DeSoto Fireflite History
DeSoto's flashy flagship of the Forward Look (1955–1960) — Hemi V8 power under Virgil Exner's finned, jet-age bodywork.
Photo: “1959 DeSoto Fireflite” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
History
The DeSoto Fireflite arrived for 1955 as the new top-of-the-line DeSoto, longer and wider than the Firedome and powered by a 291-cubic-inch Hemi V8 making 200 hp with the four-barrel carburetor, paired with PowerFlite automatic. It debuted with Virgil Exner's first 'Forward Look' styling, widely praised as the handsomest of Chrysler's 1955 cars.
For 1957 the Fireflite was reskinned in Exner's boldest idiom — towering tailfins, dual oval exhausts, and triple-lens taillights — the high-water mark of DeSoto styling. It served as the brand's flagship and hosted the limited Adventurer performance model. The Fireflite name carried through 1960 before DeSoto was discontinued early in the 1961 model year.
Generations
Flagship series · Forward Look flagship
Photo: “1959 DeSoto Fireflite” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Top-of-the-line DeSoto — 291-cid Hemi V8 under Virgil Exner's finned Forward Look bodywork.
1955 Photo: “1955 DeSoto Fireflite” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1957 Photo: “Own work” by MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1958 Photo: “Own work” by Walser123 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1959 Photo: “1959 DeSoto Fireflite” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1960 Photo: “1960 DeSoto Fireflite” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Sedan
- Hardtop coupe
- Convertible
- Station wagon
Related models
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