DeSoto is an orphan marque in my mind. While the model was produced under the Chrysler brand from 1929 through 1961, it’s rare to see a DeSoto at a car show these days. Perhaps that’s because Chrysler couldn’t make up its mind where to position DeSoto. In the ’30s, it ranked in the mid-range of Chrysler’s line-up. But when Chrysler bought Dodge, DeSoto was suddenly repositioned at the top of the range. By the time the ’50s rolled around, DeSoto was playing name games, using “Deluxe” and “Custom” as trim designations, then dropping that strategy to instead name its cars distinctly: Firedome, Firesweep, Fireflite. By the time the recession of 1958 arrived, DeSoto had been confusing customers for a couple of decades and its sales plunged. The marque was terminated, by telegram (like texting, right?) to dealers, in 1961. Here on eBay is a 1955 DeSoto Fireflite project car for sale, with an asking price of $13,500. The seller is open to offers, but only serious ones! The car is located in Clayton, Delaware. Thanks to Larry D. for this tip.
Sometimes ads puzzle me and such is the case with this one. The car itself is like two different cars. The front end looks like it’s been abused, but from about the windshield back, it’s not bad. Was it stored with just its rear end under a roof? Then there is the verbiage. The seller indicates that the car comes with patch panels, rocker panels, and front and back windshields…. and then says only minor body work is needed. Hm. If I am replacing a bunch of panels, I’m thinking that’s more than minor.
The car is likely equipped with a 291 cu. in. hemi V8 mated to a four-barrel carburetor making about 200 bhp. The transmission is Chrysler’s PowerFlite automatic. The seller says the engine and transmission have been rebuilt, as well as the master cylinder. Brake lines have also been replaced. The engine bay is definitely this car’s strong suit, and the car does run and drive, so it’s feeling like a drive-it-while-you-restore-it project.
The interior is credible! An hour or two with a good vinyl cleaner might work wonders. The gauge set is nice – note the FliteControl lever on the dash for the transmission – but that steering wheel needs help. The headliner is in fine condition. This would be a tempting find but I am a fin fan, so if I needed a DeSoto it would have to be an Adventurer. Still, this two-door Sportsman is attractive. I’m just not sure about the price, given the work indicated. What do you all think?
Another great writeup, Michelle. Cool car.
Good write up and have to agree about the storage. Front of the car looks so much worse than the rear. Sounds as though it’s running and driving well, but sure would be nice to look over a red hood too! Hopefully someone will get this car looking like it should. DeSoto was left out to dry, don’t see them that often.
Good write up with the exception of the fact that Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928 ! Just saying…..
Yes they did! The information I had was that the integration portion of the buyout was slow, and it took Chrysler forever to figure out it already had mid line cars in its Dodge line up. Poor DeSoto kind of didn’t get a fair shake.
That Desoto Hemi shares nothing with the Chrysler Hemi engines. The only similarities with the Chrysler engines are the spark plugs through the valve covers. Also, no aftermarket performance pieces for these short deck engines, the later tall deck models had a very limited selection of any performance pieces. In addition, it’s very likely that it is a two barrel and not a four barrel, I never found any information indicating the 291 engine ever came with a four barrel.
Dealers were notified by telegram of the brand’s discontinuance on Nov. 18, 1960, about a month after the 1961 models went on sale. Production ended on Nov. 30, 1960.
Firedome, Firesweep, Fireflite, Fire Sale.
Car probably suffered front end damage decades ago and th repaint on the repaired parts hasn’t lasted as well as the original. 8 voltage battery as well – how does the rest of the six voltage system do with that?
I’m not a Mopar fan per se, but I always thought that the ‘55 Desoto was a great looking car. It seems like all the ones I’ve seen for sale at a reasonable price have rust issues.
At this point, other than what you see (body panels, trim, interior), it was the same as the less expensive Chryslers. Cars, in the 50’s, were much more an indicator of status, than they are now. If your boss had a Chrysler, you did not buy one yourself, but, you could get the same performance and comfort with a DeSoto. Likewise the least expensive Caddy shared a body, but not the trim, with the big Buick and the big Olds. My then girl friend’s father had a high position with the State of NY, the Governor had a state owned Caddy, and he had a state owned Olds 98. And, he said, the Olds had more guts.
