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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 Dan Vaughan

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.

The 1955 DeSoto Fireflite was wider and longer than previous DeSoto models. It came equipped with a V8 engine and PowerFlite automatic transmission. Multiple colors were used to highlight design details such as the fang-shaped panels. The windshield was DeSoto's first wrap-around design. The interior was new and slightly radical with a dual-cockpit gull-wing theme. The PowerFlite automatic was operated by a Flite-Control lever located on the dashboard. There was ample space to accommodate six adults comfortably. The bench seats were long and comfortable, available in leather upholstery. Under the hood lurked a powerful V8 engine producing 255 horsepower. It could propel the car from zero-to-sixty mph in less than eleven seconds with a top speed of 110 miles per hour. This was more standard horsepower than most other manufacturers offered on their vehicles.

The DeSoto was more than an exercise in design it was a unique riding experience. The engine and road noise was practically nonexistent for the driver and passengers. The suspension was smooth and there was comfortable performance. It was a lot of car for the money. The 1955 DeSoto's sold extremely well with over 114,765 examples produced, the best for the company since 1946. For 1956 DeSoto continued to climb the automotive industry ladder reaching 11th place in total production with 110,418 examples. However, this trend was temporary for the company; in five years' time, it was out of business.

In 1956 a gold and white Fireflite convertible was the official pace car for the 1956 Indianapolis 500, a prestigious responsibility. The word 'DeSoto' adorned the doors, painted in large block letters. On the raceway was a fitting slogan, 'DeSoto Sets the Pace.'

For 1957 the DeSoto appearance was modified with the help of Chrysler Corporation's head stylist, Virgil Exner. The design was bold and radical with tail fins, dual oval exhaust, and triple-lens taillights. At speed, the tail fins served a purpose by improving stability. The versatility of the Fireflite was expanded with the addition of a station wagon. The cars built in 1957 were spectacular in design but poor in quality. Some of the models leaked and could not keep the rain out of the vehicle during a storm. Others had defective transmissions, power steering units, radiators, and a slew of other problems. Many were prone to early rusting. This was the downfall that DeSoto endured and, ultimately, was unable to recover from.

The DeSoto Fireflite was an exquisite car with bold styling and proven performance.

by Dan Vaughan