The DeSoto Fireflite is a

full-size Full-size car—also known as large car—is a vehicle size class which originated in the United States and is used for cars larger than mid-size cars, it is the largest size class for cars. In Europe, it is known as E-segment or F-segment. Af ...

premium automobile which was produced by DeSoto in the United States from 1955 until 1960.

Design

The Fireflite was introduced in 1955 as De Soto's top trim package of the

DeSoto Firedome The DeSoto Firedome was a full-size automobile produced between 1952 and 1959 by DeSoto automobiles, a division of the Chrysler Corporation. Introduced as DeSoto's premium line of vehicles in 1953 and 1954, the Firedome also occupied the least e ...

. It was wider and longer than the Firedome and it came equipped with a 325 cubic inch displacement (5.3L) V8 engine producing 200 hp when equipped with the 4 barrel carburetor (190 kW) and

PowerFlite PowerFlite is a two-speed automatic transmission engineered and produced by the Chrysler Corporation and used in their passenger cars from 1954 to 1961. Production began in late 1953 and the simple and durable PowerFlite remained available on P ...

automatic transmission An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving c ...

. The transmission was operated by a Flite-Control lever located on the dashboard. The car weighed 4,070 lb (1850 kg) and cost

US$ The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...

3,544 ($ in dollars ). AM radio was a $110 option ($ in dollars ). The 1956 model car was best known for its long, tapering tail fins, often accentuated by a two-tone exterior finish. The interior offered bench seating that could accommodate six passengers. The Fireflite had a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration time of 11 seconds and a top speed of 110 mph (175 km/h).

Sales

The Fireflite’s bold design increased sales for DeSoto. In 1955, DeSotos sold well with over 114,765 examples produced, making 1955 the best year for the company since 1946. By 1956, DeSoto placed eleventh in U.S. production with an annual production of 110,418 cars. The success was short-lived, however, and Chrysler Corporation discontinued the Fireflite models at the end of the 1960 model year, and the DeSoto brand effective in November 1960.

Indianapolis 500 pace car

In 1956 a gold and white Fireflite

convertible A convertible or cabriolet () is a passenger car that can be driven with or without a roof in place. The methods of retracting and storing the roof vary among eras and manufacturers. A convertible car's design allows an open-air driving expe ...

was the Official Pace Car for the 1956

Indianapolis 500 The Indianapolis 500, formally known as the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, and commonly called the Indy 500, is an annual automobile race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in Speedway, Indiana, United States, an enclave suburb of Indi ...

. While no official production figures for the pacesetter convertibles was ever released, research from National DeSoto Club members has narrowed it down to between 390-426 produced. Indianapolis 500 President

Tony Hulman Anton "Tony" Hulman Jr. (February 11, 1901 – October 27, 1977) was an American businessman from Terre Haute, Indiana, who bought the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1945 and brought racing back to the famous race course after a four-year hiatus ...

said the DeSoto was chosen unanimously by the track committee because it delivered ''outstanding performance'' and had ''superb handling characteristics''.

Modifications and specifications

The 1956 Fireflite had a longer stroke, 3.80 inches, giving a 330 cubic inch displacement (5.4L). Compression ratio increased to 8.5:1 and power increased to .''Ultimate American V8 Engine Databook, 1949 - 1974'', Peter C. Sessler, MotorBooks International, 1999, pg. 147. It made up 27.39% of DeSoto's sales in 1956. Power seats were $70, while power brakes cost $40. The Fireflite’s appearance for 1957 was redesigned with the help of

Chrysler Corporation Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automoti ...

's head stylist,

Virgil Exner Virgil Max "Ex" Exner Sr. (September 24, 1909 – December 22, 1973) was an automobile designer for several American automobile companies, most notably Chrysler and Studebaker. Exner is widely known for the "Forward Look" he created for the ...

. The design was bold and radical with large tail fins, dual oval exhaust and triple-lens taillights. The tail fins were not only aesthetic, but helped to stabilize the car at high speeds. A four-headlight system was optional for both the Fireflite and

models in 1957. The

DeSoto Firesweep The DeSoto Firesweep is an automobile that was produced by DeSoto from 1957 through 1959. Interior and exterior description The Firesweep was a lower-priced entry that combined a Dodge shell and chassis (which featured a 122-inch wheelbase, four ...

polyhead V8s were introduced with a bore and stroke of X . for 325 cid. The two barrel V8 was rated at while the four barrel version produced . The 330 cid

hemi engine A hemispherical combustion chamber is a type of combustion chamber in a reciprocating internal combustion engine with a domed cylinder head notionally in the approximate shape of a hemisphere (in reality usually a spheric section thereof). An en ...

was replaced by a hemi which was 341 cid (5.6L) . The two barrel carburetor produced . while the four barrel version was rated at . Both engines had a 9.25:1

compression ratio The compression ratio is the ratio between the volume of the cylinder and combustion chamber in an internal combustion engine at their maximum and minimum values. A fundamental specification for such engines, it is measured two ways: the stati ...

. In 1957 the Fireflite was superseded by the

Adventurer An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...

as the premium DeSoto model. Nevertheless, Fireflites continued to offer high-grade appointments in a full line of body styles. Also in 1957, a

station wagon A station wagon ( US, also wagon) or estate car ( UK, also estate), is an automotive body-style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door ( ...

was added to the Fireflite's lineup. Back-up lights became standard. In 1958, a new engine was added. For 1959, the car was restyled. The electric clock became standard. A hand brake light was optional. File:De Soto Fireflite Sportsman 1955.jpg, 1955 De Soto Fireflite Sportsman File:1956 DeSoto Fireflite Convertible Pace Car Top Down.jpg, 1956 DeSoto Fireflite Convertible Pace Car File:Henry Ford Museum August 2012 77 (1957 De Soto Fireflite) crop.jpg, 1957 DeSoto Fireflite 4-Door Sportsman File:DeSoto Fireflite Sportsman (14818661764).jpg, 1958 DeSoto Fireflite 2 Door Sportsman File:1959 DeSoto Fireflite.jpg, 1959 DeSoto Fireflite 4-Door Sedan File:1960 DeSoto Fireflite.jpg, 1960 DeSoto Fireflite 4-Door Sedan

References

{{DeSoto (automobile) Fireflite Cars introduced in 1955 1960s cars