46-48 Desoto designation...

[thrashingcows]

I'm looking to buy new glass for my 48 Desoto 2dr sedan, but one of the glass companies asked me if my car was a S-11S or S-11C. They sent me an initial quote with only rear vent glass. I responded, with pics, showing my big rear quarter windows. So I am assuming that the S and C stand for Sedan and Coupe?

[Young Ed]

s and c are deluxe and special deluxe for p15s.

[Plymouthy Adams]

if you have a coupe..it is a 5 window..if it is a business coupe..it is a 3 window...

three window coupe will have two piece windshield, two door glasses, two vents

five window coupe will have two piece windshield, two vents, two doors and two quarter glass..

unlike the Plymouth bz cp..coupe rear glasses are curved..

if you have a sedan you will have two windshield, two vent two front door glass two rear door glass two quarter glass

town sedan is two windshield, two left vent two right vents (ft. left and right rear the same and vice versa) two door glass front, two rear door glass there is no quarter glass in the town sedan..sedans also have curve rear glass..

basically all you need to tell him is the body style as the S and C denotes trim level..

I have no familiarity with the limo series..

Edited February 14, 2011 by Tim Adams

[thrashingcows]

As you can see in the pic I have BIG rear quarter glass. So I have the 2 piece windshield, 2 vents, 2 doors and 2 big quarter glass. Considering the 2dr sedan in the Desoto was a small number in overall production....some numbers I've seen say 3000+ total production for the combined years 46/47/48? Not a common body style.

[alan32433]

I ordered glass for my 48 DeSoto from a place in Montana, they also asked if it was an S-11C or S. I assumed C was for Custom so that's what I ordered and it was correct when received. Mine is a 4 door however.

[thrashingcows]

1948 S-11C (Custom) s/n Detroit 5885816 to 5962601 Los Angeles 62001001 to 62003000

1948 S-11S (Deluxe) s/n 6190370 to 6209494

reference: MoPar 1954 and prior models PASSENGER CAR PARTS LIST edition of April 1, 1955

Guess it's a S-11S since I'm 61956XX.

[Roadkingcoupe]

Guess it's a S-11S since I'm 61956XX.

The S vs C is easy to tell from the steering wheel and ornament. They are completely different. Even the medallion is completely different.

I would have to look it up but one of the models has an "OVAL" medallion on the steering wheel, the other has a "SQUARE" medallion.

[greg g]

Arent those windows flat glass?? If so they are the same both sides and shold be able to be cut by any competand auto glass shop from a piec of flat glass. So if you have one for a template you should be good to go.

By the way that is a nice looking body style, don;t believe I have ever seen on in a DeSoto, even Plymouth did not make a whole bunch.

Edited February 15, 2011 by greg g

[thrashingcows]

Arent those windows flat glass?? If so they are the same both sides and shold be able to be cut by any competand auto glass shop from a piec of flat glass. So if you have one for a template you should be good to go.

By the way that is a nice looking body style, don;t believe I have ever seen on in a DeSoto, even Plymouth did not make a whole bunch.

I priced out a local shop to cut the glass...it was going to over $600!! I can get a complete kit form one of the companies that specializes in the vintage flat glass for under $400.

Thank you for the kind words on the body style. Yes they do seem to be rare, the 2dr sedans in a Desoto that is. That was what drew me to it. I knew I wanted a 46-48 Desoto, but was torn between the 2dr coupe and a 4dr sedan. When I saw a pic of a 2dr sedan one night while pic searching I instantly fell in love and knew that was the car I had to have.

[PatS....]

I had a local shop quote me $125 for the 2 windshield pieces in tinted safety glass...$600 for flat glass is outrageous! Check out a different shop

[Plymouthy Adams]

600 is high in my opinion also..check with Vintage glass..not sure what they are running but their swap meet specials were in order..these folks give you safety glass for the windshield but send their side glass out for tempering..this ensures the propper shattering in an accident...though not required by law it is a plus..the cost for this is what often drives the glass price up..ensure you are getting this procedure at the high price as some will just mimic the current price without the service...I paid about 450.00 for 12 pieces of glass for my station wagon, 10 being tempered...this is also green tinted glass..plus it came with the glass setting tape and shipping to my door... Shop around...

[Frank Elder]

The S vs C is easy to tell from the steering wheel and ornament. They are completely different. Even the medallion is completely different.

I would have to look it up but one of the models has an "OVAL" medallion on the steering wheel, the other has a "SQUARE" medallion.

Square is the Deluxe model, oval is the custom, it even says Deluxe below the square medallion

[Roadkingcoupe]

I really like that steering wheel. Had one just like it on a 1947 DeSoto S-11 coupe that sold. Especially the piece of acrylic/plexi that goes from the medallion to the horn ring. The steering wheel has an "airplane" or "aviation" style.

Square is the Deluxe model, oval is the custom, it even says Deluxe below the square medallion

[greg g]

And between the custom and deluxe, which has the Higher content???

[Frank M.]

If you mean the trim level--the custom has more.

[B-Watson]

The 1946-48 DeSoto S-11S DeLuxe 2-door sedan (12,751 built) used a one-piece rear quarter window glass which was shared with the 1946-48 D-24S Dodge DeLuxe 2-door sedan, of which 81,399 were built.

The rare one is the 1946-48 DeSoto S-11C Custom 2-door sedan which had an opening quarter vent and a smaller roll down glass (1,600). This style was also used by Chrysler Royal (1,117), Windsor (4,034), Saratoga (155) and New Yorker 545). Dodge did not offer a 2-door sedan in the Custom series.

[thrashingcows]

The 1946-48 DeSoto S-11S DeLuxe 2-door sedan (12,751 built) used a one-piece rear quarter window glass which was shared with the 1946-48 D-24S Dodge DeLuxe 2-door sedan, of which 81,399 were built.

The rare one is the 1946-48 DeSoto S-11C Custom 2-door sedan which had an opening quarter vent and a smaller roll down glass (1,600). This style was also used by Chrysler Royal (1,117), Windsor (4,034), Saratoga (155) and New Yorker (545). Dodge did not offer a 2-door sedan in the Custom series.

Thank you for those numbers and info Bill. So about 4K a year built. I had forgotten about the 2dr sedan with the rear vent windows as well....now that's a rare bird!!