The DeSoto (also spelled "Desoto") is Sam's beloved car in the Sam and Max universe. Specifically, it is a "DeSoto Adventurer", a limited number model of car from the 1950s-1960s. It is the 1960 model that is featured in the cartoon series. It is a hardtop in all appearances except the Telltale series, where it is an open-top (it is stated in-game that it isn't the old DeSoto, though it's otherwise exactly the same. It's also indicated that the top can be raised - they mention specifically driving through the Hudson Bay with the "top down", but it is never seen in that form). The license plate number is RLW 822 (registered New York) in all versions except in the animated series, where it is SRP 695, and some promotional footage for 'Sam & Max: Freelance Police,' where it is SMNMX.
With its black and white paint job and "Sam & Max: Freelance Police" decals on the side doors, it takes the duo wherever they need to go. It is capable of time-travel, driving underwater, taking its passengers into outer space, and extremely long car trips. In the animated series, it is equipped with a "Rat-Gat" ("it came free with our last muffler job") and was worked on by the Geek. In Telltale's Season Two, Sam and Max were able to collect back trunk decals and the C.O.P.S. gave them various upgrades.
Temporarily, during Sam & Max Season One, the DeSoto is redecorated to reflect Max's office as President of the United States. The Freelance Police logo is replaced by a presidential seal, and American flags are added as adornments. These are changed to be Canadian briefly during Bright Side of the Moon.
In the beginning of Season Three, Sam and Max are living in the DeSoto since their building has been sealed off due to the road cracking. The C.O.P.S, minus the Bluster Blaster, are also living in it, with Bob replacing their office phone. In Beyond the Alley of the Dolls, the DeSoto is briefly stolen by the Samulacra/Dogglegangers. Max has the option of using Rhinoplasty on a picture of the Desoto in Stinky's Diner to transform himself into a miniature version which he called "DeSoto II: Diesel Boogaloo", but it only attracts the Sam clones' attention. In The City That Dares Not Sleep, Sybil modifies the DeSoto so it can travel inside Elder God Max, exchanging the tires for suction cups, implementing hot dog scented air fresheners, etc. The car was spat out when Max sneezed and is not seen for the rest of the game.
The DeSoto has a relatively minor role in This Time It's Virtual, being used as a vehicle by Max and Lumpy when they enter the microverse to rescue Sam from the clutches of Cap'n Aquabear. At some point it gains a remote-controlled "blazing warp speed" mode, though if this mode is actually significantly faster than usual is debatable.
While in the Nanoverse/Microverse, Lumpy has to break the windshield in order to destroy microscopic particles which would otherwise damage the DeSoto. If it's repaired afterwards is yet to be seen.
Throughout the series, the DeSoto is referred as a "she", and apparently has a soul which Sam and Max had to rescue from Hell. Returning from Hell did have a negative impact on the DeSoto as it now drives itself and tries to run over anything that moves. Sam let Abe and Sybil drive away in the possessed DeSoto after their wedding, but then was left wondering if that was such a good idea. In Season Three, the DeSoto returns, still possessed by demons (Curt mentions that it's not so bad as long as they don't use the air conditioner). However, it functions like a regular car again, which means that either Sam & Max wore it out or it just trusts them to drive it.
Max driving[]
- Max: Mind if I drive?
- Sam: Not if you don't mind me clawing at the dash and shrieking like a cheerleader.
- Max: I'll drive!
- Sam: Not while I'm alive.
Since Max can't see over the steering wheel or easily reach the pedals, Sam usually won't let him drive. But like so many things Sam really shouldn't, he occasionally allows it anyway. This bad habit of Sam's is most often seen in the comics, where he allows Max to take the driver's seat on various occassions, though this habit seems to have stopped by the beginning of the Telltale series of games.
Max has driven non-trivial distances in the following stories:
- On the Road
- Beast from the Cereal Aisle (though not the DeSoto)
- Sam & Max Hit the Road
In addition, Sam often asks Max to take the wheel when he needs his hands free while driving (Mostly for shooting stuff), especially in the driving mini-games in the Telltale series.
Gallery[]
Concept Art[]
Trivia[]
- According to the lore bible for the cartoon series, Sam was the one who initially suggested to paint the DeSoto black and white.