10k: Gas Monkey: 1954 DeSoto Powermaster Station Wagon
The Powermaster was a big monstrosity built for the DeSoto marque in the Chrysler garage from 1952 through 1954. Internet rumor has it that the early ’53 models had less chrome due to military demand from the Korean war…but we can’t imagine what the military would need chromed…”Hey boys, we need more chrome on this battleship…” Find this 1954 DeSoto Powermaster Station Wagon for sale by Gas Monkey Garage currently bidding for $6.750 reserve-not-met with $8,000 buy-it-now on ebay.
The Powermaster is powered by a big Chrysler flathead inline-6, a 4.1 liter lump that puts out 116 horsepower and 208 ft-lbs of torque. The chrome alone on this beast should weight 1500 lbs, so expect performance to be similar to a UPS truck.
See a cooler vintage wagon for cheap? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com
~ i love DeSotos and wagons so this tickles all the right keys –
♫♫ On the road again…♫♫
As well as sticking to steel to make it look shiny, Chromium is a key component of a number of high strength alloys of steel – chromoly being the obvious one. The military have a lot of uses for high strength, light-weight steel alloys.
It also has a lot of usefulness as a high-wear surface plating. Use in conjunction with the alloys that AW points out, and you get a durable unit that won't readily fail under military stress.
Since Gas Monkey touched it, it is probably worth about half the BIN.