Photo: MaxMotive
Part of the long list of car brands that are no longer with us, DeSoto had a bumpy ride. Born in 1928 as a brand of Chrysler, it last for a little over 3 decades, war years included.
That pretty much means all DeSoto cars are rare these days, but some of the models made are even rarer than the others. So is the case with the massive Fireflite, the flagship model introduced by the brand in 1955.
Build to be a larger variant of all other DeSoto models – the Fireflite measured 217.9 inches (5.53 meters) in length and was bigger this way than most other cars on the market back then – it became the brand’s swansong, marking a last success before DeSoto was killed in 1961.
It’s unclear how many of them were built, or how many are still around today. But this one here is not only alive and kicking, but also packing a punch.
Customized by an unnamed garage about five years ago, it comes with an engine much larger than the ones originally available for the model (the largest during its production run was 341ci/5.6-liters), namely a 528ci (8.6-liters) Indy HEMI V8.
We’re not being told how much power the engine develops, but we do know it comes with MSD ignition, a Demon carburetor, and is linked to a 4L60E automatic transmission.
The modifications made to the Fireflite are not limited to the engine compartment. Lowered close to the ground, the car comes with a chopped top, a front grille taken from a 1956 DeSoto, and a flipped back bumper made so to accommodate a 1953 Studebaker license plate frame.
Inside the Fireflite is all leather, with Classic Instruments gauges up front and a second DeSoto dashboard, modified and fitted in the back to form the package tray.
The 1955 DeSoto Fireflite is for sale, with an asking price befitting a car so rare, namely $120,000.
Build to be a larger variant of all other DeSoto models – the Fireflite measured 217.9 inches (5.53 meters) in length and was bigger this way than most other cars on the market back then – it became the brand’s swansong, marking a last success before DeSoto was killed in 1961.
It’s unclear how many of them were built, or how many are still around today. But this one here is not only alive and kicking, but also packing a punch.
Customized by an unnamed garage about five years ago, it comes with an engine much larger than the ones originally available for the model (the largest during its production run was 341ci/5.6-liters), namely a 528ci (8.6-liters) Indy HEMI V8.
We’re not being told how much power the engine develops, but we do know it comes with MSD ignition, a Demon carburetor, and is linked to a 4L60E automatic transmission.
The modifications made to the Fireflite are not limited to the engine compartment. Lowered close to the ground, the car comes with a chopped top, a front grille taken from a 1956 DeSoto, and a flipped back bumper made so to accommodate a 1953 Studebaker license plate frame.
Inside the Fireflite is all leather, with Classic Instruments gauges up front and a second DeSoto dashboard, modified and fitted in the back to form the package tray.
The 1955 DeSoto Fireflite is for sale, with an asking price befitting a car so rare, namely $120,000.
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