DeSoto Fireflite

The DeSoto Fireflite was offered in several model generations of the vehicle to Chrysler Group belonging automotive brand DeSoto. 1955 and 1956 was the Fireflite the top model of the brand before it from 1957 gave this rank to the Adventurer.

Model history

1955-1956: 100 Million Dollar Look

1955

The first, introduced in 1955 Fireflite generation was positioned above the Fire Dome. Both vehicles had as the Chrysler models Windsor and New York a 3200 mm long wheelbase. Thus they were settled ( 3,302 mm) in the hierarchy of the Chrysler Group under the ( newly formed ) Brand Imperial, but ranged over the vehicles from Dodge ( 3040 mm) and Plymouth ( 2,924 mm).

The Fireflite was available as a convertible, two-door coupe and four-door sedan. All versions used the same wheelbase. The body design of Fireflite was a modification of the Virgil Exner designed by 100 Million Dollar Look and oriented in the profile largely identical to the size of Chrysler models. However, he was wearing a showy Fireflite page decoration with contrasting color inserts and wide chrome trim. The features in the version of the Coronado Fireflite even had a three-color paint ( turquoise, black, white). Overall, the Fireflite of the vintage 1955 is described as the " glitzendste " model of the Chrysler Group.

The Fireflite in 1955 by a 4.9 -liter eight-cylinder engine with a V8 engine benefits from 200 bhp. As power transmission served a PowerFlite automatic transmission. The automatic had a " Flite Control" lever on the dashboard. The car weighed depending on body style between 1850 kg and 2,100 kg.

1956

For model year 1956, the body of the previous model has been maintained in principle, but found themselves at the end of the rear fender small tailfins, which covered three inter- mounted round lights. Moreover changed for 1956, the front grille.

Technically, the Fireflite In 1956 as the models of the Chrysler brand a new engine. Standard he was now with a 255 bhp strong, 5.6 -liter eight-cylinder engine. The most exclusive equipment version, the Fireflite Adventurer, in contrast, had a 5.8 liter big engine, which made ​​320 bhp. With him the Fireflite accelerated in 11 s from 0 to 100 km / h and a top speed of 175 km / h

1956 was a golden - white Fireflite - Cabriolet, the official pace car of the Indianapolis 500 race. De Soto produced about 100 copies ( replicas ) of the Pace Car.

1957-1960: Forward Look

For the model year 1957, the design of all Chrysler models changed fundamentally. Virgil Exner had developed under the concept of Forward Look a smooth sheetlike with large tail fin design that used all Chrysler brands with different Detailabwandlungen. Group-wide, there were again four different wheelbases. Like last year, took advantage of the Chrysler models as well as the De Soto Fireflite the second biggest ( 3,200 mm ), while Dodge ( 3,098 mm) and Plymouth ( 2,990 mm) each used shorter versions.

DeSoto's version of the Forward Look was marked as in previous years by a striking two-tone paint and chrome-ringed trim on the vehicle sides, the shape changed over the years. The linearly rising and tapering tail fins resulted in a lighting unit, were summarized in the three vertically arranged round lights. The exhaust system resulted in two holes, which was integrated into the rear bumper. The advertisement suggested that the shape of the tail fin car aerodynamically confer stability at high speeds; in fact, they almost do not influence the handling of the car. The front end design changed several times within the production span of the Forward Look.

The Fireflite was from 1957 to 1959 in four body styles available: coupe, convertible, sedan and station wagon. The four-door sedan ware by far the most successful body shape; the rarest version is the convertible model year 1959, which was built in only 186 copies. The combined models are rare.

1957

From 1957, the Fireflite was only the second most expensive model of the brand. The Adventurer, previously a trim level of the Fireflite, took over the role of the top model. The Fireflite was equipped with a 5.8 -liter eight-cylinder engine that made ​​290 hp.

The front end of the Fireflite was designed horizontally. The grille was integrated into the front bumper and extending over the entire width of the car. Above the bumper, there was the rounded hood. As light units, the designers had always provided Twin headlights; However, they were not yet approved in all U.S. states, so alternatively single round headlights were installed.

1957 was the most successful year for the Fireflite the Forward Look era. A total of 28 430 vehicles emerged, more than twice as much as in any other model year.

1958

For model year 1958, the body of the Fireflite was only slightly revised; only the design of the grille changed in detail. However, the car got a new engine: the model now used a 5.9 -liter eight-cylinder engine of the Wedge -head series, which delivered 305 bhp. The Fireflite model year 1958 was not successful. Compared to last year's models with almost identical design, production figures of Fireflite declined by more than 50 percent. One reason for this was the decline in manufacturing quality.

1959

For model year 1959, the Chrysler designers revised the front end of the DeSoto models. It was designed rugged and similar now with the prominent double headlights and the heavy chrome bumpers the Imperial models of the same vintage. Again there was a bigger engine. The eight-cylinder engine now had a displacement of 6.3 liters; However, the maximum power remained at 305 hp. Sales of the Fireflite fell again. 1959, a total be discontinued in all four body versions only 9,127 Fireflite.

1960

For the model year 1960 changed the positioning of the Fireflite. DeSoto reduced its model range from four to two series: the models Firesweep and Firedome who had recently adopted a market position below the Fireflite were adjusted; so that the Fireflite was the base model of the brand DeSoto, while the Adventurer was the top model.

1960 DeSoto presented a new design. Although the roof structure remained essentially unchanged, but the cars were given a strong rugged profile with opposite curvatures. The tail fins sat now already in the driver's door and followed until the end of the car a continuously increasing line. The front end was wearing a high, latticed grille, and the front bumper fell in the center of the car from.

The wheelbase of the Fireflite was reduced to 3,098 mm. The Fireflite corresponded to in terms of its dimensions the previous Firesweep.

The engine was changed again. The previous eight- cylinder engine with 6.3 liters cubic capacity was now reserved for the Adventurer; the Fireflite instead received the 5.9 -liter version, which had been offered in 1958. 1960 was made by the engine 295 bhp.

The Fireflite in 1960 offered only as a coupe and sedan. The convertible and station wagon versions were discontinued.

1960 was the last year of Fireflite. For model year 1961 DeSoto had omitted all model names; the cars were called only DeSoto. They were largely identical to the Chrysler Windsor.

Production figures

258405
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