One year before all of Chrysler went “fins to the moon” in 1957, some ’56 models showed a glimpse of the future, including the 1956 Plymouth Fury and this 1956 DeSoto Firedome. Designer Virgil “Ex” Exner’s “Forward Look” ’57s get most of the attention, but let’s take a look at this ’56 DeSoto, also massaged by Exner. This trailer-bound DeSoto in Simi Valley, California may boast air-holding tires now, but shows signs of utter neglect, outdoor storage, and ground contact in its recent past. The $5000 Buy It Now price here on eBay hasn’t snagged any takers yet. Whoever put it on the trailer got the real bargain, so the question now is “how low can you go?”
Yeah; it’s got a hemi’ in it, a 230 HP mill displacing 291 cid (4.8L). Considering 100 HP was hot stuff a few years earlier, this V8 must have suggested Chrysler made a deal with the devil. This motor’s condition escaped the attention of the seller and the listing, so expect the worse. A two-speed automatic handles the gear changes. Thanks to Wikipedia for some details.
Repairable straight panels, bumpers and trim could make nice donor parts for someone with a shiny wrecked ’56. The missing rear window could be fun to source, but the seller has a “lead” on the glass. The triple rocket booster lights completing the fin returned on the all-new ’57. I met a gentleman in Seattle with a pair of DeSotos, 1956 and ’57, an excellent side-by-side exercise in “compare and contrast.”
In addition to a full mechanical restoration, this Firedome needs a complete upholstery job, the minimum of which equals the asking price.
Space age cues abound at the stern of this land-bound shuttle craft. Anyone who thought these fins went too far probably needed smelling salts when the ’57s hit the streets.
Shiny power seat controls mark a nod to luxury in this crank-window coupe. We can probably agree that the world doesn’t need another perfectly-restored 1956 DeSoto Firedome. I’d spend some time on the probably-stuck hemi’ just because they’re so cool. If that didn’t pan out, I could see this ride hitting the road after a minimalist structure and safety overhaul and a low-budget modern hemi / front structure transplant sawed off a rear-hit 2xxx Chrysler 300. How would you write the next chapter in this DeSoto’s future?
My affection for DeSoto has been frequently posted. This 56 unfortunately looks as though it (like Fernando) has had a long journey even taking a dip in the waters of the Mississippi. But perhaps a true ADVENTURER will seek it for a full restoration. These are rare. BTW, I believe two door hardtops were labeled as Seville in 56. Cadillac threatened legal action, claiming the name. DeSoto settled with no more Sevilles after 56. GLWTS and be sure to tell them Groucho sent you! 😅 🤣
1957, I am 16, one friend’s father had a ’56 DeSoto, the other a ’57 Chrysler, the less expensive one. I rode in each of them a lot. The ’56 DeSoto gave me the impression of being a much more solid car, the ’57 Chrysler felt not only light, but flimsey. Maybe my perception was wrong, maybe not, but the DeSoto would do 80 all day, comfortably, you felt glued to the road, the Chrysler tended to wander in the wind. Maybe it was the fins!
Wow…the memories that this stirred.
I remember riding in the back of the yellow and white Chrysler that had power brakes. On the test drive, my mom hit the brakes and I was slammed into the back of the front seat. My dad said “I’ll drive back and let’s try the Desoto.”.
The Plymouth stayed at the dealer and we went home in a pink and gray Firedome with power steering and manual brakes.
It’s trunk hauled my go kart with the front tires sticking out and the lid tied down…I did start racing a long time ago.
It was the first car I ever drove and I was way under age.
I can picture this Firedome pink with gray stripe and roof.
Thanks for reminding me.
My mom had a 57 Plymouth Belvedere. She loved it as it was her first new car. My dad on the other hand despised it. He came out to a broken torsion bar, the day they were to leave for vacation. He later came out to a broken spring. It fell apart and the engine rusted out no matter what he used. He replaced it with a 61 Valiant that was great. 225 slant six that outlasted the body.( northeast Philadelphia weather killed it in 7 years). The 57 was the downward slide of Mopar that they had until the K car, that still had issues when a Chrysler engine was used. The Mitsubishi engines would run forever, like the slant 6. A friend had one that was junk with yearly valve issues. Sold asap.
I know where there’s one of these in storage near me. The one shown looks pretty rough.
My first car was a dark silver and ivory, wide white wall tired, 1 owner 4 dr DeSoto that I paid a whopping $300 for. I could sleep in the back bench. W my then girlfriend. Ha! I loved the 2 cowl dashbord, and cool pushbutton transmission buttons. I was 18 when I got it, and w my 3 friends took it to the hi- way to test it out. I floored it and as it passed the then speed limit of 60 miles per hr. – the friend behind me, looking over my shoulder at the speedometer, asked, ” is the oil pressure always that low”? — when the car made a loud BANG, and slowed rite down. I muscled it to the shoulder without the help of the power steering. W smoke coming out of the hood and the smell of burning oil, we assessed that the motor had blown up! And it only had 60,000 miles! The old owner only had driven it in town.
The “C” pillar is from a Fireflite, the trim is completely different. I wonder if someone replaced a damaged front clip on a Fireflite with one from a Firedome.
1956 Firedome 2-door hardtops came in two trim levels that differed by their C pillar trim and interiors. This one is a Sportsman, the more deluxe of the two trim levels. The plainer one was the Seville, which had a single black and silver medallion on the C pillar. The Seville was the equivalent of the Firedome Special Coupe from 1955.
Convert it to a pickup and eliminate the pricey rear window!😁
SACRILEGE! 😠 😡 😤. That would be a DE NO NO! From The GREAT AMERICAN LAND YACHT PRESERVATION SOCIETY. * Don’t F with me fella! This ain’t my first time at the DeSoto Rodeo * LOL 😉 😜