"While DeSoto trucks were not sold in the United States, they were produced here on the same assembly line as Dodge trucks and right next to the Fargo trucks destined for the Canadian market.
They would be considered “badge engineered” trucks as they were a Dodge truck with the DeSoto nameplates intended for foreign markets like Mexico, Central America, South America, and lots of island nations in the western hemisphere.
Are they real DeSoto’s? Yes! Mother MoPar intended them to be so they are.
They are out there but bringing them back to the States can open up a whole can of worms. Besides importation cost that includes transportation, import fees, customs costs and duties (25% of purchase price for trucks), you will need to work things out with your local Department of Motor vehicles since their records will not show that they were ever produced and they will not be able to verify the VIN number; this may require some assistance from Chrysler Historical.
You will also need to make sure that you have all the proper paperwork from the country of origin to show that there are no liens against it and it is not stolen.
Some countries do not have titles and some do not even consider the year of manufacture in their licensing like we do here in the States. The ultimate collector in this category would be a 1957-59 vintage swept side truck similar to the American version dodge truck.
I have seen pictures of the 57 version that has 1956 Plymouth 2 door wagon rear quarters and DESOTO on the tailgate where the Dodge version used 1957 Dodge station wagon quarters."