Vehicle Description
1956 DeSoto Fireflite Sedan ?Previous Arizona owners stored it in a
climate-controlled environment ?Sold new on 02/23/1956 at
Rosenberger De Soto, Scottsbluff Nebraska ?New for ?56: an early
version of the Fire Dome Hemi V-8 engine with dual exhausts
?Two-speed PowerFlite pushbutton automatic transmission and 3.54
gearing ?Car was repainted in 2016 in its original Jet Black over
Crimson exterior (code 368) with red and black interior ?Tinted
windows and rear fender skirts ?Power steering, power brakes
converted to front discs, power windows and power front seat ?New
rear wheel cylinders, brake shoes and hoses, a rebuilt master
cylinder and whitewall tires ?New radiator core and thermostat
?126-inch wheelbase ?Documentation included original dealer
invoice, original service certificate, original Scotts Bluff County
Tax form and the original De Soto owners manual Attention Mopar
Fans, have we got a rarity for you ? a 1956 DeSoto Fireflite Sedan,
the marque?s flagship model. Its original owners stored it for
years in a Arizona climate-controlled environment and yes, this
DeSoto has a Hemi V-8. It also received a repaint in its original
two-tone colors in 2016. Sold new on 02/23/1956 at Rosenberger De
Soto, Plymouth in Scottsbluff Nebraska for a price of $3,135 plus
another $1,000 in options such as power steering, power brakes,
power windows, power seat, rear arm rests, power antenna, clock and
Jiffy Jet washers. Dressed in Jet Black over Crimson (code 368),
the paint and trim are in overall great condition. The car?s body
remains straight and Arizona dry, the windows are tinted, its
engine bay is extremely tidy, the battery is in very good order,
the trunk is good shape, with a spare tire and some extra parts
included. The car?s chrome bumpers accentuate the triple taillights
and there are rear fender skirts. This big DeSoto rolls on wide
whitewalls, size 225/75R15 at every corner with front disc brake
conversion to help with stopping. Each tire is mounted on a steel
wheel, topped with a factory wheel cover. The tires and wheels are
all in very good order. New parts include rear wheel cylinders,
brake shoes and hoses, a rebuilt master cylinder, new whitewall
tires, radiator core and thermostat. Under the hood is an early
version of the Fire Dome 330 CID Hemi V-8 engine with dual
exhausts. The engine was new for 1956 and had hemispherical
combustion chambers. Where?s the shift lever? Look to your left.
This car has a two-speed PowerFlite automatic transmission with
pushbutton controls. Out back is a 3.54:1 gear ratio. Driver
convenience features include power steering, power brakes converted
to front discs, power windows and factory clock. Unlike most other
automatic transmissions, PowerFlite did not feature a ?Park? range,
making it necessary to use the handbrake whenever the car was
parked. All Chrysler products at the time had a parking brake
independent from the vehicle's wheel brakes, a single brake drum
mounted on the driveshaft, just behind the transmission. This had
the (intended) effect of locking both rear wheels in the same way
that the ?Park? setting did in other transmissions. In 1956,
Chrysler switched to pushbutton transmission controls, which
remained the only PowerFlite shift mechanism until 1961, when it
was discontinued. Inside, the car features a red and black interior
with certain elements finished in white. The red bench seats are in
great shape, as is the matching carpet. The neutral headliner is in
satisfactory order. The white over black metal instrument panel
looks great but the speedometer flunctuates. A factory AM radio
completes the interior. The 1956 model car was best known for its
long, tapering tail fins, often accentuated by a two-tone exterior
finish. For the 1956 update, Exner gave the DeSoto soaring tailfins
fitted with triple taillights. Believe it or not, Chrysler used to
have four divisions ? Chrysler at the top with Imperial; in modern
times, Plymouth was the corporation?s value brand with Dodge
serving as the bridge between bottom and top. Prior to 1961, there
was a fourth brand, DeSoto. It competed with the other companies?
mid-priced makes ? Buick, Mercury, Oldsmobile and Pontiac, among
others. Documentation included original dealer invoice, original
service certificate, original Scotts Bluff County Tax form and the
original De Soto owners manual. Competition to this DeSoto in 1956
included Buick?s Series 70 Roadmaster Riviera, Mercury?s Monterey
and Oldsmobile?s 98. If you?ve always wanted a classic and rarely
seen DeSoto. You owe it to yourself to stop by MotoeXotica Classic
Cars to check out this classic Fireflite for yourself. VIN:
50368342? This car is currently located at our facility in St.
Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 80,673
miles. It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage
exempt title. GET OUT AND DRIVE!!!? Note: Please see full terms and
conditions listed below that pertain to the purchase of any said
vehicle, thank you.