1957 DeSoto Fireflite

The DeSoto brand was born by the Chrysler Corporation in 1929. They offered an array of cars for nearly every need including sedans, coupes, wagons, and convertibles. The brand was originally intended to be Walter Chrysler's mid-priced car, but the location in the corporate lineup was re-position after Chrysler purchased Dodge. From 1933, DeSoto was an upscale car that countered GM's Oldsmobile. DeSoto pioneered advanced features that included the Miller-inspired grille in 1932-33, hidden headlights in 1942, and a long-wheelbase, highly-trimmed Suburban prestige utility sedan built from 1946 to 1952. They were also the second company in the Chrysler Corporation to be outfitted with V8 power when they received a smaller version of Chrysler's new Hemi-head V8 in 1952. Named 'Firedome,' the new model displaced 276 cubic inches and offered 160 horsepower.

In the mid-1950s, Virgil Exner's Forward Look styling helped stir sales for all Chrysler marques. For DeSoto, sales nearly doubled. As the 1950s continued, Exner pulled out all the stops, taking the Forward Look even further with tall fins, prompting General Motors to redesign their whole lineup several years early to remain competitive.

Just over 28,400 examples of the 1975 DeSoto Fireflite were built. Body styles included a 2- and 4-door Sportsman, sedan, convertible coupe, and a 6- and 9-passenger station wagon. The 6-passenger station wagon was known as the 'Shopper' while the 9-passenger version was called the 'Explorer.' The most popular body style was the sedan which accounted for 11,565 examples being sold. Power was supplied by an overhead valve 341.4 cubic-inch V8 engine offering nearly 300 horsepower. Automatic transmissions were now standard equipment in the DeSoto lineup. A TorqueFlite automatic was available on all the lines for an additional $220, except for the Fireflite which came standard.

The 1957 Fireflite Series had its nameplate on the rear fender, and medallions could be found on the front fender side moldings. Similarly to the Firedomes, the headlights were separate from the grille.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2019