The Chrysler Corporation’s line of cars took on a new direction when Virgil Exner joined Chrysler’s Advanced Styling Group in 1949. By 1955, his new “Forward Look” gave everything in the Chrysler line-up a new direction. In particular, DeSoto now had some dazzling colors and loads of brilliant chrome. These were the heady days of styling in the American motorcar and thanks to Exner, DeSoto was at the forefront. Quite simply, colors were bright, interiors were jet inspired, and fins were reaching for the stars. It was a time like no other for American transportation.
Offered here is an outstanding example of this great era in the way of a 1958 Firedome convertible. Finished in gorgeous black with a Seacoast Aqua side trim accent, the subdued appearance of this elegant car literally flies in the face of some of the overloaded cars of the 1950s. The Firedome has been fully restored and looks new both inside and out. The front-end styling features a full lateral length grille with a mesh inset and quad headlamps that were all the rage in the late 1950s and gave it a classy appearance. At the rear are the infamous Desoto fins that were absolutely outlandish with their extreme height and tri-tail lamp treatment that in later years would go on to become a favorite of the cartoon column “Shoe.” The Firedome nameplate is finely scripted across the rear quarter and this Desoto rides on a set of wide white wall tires with DeSoto hub caps for a clean and smooth look. The interior has been restored to like-new condition in authentic colors and DeSoto’s unique push button shifter sits to the right of a dashboard that carries space-aged styling and a two-tone steering wheel. Power for the Firedome comes from a 361 cubic-inch V-8 rated at 295 horsepower. The engine compartment on this Firedome is nicely detailed and even retains the correct Mopar washer fluid bag.
DeSoto was an iconic car that truly symbolized what the 1950s were all about. Surely no one could have guessed that that the company that usually featured nothing more than basic transportation could come up with some of the most flamboyant cars of the era. After all, it was only a decade before that Richie Cunningham’s dad drove a DeSoto S-11 Suburban in the hit show “Happy Days.” This fine DeSoto Firedome convertible literally defines the word rare with just 519 built. For a great car from the 1950s that offers miles of smiles while being a big hit at the local car show, this Firedome convertible rides in style.
