DeSoto Firesweep History
DeSoto's lower-priced V8 (1957–1959), built on shorter Dodge underpinnings to reach down-market.
Photo: “1957 Desoto Firesweep Sportsman” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
History
The DeSoto Firesweep was introduced for 1957 as the entry-level DeSoto, slotted below the Firedome. To hit a lower price it was built on the shorter Dodge body and chassis rather than the senior DeSoto platform, sharing many components with Dodge.
It wore the same finned Forward Look styling as its pricier siblings and helped DeSoto reach buyers it couldn't otherwise afford. The Firesweep ran only three model years; it was dropped after 1959 as the mid-price market collapsed and DeSoto's range was slashed.
Generations
Dodge-based V8 · Entry V8
Photo: “1957 Desoto Firesweep Sportsman” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Entry-level DeSoto built on the shorter Dodge body and chassis.
1957 Photo: “1957 Desoto Firesweep Sportsman” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1959 Photo: “59 DeSoto Firesweep Explorer” 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
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the DeSoto Firesweep
Search Amazon across available years, colors, and scales. Exact releases vary, so confirm the listing before ordering.