift (Intake) 0.361″ (Exhaust) 0.361″.
Carburetor: Carter WCD two-barrel models 2129S; early vehicles 2067S.
1954 DeSoto Facts – Chassis Features
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- Wheelbase: 125.5″; long wheelbase 139.5″.
- Overall length: 214.5″; long wheelbase 223.875″.
- Overall width: 77.625″.
- Overall height: 62.50″.
- Front tread: 56.3125″.
- Rear tread: 59.625″.
- Tires: 7.60 x 15.
1954 DeSoto Facts – Powertrains
- Powerflite Transmission Ratios
- All: 1st –1.72:1, 2nd – 1:1; Reverse – 2.39:1.
- Stall: I-6 – 1210 RPM; V-8 – 1325 RPM.
- Three Speed Manual Transmission Ratios
- All: 1st – 2.57:1, 2nd – 1.83:1, 3rd – 1:1, Reverse – 3.48:1.
- Three Speed Manual Transmission Overdrive Ratios
- All: 1st – 2.57:1, 2nd – 1.83:1, 3rd – 1:1, Reverse – 3.48:1, Overdrive 0.70:1.
- Rear Gear Standard Ratios
- I-6:
3-Speed Manual Transmission – 3.90:1.
3-Speed Manual Transmission with Overdrive – 4.30:1.
2-Speed Automatic Transmission – 3.731:1. - V-8:
3-Speed Manual Transmission – 3.73:1.
3-Speed Manual Transmission with Overdrive – 4.10:1.
2-Speed Automatic Transmission – 3.54:1.
- I-6:
1954 DeSoto Facts – Powertrain Options
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- Three-speed manual column mounted transmission was standard.
- Overdrive manual transmission was optional at $98 extra.
- Powerflite automatic transmission was optional at $189 extra.
1954 DeSoto Facts – Significant Options
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- Air Temp air conditioning ($643).
- Electric clock ($33).
- Fog lights ($33).
- Outside rear view mirror.
- Power brakes ($37).
- Power steering ($140).
- Power windows ($101).
- Radio ($101). Heater ($78).
- Rear seat radio speaker.
- Solex tinted glass ($33).
- Wheel covers.
- White sidewall tires ($33 exchange).
- Windshield washers.
- Wire spoke wheel rims.
1954 DeSoto Downloads and Images
1954 DeSoto Facts – Related Document Downloads
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1954 DeSoto “Automatic” Brochure
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1954 DeSoto Facts – Related Images
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1954 DeSoto Firedome Convertible
The 1954 DeSoto Firedome Convertible was pretty snappy – but it just did not resonate with the buying public. Pricing it at $3,144 – $600 over an Oldsmobile convertible and $300 over the Buick version may have contributed to the meagre 1,025 in sales.
1954 DeSoto Firedome Sportsman
The 1954 DeSoto Firedome Sportsman hardtop was the flashiest DeSoto next to the convertible. It now sported a 170 HP Hemi V-8. The car sold almost as well as the banner-year ’53 model – 4,382 units. This was a sure indication that the rest of the line was faded.
1954 DeSoto Firedome 4-door sedan
The 1954 DeSoto Firedome 4-Door Sedan was little changed from 1953. This likely accounted for the 20,000 drop in sales to 45,095. To spice up the sale of the popular 4-Door, mid-year, DeSoto offered a Coronado model. The interior was upgraded, and two-tone paint was added. It didn’t help.
1954 DeSoto Firedome 2-door Club Coupe 3
Like the 1954 4-Door, the 1954 DeSoto Firedome 2-Door Club Coupe sales sagged significantly. Only 5,762 were delivered, 1/3 of the ’53 total.
1954 DeSoto Firedome Station Wagon
1954 DeSoto Station Wagons were not catching on. The $3,361 price tag for a V-8 model was too, too high. 946 were produced, almost too little to keep the model in production.
1954 DeSoto Firedome LWB Sedan
The 1954 DeSoto long wheelbase 4-door Sedan was just not desirable in a market cornered by Chrysler’s Imperial and Cadillac’s Fleetwood 75. The $2939 price tag for a V-8 model was a good value, but it wasn’t luxurious enough looking for the clientele. 165 were produced, too little to keep the model in production.
1954 DeSoto Powermaster 6 Sportsman
The 2-door Sportsman hardtop was the sexiest Powermaster Six you could buy in 1954. The anemic 116 HP engine just did not fit the sporty hardtop’s styling. As a result, only 250 were delivered.
1954 DeSoto Powermaster 6 LWB Sedan
If the standard DeSoto 4-door Sedan was being rejected in 1954 imagine where the long wheelbase Powermaster 6 stood. There would be no justification for the car in 1955 with only 263 delivered this year.
1954 DeSoto Powermaster 6 4-door sedan
The 4-door Powermaster Sedan had always enjoyed a reasonable success in the DeSoto line, but its plain looks, when combined with a L-Head six from the 1930s, people were not enthralled. With 14,967 sold, the handwriting was on the wall – “no more sixes”.
1954 DeSoto Powermaster 6 2-door Club Coupe
The 1954 DeSoto Powermaster 2-door Club Coupe wasn’t the only 2-door sedan in the lineup for that year. Out-powered by its V-8 brother by 50 HP and only costing $250 less, it made for just 3,499 produced. Sixes weren’t selling in mid-price auto lines in 1954.
1954 DeSoto Powermaster 6 Station Wagon
1954 DeSoto Station Wagons were not catching on due to their 1940s look. Even the economical Powermaster model shown here failed to elicit sales – with 225 produced.