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I know a lot of you are in love with the '57 Chevy, but one look across the street at what was going on at Chrysler might change your allegiances. Park this heart-stopping 1957 Desoto Fireflite Sportsman next to a '57 Chevy and the Chevy starts to look positively ordinary in comparison. With long, sweeping lines, those killer fins, and a robust 341 cubic inch Hemi under the hood, Chrysler was most definitely at the top of their game with this car.

We probably wouldn't have the "Big Three" today without Virgil Exner's work at Chrysler. The "Forward Look" cars that he penned for 1955 were revolutionary and instantly made everything else on the market look like yesterday's news. Just one look at the spectacular Fiesta Red flanks on this Fireflite Sportsman will convince you that while excess was still in fashion, it was knowing where to put it that was important. This Desoto has received a frame-off restoration that is absolutely breathtaking in person. The bodywork is exceptionally well done (and it has to be with those giant fins, there's nowhere for inferior work to hide), and the car is magnificently presented.

In 1957, the horsepower races had already started, and Chrysler was at the head of the pack with their Hemi powerplants. In the Desoto Fireflite, it was a 341 cubic inch Hemi that used a single 4-barrel carburetor to make a very stout 295 horsepower, enough to push these gorgeous cars to more than 125 MPH. The engine bay in this Fireflite is beautifully restored and finished to concours standards throughout. The engine is correctly finished in corporate silver with red lettering on the unique Hemi valve covers. The massive air cleaner assembly dominates the engine bay, which was necessary thanks to the Hemi's improved breathing. And correct finishes, materials, and decals have been used throughout, from the heater housing on the firewall, to the hoses and clamps, to the reproduction battery.

The standard transmission in the Fireflite Sportsman is a 3-speed TorqueFlite feeding a 3.36-geared rear end. The rest of the chassis is spectacularly detailed, from the Fiesta Red floors to the satin black frame and all the correctly finished parts in between. Up front, you'll find Chrysler's familiar torsion-bar front suspension, which has been fully rebuilt and rides like a hovercraft. True-dual exhaust was part of the program for the Fireflite, and a complete system has been fabricated to factory specifications on this car, giving it a subtle, yet authoritative voice. The rear end rides on restored leaf springs and damped by new shocks that match the originals in color and function. And the wheels are comprised of gorgeous chrome wires that spin 15-inch wide whitewall radials.

The eye candy doesn't stop at the exterior. Chrysler stylists fine-tuned every aspect of the car to match the Forward Look styling, and that meant the interior had to be exceptional. It is. With two-tone red and gray seating front and back, it ties in brilliantly with the exterior color scheme. Everything inside this car is new, from the subtle gray carpets to the gorgeous headliner accented by chrome top bows. The dashboard incorporates a lot of pure 1950s style, from the massive steering wheel to the textured metal panel that surrounds the gauge cluster. And, although the original AM radio still lives in the dash, a powerful modern JVC head unit has been hidden in the glove box.

Desoto died in 1961, but they enjoy a very strong support network and with their Chrysler connection, parts are plentiful and easy to find. They're also considerably harder to find than their Dodge and Plymouth siblings, which will make this Fireflite the hit of any show, even the Mopar Nationals. Call, click or visit [ Ссылка ] for more information.

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