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1955 DeSoto Fireflite Sedan

1955 Desoto Fireflite Sedan

In '55, there were no different bodies. Just different emblems and the Fireflite had dual exhaust. Fireflite was a high-end car with good performance and luxury options. Always Hemi powered like the Firedome, but with a 4-bbl carburetor. DeSoto suddenly changed in 1955; so much so even Betty Grable was forced to stop and stare. She and husband Harry James, with Groucho Marx hiding in the back seat, appeared on national television extolling the virtues of the “Styled for Tomorrow” 1955 DeSoto.

Some car stories revolve around courting and love, dating and the process of eventually getting married. As is the case with this car. Our retired AIU Philadelphia Policeman consigner was starting to date his now long-term wife in a version of this car our Policeman had in 1959. I guess it worked, because the couple got married, and began a family, and had to expand from the original 1955 Fireflite. In the back of his mind though, kind of like his first love, was always the first car owned, the '55 Fireflite.

Exterior
Starting out with a rust-free Arizona car, this find is now sporting enormous white fang shaped insert panels on either side, surrounded by beautiful straight black panels, and loads of pristine chrome, this now restored edition of the Fireflite presents beautifully. From its toothy grille (toned down from previous years) to its chromed trim, rocker covers, headlight bezels, bumpers and drip moldings, this car is worth its weight in just chrome! “Fireflite” badging in mid-fifties style is worth the price of admission as well. A white painted contrasting top over the black gives this tuxedo like car the look of the king of the prom.

Interior
A swing of the door and one gets the illusion that there seems to be miles between the driver and front seat passenger. Black leather bolsters with patterned inserts in gray and surrounded by white piping, shows almost showroom. Large chromed base surrounds on the front bench house the power seat controls. These two long benches stretch from excellently restored door panel to excellent restored door panel. A simplistic yet stylish dual eyebrow dash houses the gauge and knob control cluster on the driver's side, and a glovebox which contains a modern radio on the other side. Fronting the dash and awaiting capable hands is a perfectly restored steering wheel, which is in black and white, with grille like chrome spokes, and a gold center medallion. Carpet and headliner present just perfectly as well, when looking skyward or to the floor.

Drivetrain
A like new 291ci Hemi V8 sits within a restored engine bay, which one could eat off of. A 4-barrel carb, (the Fireflite's signature) is connected to a PowerFlite automatic transmission which is actuated courtesy a “Flite” control lever located in the dash. I'm beginning to feel like I need a pilot's license instead of a driver's license for this car!

Undercarriage
As expected nearly showroom, with no surface rust or any structural issues anywhere. All in excellent condition under here. Even clean dual exhaust are noted.

Reigniting the spark of youth, our Policeman consigner spent many and hour with his Arizona acquired Desoto Fireflite to get it just right. But it's the memory it brought back that make it really special. A true labor of love in more ways than one, now ready to move to the capable hands of the next appreciator of mid-fifties automobile finery. Also, a note this back seat looks like it's never been sat in!

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 300 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 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.