1957 DeSoto Fireflite Sportsman

When Chrysler rolled out their 1957 line of new cars, it left everyone else looking out of style. In response, General Motors canceled their upcoming designs and started anew, resulting in the General Motors 1959 line-up.

The 1957 DeSoto got its good looks thanks to Chrysler design chief Virgil Exner. It featured a wide oval grill and clean sides with a dynamic color cut. In the rear, the fins ended in a tower of three lights with the bumper appearing to ride up to the end of the fin. A flatter and thinner top with more glass gave an open and airy look. Exner and his design team nailed the look! To go with the great looks, there is great performance, a 295 hp Hemi V8 engine. The first year had a three-speed torque transmission with push button control. The ride and handling were enhanced by torque bar suspension with revised geometry.

The list base price was $3,614.00. With options as on this car, it would be about $4,229.00. DeSoto's second-best sales year was 1957 and it is hard to imagine that in four years, Chrysler would end DeSoto production. This car was a rust-free car from Arizona and was restored by its owner in 2018.