Vehicle Description
1959 DeSoto Firedome Sedan
DeSoto, a long-dead Chrysler brand that built heavy, unwieldy
family vehicles with inline sixes, was losing momentum to the big
boys - Cadillac and Oldsmobile - who had begun using V8s in a quest
for horsepower supremacy shortly after WWII. When Chrysler opted to
install a brand-new Hemi V8 with 160 horsepower under the hood of
the new Firedome, the 1.7-ton monster sped from 0-60 in 15.5
seconds. Slow today, but five seconds faster than anything else on
the market at the time, and DeSoto became the standard.
For consignment a consignor described space age rocket ship which
will blast you to the past in the form of a 1959 DeSoto Firedome.
Bumpers and fins do not get much larger and more exaggerated. A
wonderful wraparound front glass, curved roofline which is fully
encased in chrome edge trimmings and the sweep spear to end all
sweep spears, this car drips 50's styling inside and outside. This
would be the nearing thefinal year for Desoto, but it went out in
style!
Exterior
We give you 221 inches of retro styled, Bahama Blue painted Detroit
iron peppered with shiny large chrome, and plenty of it. Starting
with the massive front bumper with two tiers of chromed beauteous
styling, a thin horizontal grille above and flanking dual dual
headlights with an eyebrow visor which goes on to create the front
quarter panel top and sides. A lazy V shaped long hood with a D E S
O T O badge in its front end runs rearward to the front wraparound
glass. Some shiny gun sights are atop the front quarters as well as
a side view mirror in front of the glass. Also on the sides,
beginning at a point, the chromed and white insert painted trim
spear begins and tears off widening as it streaks rearward to the
mid rear quarter crescendo where it makes a check mark that ends on
top of the rear fins in chrome bling. The wonderfully curved
roofline is housing plenty of chrome trimmed glass and a semi
wrapped around rear glass, again with more chrome edging. The NYC
two bedroom size trunk is nestled between those fins which have a
trio of Dixie cup styled tail lights lining up with its vertical
rise on back. Another large and in-charge rear bumper, looking like
it could be the front grille, resides on the back and has dual
exhaust tips peeking out of the rear bottom. A departure from this
mid century masterpiece of wretched excess, we see American Racing
Outlaw wheels wrapped in 235/70R15 rubber. A set of wide white
Coker classics with Desoto hubcaps is also available and comes with
the car so you can go low and slow or add a bit of hot rod
spice.
Interior
Just lovely mid century modern styling with use of multiple colors
and snazzy fabrics that could have covered the Jetsons couch and
looked great! The door panels are light blue, dark blue and mid
tone blue with a lazy boomerang insert with the best fabric
featuring a square stitched design with metal thread, ( to die
for!). Inside I park myself on the front bench where my behind is
greeted with black and white zig zag tweed inserts and some styled
dark blue vinyl with buttons and piping, and on top, some light
blue vinyl to make up this wide chair. I see a slight crack and
some mild soiling on these seats. The rear door panels and bench
take in the same over the top styling and offer up plenty of romper
room. Noted is the gold "Firedome" badging on the middle upper of
the back bench in grandmother's handwriting. These chairs float in
a sea of dark blue carpeting. To the dash, which could be the
interior of the Buck Rogers spaceship, with its curved speedo
encasing with large round bezel inserts just below. Push button
transmission shifting, power steering and a large dealer installed
option of AC unit below the dash all add up to finery and upper
class motoring right out of 1959.
Drivetrain
Under the insulated hood is a Desoto 383ci V8 with 305hp. It is
topped with a single 2-barrel carburetor and has a 3-speed smooth
Torqueflite automatic tranny on back with a 3.31 Dana rear axle.
Dual exhaust with Turbo mufflers are on for the exhale.
Undercarriage
Some surface rust is peppering the edge of the rockers where the
body meets the framing. Some light, some heavy, but it's there.
Otherwise structurally sound with a like new fuel tank, power
Bendix disc braking in front and power drums for the back. Cushy
independent torsion bar front suspension, and rear leaf springs
provide the ride for this massive look into the future from
1959.
Drive-Ability
From this extensive expressive description I guess you can tell
what is my fav era of automotive design? Well I could not pass this
test drive up and did so with a big smile on my face. The car ran
great, was an easy driver and solid stopper with lumbering but
stable handling, and at 1.5 tons it has some pep. The AC blows warm
but all else is in perfect working condition.
Not a perfect car by any means, it has its share of wear and tear,
but certainly a fine piece of futuristic excessive styling from the
late 50's. It can be worked and cleaned to make it a trailer queen
or left to its devices and it will turn heads either way. Excuse me
while I pull into my carport under my butterfly roof house....
M431112320
M431-1959 Desoto Firedome
112320-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.
