Vehicle Description
This 1955 Desoto Fireflite Convertible is a beautifully restored,
Mopar convertible that is ready for some serious summer cruising.
Initially named for Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, the Desoto
marque was positioned in the middle of Chrysler's brand hierarchy,
sitting above the entry-level Plymouth brand but below the premium
Chrysler (and later Imperial) brands. See, Walter Chrysler learned
from his time at General Motors that diversification and
hierarchical approach to branding helped the company sell cars to
virtually everyone in America. While the Chrysler Corporation
survived the Great Depression, production across American
automobile manufacturing was ceased due to the onset of World War
II. When American auto manufacturing resumed in 1946, virtually
every company was re-badging its pre-war offerings for the first
few years. By the time the 50s rolled around, American automakers
were back in full swing albeit consumer demand for new vehicles did
fluctuate a bit. 1955 marked a major turning point in the design of
all Chrysler products with the introduction of the "Forward Look"
design philosophy. The brainchild of famed automotive designer
Virgil Exner, the new Forward Look cars took inspiration from the
growing aviation industry and prioritized aerodynamics. The
Chrysler Corporation bet heavily that the new Forward Look designs
would help its brands rebound from mid-year sales slump in 1954. In
fact, it was said that Chrysler spent over $250 million on the
design, development, and tooling which was an unbelievable amount
of money back in the mid-Fifties. However, Chrysler's major
financial investment would turn out quite fruitful and exceeded
sales expectations in 1955. For DeSoto, the Chrysler marque had two
product lines, the entry-level Firedome and the top-of-the-line
Fireflite. Differntiating the Fireflite from the Firedome was
addition exterior trim such as special front fender script,
elevated trim on top of the front fenders, and chrome rocker trim.
Sitting atop the Fireflite line was the Convertible model that was
the most expensive DeSoto offered in 1955 and featured two-tone
paint as standard equipment. In total, only 775 Desoto Fireflite
Convertibles were produced in 1955 making this particular example
quite a rare piece of automobile history. Additionally, this
particular Fireflite Convertible comes to us from a southern-based
collection where exceptional care was taken preserving this
gorgeous Desoto. Powering this '55 Desoto is a 291 Cubic Inch Hemi
V8 fed by a single 4 barrel carburetor that was said to have pushed
out 200 horsepower from the factory. The 291 Hemi V8 is mated to a
Powerflite automatic transmission that makes this '55 Fireflite
Convertible a breeze for anybody to take for a joyride around the
block. This particular 1955 Desoto Fireflite comes loaded with
options! With power steering, manuvering this 50s cruiser in and
out of tight spaces is nearly effortless. Bringing this Fireflite
to a complete stop is also much easier, especially with all that
Hemi horsepower under the hood. The white vinyl power convertible
top is in wonderful condition and goes up and down with the simple
flick of a switch. Riding on a set of wide whitewall tires wrapped
around chrome Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels, this 1955 Desoto
Convertible has a fantastic look going down the road. The exterior
of this Fireflite has been correctly refinished in a two-tone color
scheme consisting of Carnival Red and Surf White, just how the car
came back in 1955. The chrome and brightwork around the exterior of
this convertible is in great shape as well and completes the
exterior look of the car. The interior on this 1955 Fireflite
Convertible is absolutely stunning! The front and rear bench seats
have been reupholstered in beautiful Red and Ivory vinyl accented
with black welt cord. The padded dash, matching upholstered door
panels, black carpeting and steering wheel are all in wonderful
condition and appear to be in their stock configuration. The
instrument cluster is comprised of a 120 MPH speedometer, amp
gauge, oil pressure gauge, temperature gauge and fuel gauge, along
with the shift lever for the automatic transmission. The dash is
completed with a locking glovebox, push button AM radio, and clock.
Whether you're buying your first classic car or you're adding to
your collection of Virgil Exner Forward Look automobiles, this 1955
Desoto Fireflite Convertible would make an excellent choice. Give
Ellingson's a call at 763-428-7337!
*291 Cu. In. Hemi V8
*Single 4 Barrel Carburetor
*Powerflite Automatic Transmission
*Power Brakes
*Power Steering
*Southern History
*White Vinyl Power Convertible Top
*Correct Carnival Red/Surf White Exterior
*Red & Ivory Vinyl Interior
*Power Windows & Seat
*Stock Instrumentation
*Odometer Reads: 95,276 Miles