I concur on the nice write up I can often tell the by line with out looking by the differing styles
I am guessing Michelle falls well short of those of us in the geezer class ,so she has a much different perspective I doubt she weathered the recessions of the 50s first hand and likely is in the age group that knows little other than the world of huge Autoplexs with acres of choices In those days usually the county seat would have several new car dealers …but not all so you needed to serve several markets The Dodge dealers bread and butter might be his JobRated truck line ,then cheaper Dodge cars for the working man ,,and then he would have the DeSoto line for his upscale for the leaders of the community who bought several trucks a year …to keep him from going down the road with his car business and loose hiim as a truck customer Usually the Chevy dealer had his hands full ,,But Cadillac and olds went together very often sometime with GMC trucks or sometimes GMC was with the Buick dealer .Chrysler would be paired with Plymouth to cover two ranges Very often you were buying the dealer more than the car ,when you found someone you trusted you stuck with him trading every two or maybe three years and you just kept going back and the dealer sure didnt want you leaving with a sour taste as it would not take long for that news to spread In the teles of Lake Woobegone we hear about the Lutherans drove fords and the Catholics Chevrolets as that was who went to which church and in those days folks had loyalty to brands and dealers
Im sure many of yall will remember that HUGE sale in Nebraska where they were selling pastures full of Chevy trucks some with very law miles I knew someone raised in that area he said that man had a policy ..Next year when you come back Ill trade you into a new one for a set price ..period He would know how you treated your equipment as late as the 70s come back next year when you crop is in and he would put you in a new one for $400 or 500 and 90% of his year all happened in about 6 weeks time Cut down on a whole lit of the foolish game playing that goes on now …Ya have to sell X units in a month and get a refund of a hold back so you may have to beg your sisters brother in law to buy a car at a loss so you can make your quota or else you whole month can go upside down and you have to count on a piece of the financing to go into your margin Its just gettin rediculous and salesmen dont know nobody and they turn over like leaves on a windy day most of sitting around twiddling their thumbs 2/3rds of the month and then begging for sales saying anything they need to get er done
Long ago I hired a salesman out of retirement who had sold at a BIG Lincoln Mercury dealer in Dallas he had the most novel deal ..While the other guys were out yammering about did you see that game last night he was in his little office with the door closed with the phone book cold calling every number that would answer ” Could I interest you in a good deal on a new car ?” Derned if he wasent selling 20 or more units a month like that and no one had a clue how he was getting them in the door asking for him whilst they were waiting on a walk up I suppose I do tend to wander ..atleast it isnt like the people I start talking to and they dont think they should walk off ,with this folks can just stop reading
You spoke the truth. These salesmen(women) have their mind on saling to well dressed people and not want to spend any time with a walk in John or Jane. To find out if that person,s pocket is lined with money. I walked out of several dealer ships in the past few year—looking to be treated like a person and bought else where.
There was this book I read in the 1970’s or 1980’s by a guy who claimed to be the greatest car salesman. His name was something like Joe Giradi. He wrote about all his sales methods. His number one method was cold calling with a phone book. His other method was bird dogging. He offered $25 to anyone who referred someone who then bought a car from him. He would ask everyone he knew to be his bird dog, such as his barber, doctor, waitress, etc. He handed out tons of his business card. If a prospect admired the necktie he was wearing, he would then take it off and give it to the guy. Quite an interesting book. It made me want to be a salesman someday. This guy was the best because he worked hard at getting leads.
Always loved Virgil Exner’s designs
My dad brought a new 1961 Dodge 880 2 door hardtop off the showroom floor, and they said it was really a Desoto. It was nice car and had a 361 without air. This car had a lot or torque and seemed to be very powerful considering its weight. This 880 with a 361 2 barrel was more powerful than his newer 1969 Monaco which had a 383 2 barrel.
These were really nice looking cars, but I think the price is high for this one. the upholstery would need to be redone , at best clean up the original panels and try to find correct pattern for the front seat , the mention of new panels included usually means they need them, one pic of the rear quarter looks like paint over old Bondo.
Steven Mehl, he was Joe Girard and another prospecting stunt was going to high school football games and, when a touchdown was scored, he would throw hundreds of business cards into the air! Best of all, and I wish there was more of this in the collector car business, he was honest with his prospects. Chapter 13 of his book is: “Honesty Is The Best Policy.”