The DeSoto Firedome was a full-size automobile produced between 1952 and 1959 by DeSoto, the Chrysler Corporation division. It arrived as DeSoto’s premium line for 1952 and was the first DeSoto with an eight-cylinder engine since 1931; by the end of its life it had been pushed down to entry level and then to the middle of the range.
DeSoto Firedome at a glance
| Maker | DeSoto division, Chrysler Corporation |
|---|---|
| Production | 1952–1959 |
| 1952 position | top of the DeSoto range |
| Engine, 1952–1954 | Hemi V8, 160 bhp, later 170 bhp |
| Top speed, 1953 | 100 mph (160 km/h) |
| 0–60 mph, 1953 | 15.5 seconds |
| Weight, 1953 | 3,700 lb (1,700 kg) |
| Price, 1953 | from US$2,740 |
| 1953 output | approximately 64,211 |
| 1955 position | entry level, 291 cu in, 185 bhp |
| 1956 power | 230 bhp |
| 1958 engine | 361 cu in V8, over 300 bhp |
| 1959 colours | 26 solid and 190 two-tone finishes |
History of the DeSoto Firedome
Top of the range, 1952–1954
Introduced for 1952 as DeSoto’s premium line, the Firedome kept that position until it was demoted for 1955. The 1953 car was launched just before DeSoto’s 25th anniversary and arrived as the new top series, displacing the Custom nameplate, which was retired at the end of the 1952 model year. The whole DeSoto range was restyled and Firedome prices started at US$2,740. It could seat six and came as a four-door sedan, a five-door station wagon, a two-door coupe and a two-door convertible; the AM radio cost US$85. Under the bonnet was a Hemi V8 of 160 bhp, giving a top speed of 100 mph and a 0–60 mph time of 15.5 seconds in a car of 3,700 lb; by 1953 output had risen to 170 bhp. Approximately 64,211 were produced in the 1953 model year.
Entry level, 1955–1956
In 1955 Chrysler dropped the six-cylinder DeSoto Powermaster and added the top-line Fireflite, which pushed the Firedome down to entry level. It kept its V8, but displacement grew from 276 to 291 cubic inches through a larger bore, power rose to 185 bhp, and the car carried features and interior upgrades the Powermaster had lacked. A Powerflite two-speed automatic was advertised as optional, but a three-speed manual was officially the standard transmission, although few were built. For 1956 the V8 was boosted again, to 230 bhp, 45 more than the year before.
Mid-range car, 1957–1959
The series moved upmarket again for 1957, when the new Dodge-based Firesweep became the entry-level DeSoto; a new air-conditioner was offered. By 1958 power had risen above 300 bhp with the optional 361 cubic inch V8, 0–60 mph took just under eight seconds and the top speed was 115 mph. That year DeSoto sales fell by almost 60 per cent, partly because of the economy and partly because of build problems with the 1957 cars. For 1959 Chrysler offered the Firedome in 26 solid colours and 190 two-tone finishes and made a padded dash standard, but buyers were already turning away as rumours spread that the marque would be dropped. Firedome production ended with the 1959 model year. For 1960 DeSoto offered only the Fireflite and the Adventurer, and in 1961 a single model named simply DeSoto; the marque ended on 30 November 1960, 48 days after the 1961 cars were shown.
How this page was made
The article follows the English Wikipedia page on the DeSoto Firedome, including its three periods as top, entry-level and mid-range model.
Design and features
- First DeSoto V8 since 1931: the Hemi that arrived with the 1952 car.
- Rising power: from 160 bhp in 1952 to more than 300 bhp by 1958.
- Four body styles: sedan, station wagon, coupe and convertible in the early years.
- Gearbox choice: a three-speed manual was standard in 1955, with Powerflite automatic optional.
- Colour explosion: 26 solid and 190 two-tone finishes for 1959.
DeSoto Firedome versions
- 1952–1954 Firedome: the premium line with the 160–170 bhp Hemi.
- 1955–1956 Firedome: entry-level car with the 291 cubic inch V8, 185 then 230 bhp.
- 1957–1959 Firedome: mid-range model, with the 361 V8 available from 1958.
- Seville and Sportsman: the two-door hardtop body styles sold within the Firedome range.
The Firedome replaced the Custom at the top of the range and was itself topped from 1955 by the Fireflite and, from 1956, by the Adventurer. More DeSotos are in the DeSoto collection.
Video: 1956 Desoto Firedome Sportsman
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- DeSoto Firedome, English Wikipedia: year-by-year history, engines, prices, production
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