Eve

2.83 liter = 173 cu.

Same pistons, other rods.

The crankshaft exchange was done to cars that were already built and imported. The buyer was offered the choice : 18 or 15 HP. The conversion on stock cars did not take days... Erik

The government yearly imposes taxes on all vehicles driving on the national roads. They fabricated a formula based on the weight of the car and the cylinder capacity of the motor. So the "PlySoto" with the 3.6 liter engine was calculated as a HP 18. This was rather expensive for the owner and a drawback selling the cars. At that time my father was employed at Chrysler Antwerp as a "crankshaft and gears"-specialist. Replacing the crankshaft and thus reducing the stroke the cylinder capacity was brought to 2.8 liter. Horsepower felt from 98 to 76 HP. And the mileage on gasoline was better. The cars now could be sold as HP 15, much more favorable taken in account that the scaling of the tax classes was not linear but rather exponential. Needless to say that this cars were not racing horses. But that never was the purpose. I nowhere found any notations about this practice in the company history. If You have any more questions about this facts, I will try to answer. Erik

Yes, You are on the right way. P23 12.714.521 identifies him as a '51 - '52 Plymouth Cranbrook built in Detroit. The leading S makes him a "PlySoto" : equipped with a DeSoto grille and other ornaments. The PlySoto's grille had 7 teeth, a regular DeSoto's had 9 teeth. It was a 1951 model. On my first driving lesson given me by my father, I stalled the motor releasing the clutch. My father shouted : "HANDBRAKE !!!". Then I released the handbrake by the chromed handle. 1952 models had a plastic break handle. So the first thing has been cleared. For the second thing : this PlySoto left Detroit with a 3.6 liter flathead line 6... - to be continued - Erik

It was no diesel ! But You are hot. Erik

In 1955 my father bought a used DeSoto : see invoice attached. Since the document is in dutch, I give You the translation. Merk = Make Type = Type Kleur = Color N° moteur = Motor number N° chassis = Chassis number Uitboring = Bore Slaglengte = Stroke Cylinders = Cylinders Cyl. Inhoud = Cylinder capacity HP = Tax class Gewicht = Weight Banden = Tyres There are 2 odd things about this DeSoto. The first is rather well known and good decribed in the history of the DeSoto brand. The second odd thing is not at all common knowledge : I never found a word about it on the internet. Can You figure out this two things? Much pleasure searching ! Kind regards, Erik. Antwerp, Belgium.

Gentleman, Thanks a lot for this identification. Greetings from Flanders, Erik

Unknown model. Who knows more ? Erik.