Vehicle Description
The year 1955 brought the automotive world many timeless classics
that are revered by collectors and verified by investors. For
DeSoto, there were only a few years of production left and these
were cars of majestic beauty. This 1955 Fireflite boasts dimensions
that are far beyond even the largest cars of today. Compare its
217.9 inch overall length with 198.6 inches for a new Chrysler 300
or 224.4 inches for a Chevrolet Suburban. The effect of size is
enhanced with a three inch chop and air ride suspension that
dramatically lower the car's profile. Speaking of dimensions, the
engine is a not-shy 528 cubic inches of fire-breathing Indy
Cylinder Heads Hemi. Indy Cylinder Heads' client list is a who's
who in the Mopar world. Yet regardless of who owns one, this engine
gets it done. Its visual and sonic impact, along with its
impressive torque and horsepower, make up a formidable under-hood
combination. The sheer size of the heads and valve covers lends a
fearsome look to the engine bay. MSD ignition, Demon carb with Cool
Carb insulator, twin electric fans on a fabbed aluminum radiator
are further testimony that this Fireflite was built with
performance in mind. Backing the Hemi is a Keysler built 4L60E
automatic and a 9-inch Ford rear end with 3.55 gears and Traction
Loc. And there are many other areas in which it's obvious the
builders wanted the best of everything. The car exudes quality.
Just look at that mirror smooth black paint. It's PPG
basecoat/clearcoat with gold accents. The dash has a full array of
Classic Instruments gauges, along with a Sony AM/FM/CD unit, and
Vintage Air, yet is still easily identifiable as a DeSoto piece.
The trick part takes shape in the rear of the interior. Another
DeSoto dash was used to form the package tray, which smoothly
conforms to the shape of the rear headrests. Custom side moldings
made of brass and then chrome plated elegantly separate the paint
colors. The leather interior in a rich shade of tan compliments the
exterior. There's loads of luxury here too. Cadillac provided the
tilt/telescopic steering column and those plush power bucket seats.
Along with the chopped top, some old-school custom work includes
fitting a '56 DeSoto grill, and flipping the back bumper upside
down and integrating a '53 Studebaker license plate frame. Finished
less than five years ago, there are only about 2800 extremely
pampered miles on the car. When you consider the time and effort
that went into this build, it's a great opportunity to own it now
that it's complete, sorted out, and ready to roll.
*DISCLAIMER: MAXmotive specializes in collectible classic and
custom vehicles. We have more than 200 vehicles in our collection
and have sold dozens nationwide and even overseas. We recommend
that all buyers who are unable to view a vehicle in person have a
pre-purchase inspection done prior to purchase. Inspections can be
performed by an independent party selected by the buyer. Due to the
age and uniqueness of these special vehicles, it is difficult to
cover all aspects and characteristics of each vehicle's condition
within the limited space available. Thus, pre-purchase inspections
are helpful to all parties involved. The information provided for
this vehicle is presented to the best of our knowledge, and is
deemed reliable. But MAXmotive does not warrant or guarantee this
information as a basis for purchase. It is the responsibility of
the buyer to make a thorough inspection to determine the
suitability of the vehicle prior to purchase.
