1956 DeSoto Adventurer

The DeSoto marque, a division of Chrysler, was in production from 1928 to 1961. The Adventurer was part of the DeSoto lineup from 1956 through 1960. It began as a four-seat high-performance sport coupe concept, soon followed by a special, limited-production, high-performance model similar to the exclusive Chrysler 300. The 'Golden Adventurer,' as it was called' backed up its styling with equally impressive performance. It was the only DeSoto equipped with dual four-barrel carburetors and came standard with dual exhaust. It achieved a 137 mph top speed at Daytona and 144 mph at the Chrysler Proving Grounds. A stock Adventurer was selected as the pace car for the 1956 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and five Firedome Convertibles were outfitted with Adventurer trim for use as pace cars for the 1956 Indianapolis 500.

The overhead-valve V8 engine had enlarged valve ports, stiffer valve springs, large-diameter valves, and a high-lift camshaft. It had a cast-iron block with modified slipper pistons, a shot-peened crankshaft, and heavy-duty connecting rods. Five main bearings, a 9.25:1 compression ratio, hydraulic valve lifters, and a Carter dual four-barrel carburetor helped the 341.4 cubic-inch engine deliver 320 horsepower at 5,200 RPM. There were power brakes, PowerFlite automatic transmission, whitewall tires, heavy-duty suspension, and dual outside rearview mirrors. The interior had a power front seat, electric windows, windshield washers, padded instrument panels, and rear-mounted manual radio antennas. Among the short list of options was a self-winding Benrus clock in the steering-wheel hub, a gasoline-fired interior heater that could reach 100 degrees in 15 seconds, and Chrysler's new Highway Hi-Fi, a compact phonograph that mounted under the dash and played special 16 2/3-rpm discs.

996 examples of the Adventurer were produced in 1956, 1,950 the following year, and 432 the following year. The coupe was joined by a convertible in 1957 and a four-door hardtop and sedan in 1960, its final year of production. DeSoto's final year of production was 1961 when dealers offered a single-car line available in two body styles.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2020