DeSoto Adventurer History
Catalog record
This is a brief catalog introduction with limited source documentation. A licensed, identity-checked lead photograph has not yet been added for this page. Detailed year, configuration and ownership coverage must be identified separately; this page is not a complete vehicle catalog.
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Model history available. Detailed year guides are not published for this model.
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The DeSoto Adventurer debuted for 1956 as a limited-production, high-performance hardtop sub-series of the Fireflite — DeSoto's equivalent of the Chrysler 300 letter cars. The first cars came only in a white, black, and gold scheme, with a hot 341-cubic-inch Hemi V8, dual exhausts, and special trim; just 996 were built that first year.
For 1957 a convertible joined the coupe and the engine grew to 345 cubic inches making 345 bhp — one horsepower per cubic inch, with dual four-barrel carburetors — making it one of the era's most potent cars; 1,950 were built (including 300 convertibles). The Hemi was dropped after 1957 in favor of a 361-cubic-inch wedge V8, and the Adventurer lasted as DeSoto's flagship through 1960, its prestige fading with the brand.
Body styles
- Hardtop coupe
- Convertible
Notable special editions & performance variants
Adventurer (Hemi)
The original Hemi-powered Adventurers: a 341-cid Hemi for 1956, then a 345-cid Hemi making 345 bhp (one hp per cubic inch) with dual quads for 1957 — DeSoto's most collectible performance cars.
Related models
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