DE SOTO | Workshop Service Manuals | PDF Downloads
De Soto was an American automobile marque that was manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Corporation from 1928 to 1961.
The De Soto brand was named after the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto and was initially positioned as a mid-priced vehicle line to compete with brands like Oldsmobile, Buick, and Studebaker in Chrysler's brand hierarchy.
Over its more than three decades of production, De Soto's place in the market evolved, moving between the mid-priced and upper end of the market segments.
The marque reached the height of its popularity in the 1950s with the well-received Firesweep, Firedome, and Fireflite models before being discontinued by Chrysler in late 1960 due to waning consumer interest and an overlap in market positioning with other Chrysler models.
Although relatively short-lived compared to other automobile brands, the legacy of De Soto's unique combination of style and innovation endures among classic car enthusiasts.
