1958 DeSoto Firesweep

The 1958 Dodge Firesweep series was based on the Dodge chassis, wore revised frontal styling, and was powered by a new 350 cubic-inch V8 engine with wedge-shaped combustion chambers. The wheelbase size of 122 inches was unique to the Firesweep as the other models in the lineup rested on a larger 126-inch platform. Body styles included a two- and four-door sportsman, a convertible coupe, a sedan, and a 6- and 9-passenger station wagon. Prices ranged from $2,820 to $3,400, a similar price range to its Firedome sibling. Both the Firedome and the Firesweep had the same side trim, different frontal molding treatment, similar interiors, different engines, and different platforms. Standard equipment on the Firesweep included electric windshield wipers and a 350 cubic-inch V8 with overhead valves, hydraulic valve lifters, a Carter two-barrel carburetor, five main bearings, and 280 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. The engine in the Firedome was a 361 CID V8 with a Carter two-barrel setup and 295 horsepower.

A PowerFlite two-speed automatic transmission was exclusive to the Firesweep, and a TorqueFlite automatic was optional, adding $220 to the base price. A three-speed manual transmission was also available but rarely selected. Additional options included power steering, power brakes, a six-way power seat, electro-tune radio with antenna, dual rear antenna, rear seat speaker, an electric clock, a two-tone finish, and more.

Design cues included a honeycomb grille insert, a drop in the center of the middle grille bar, dual headlights with headlamp hoods, Firesweep rear fender nameplates, tailfins, and round parking lights located at the outer edges of the lower grille opening.

The most popular body style was the sedan with 7,646 examples built, followed by 5,635 of the two-door Sportsman, and 3,003 of the four-door Sportsman. The combined station wagon sales were 2,430 units, and a mere 700 examples of the convertible coupe left the factory. The combined 19,414 Firesweep examples built accounted for approximately 40 percent of DeSoto's 1958 production.

Along with other Chrysler products, DeSoto wore the new 'Forward Look' styling by Virgil Exner beginning in 1955, highlighted by space-age styling cues with tail fin fenders, cockpit-inspired interiors, wraparound windshields, and floating parking lamps. The Firesweep nameplate followed in 1957 and would remain in production through 1959. It served as DeSoto's entry-level, lower-priced model with a Dodge shell and chassis with a DeSoto grille and bumper.

The economic recession of 1958 hurt sales throughout the industry, causing some automakers to go out of business, including Continental, Imperial, and the soon-to-be-released Edsel. DeSoto's sales were affected by the economic downturn, and its approximately 126,500 sales in 1957 accounted for under 2 percent of the U.S. industry sales. Sales dipped to 49,445 units in 1958 and then to 45,734 in 1959. 1960 would be the next-to-last year for DeSoto, and its model line was dwindled down to the Fireflite and the Adventurer. Just over 26,000 vehicles were built in 1960, and slightly more than 3,000 examples were sold in 1961. DeSoto production came to a close on November 30th, 1960.

DeSoto production lasted from the summer of 1928 through November of 1960, with 2,024,629 cars built during that time.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021