This 1928 DeSoto Special is a marvelous example of the sort of car seen sliding around a fairgrounds dirt track in the late 1930s. This gorgeous Special captures the essence of early American motorsport in its wide stance and purposeful, pared-down appearance. Many cars of this era featured ubiquitous Ford engines; however, this car is unusual in that it uses the powerful 170-cubic-inch Chrysler flat-head six-cylinder. The compact flat-head six was good for 45 horsepower in standard DeSoto trim, and considerably more in this car, thanks to the Edmunds dual-carb intake and twin Zenith downdraft carburetors. Paired with an ultra-light chassis, there’s little doubting this car’s ability.

In true dirt-tracker fashion, the car requires a pull or push start, and once up and running, the six sounds fantastic, emitting a baritone bellow from the straight exhaust. It is delightful to imagine it at full chat, kicking up a rooster tail of dirt as it slides around a flat track at speed. Thanks to the excellent presentation, it would make an evocative display piece, yet it is built to run, with period-correct direct drive, hand clutch, and rear-wheel hand-operated brakes. This car runs and drives and would be an ideal candidate for entry into the increasingly popular world of retrospective hot rod and dirt-track events like The Race of Gentlemen or the Jalopy Showdown.