1955 DeSoto Facts, Figures, and Specifications
Five Fast Facts You May Not Know
1955 DeSoto Fireflite Sportsman
1. No More Ancient I-6
2. Model Line Changes - Now Firedome and Fireflite
3. V-8 Grows in size and Horsepower
4. Dashboard and Shifter Redesigned
5. Wraparound Windshield is New
1955 – Dramatic New Styling
Styling changes were dramatic – with the all-new “Forward Look”. The six-cylinder engine was finally dropped. The DeSoto Hemi V-8 – now at 291 CID and with a 2-barrel carburetor was now the entry level engine and would use the “Firedome” name. A new high-end series was in place, named “Fireflite”. It would debut and use the new V-8 with a 4-barrel carburetor making 200 HP.
1955 DeSoto Resources
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1955 DeSoto Facts – Body Paint Color Mix Codes
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1955 DeSoto
| Coronado Green | |
| 301 Black | |
| 305 Avon Blue | |
| 306 Dolphin Blue | |
| 307 Marlin Blue | |
| 315 Cove Green | |
| 316 Lexington Green | |
| 317 Sherwood Green | |
| 330 Birch Gray | |
| 331 Thunder Gray | |
| 340 Jamaica Bronze | |
| 350 Emberglow | |
| 351 Carnival Red | |
| 355 Surf White |
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1955 DeSoto Facts and Specifications
General Year Information – 1955 DeSoto
Styling changes were dramatic – DeSotos were redesigned with Virgil Exner’s “Forward Look”. The six-cylinder engine was finally dropped. The DeSoto Hemi V-8 – now at 291 CID and with a 2-barrel carburetor was now the entry level engine and would use the “Firedome” name. A new high-end series was in place, named “Fireflite”. It would debut and use the new V-8 with a 4-barrel carburetor making 200 HP. Dual exhausts were available on all models but the station wagon at extra cost.
Gone were the slow-selling long wheelbase cars but the new regular chassis was stretched to 126.0 inches – the same for all series and models. Also among the missing was the 2-door sedan Club Coupe – never to return.
The new exterior sheet metal was highlighted by lower, longer, wider body contours and a wraparound windshield was featured for the first time. The redesigned DeSoto grille (now seven-tooth) featured integrated bumper guards and floating parking lamps. Hood ornaments, the hood scoop, and tail lamp clusters had fresh treatments. The fuel filler was now located behind a door on the right rear quarter panel.
Styling on the interior was inspired by ” what DeSoto called aircraft “cockpits”, with the radio and clock option centered in dash. The glove box, a series nameplate and the radio speaker graced the right-hand side of the dashboard. All gauges and the dash mounted the Powerflite automatic transmission shift lever were to the left of center
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: The new styling resulted in a 50% increase in sales – to 115,485 units! Three famous Ghia-built experimental show cars with DeSoto running gear appeared this year. They were the “Falcon” roadster; the “Flight Sweep I” convertible and the “Flight Sweep II” coupe.
1955 DeSoto Factoids
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The 1955 DeSoto had significant styling cues aside from the “forward look”. At the front, the scoop that had been on the top of the hood was now at the front, replaced by a separate hood ornament. The parking lights now “floated” in the grille that had unique cutouts for the bumper guards that were actually part of the famous “teeth”. The true teeth were cut down to seven and sat between the guards.
At the rear, the fenders only sloped down slightly and ended in new, larger tail lights, with “frenched” peaks at the top. The gas filler was now behind a door on the right fender. The rear bumper was molded to follow the body contours and kicked up to join the tail lights, much like Cadillacs of the period.
The 1955 Fireflite models had trim unique the line (that would become options in mid-year in the Firedome line). The chrome strip at the top of the windshield was extended to act as a sun visor. There were extensions on the top of the headlight bezel ostensibly to stretch the car visually (see inset). The Fireflite Sportsman had a unique emblem in the C pillar. The side molding and offsetting paint was initially unique to the Sportsman and convertible but later added to the 4-door and optional on Firedome models (except for the wagon). The “V-8” emblem sat in the position shown when this trim was in place.
1955 DeSoto Facts – Models Offered
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FIREDOME SERIES S22 (8-Cylinder Hemi): The Firedome was now De Soto’s low price line. Cars were identified by “Firedome”, in script, on front fenders. Body side decorations took the form of constant-width chrome moldings running front to rear, with a slight kick-up above the rear wheel housing. The Sportsman models had nameplates and round medallions mounted to the rear roof pillar to differentiate them from the other models in the series.
Shortly after production began, the upscale Fireflite “color sweep” paint treatments became a Firedome option (see car images), as did the external sun visor above the windshield. Standard equipment included: five tubeless tires, waterproof ignition, adjustable speed electric windshield wipers, “Oriflow” shock absorbers, and Safety Rim wheels.
FIREFLITE SERIES S21 (8-Cylinder Hemi): De Soto’s top line also offered the same new aircraft inspired “Forward Look” styling as the Firedome. A new 291 CID 200 horsepower four-barrel Hemi V-8 was standard on the Fireflite.
Identification included “Fireflite” on the front fenders in script, and chrome fender top ornaments running back from headlamps and rocker panel beauty trim. Four-door models had a single, flared, chrome side molding with slight kick up above rear wheel housing. There were V-8 emblems on the rear quarter panel, set lower and forward inside the color sweep. Cars without color sweep styling treatments had the V-8 emblem slightly forward of the gas filler and even with the taillamp centerline. A sun cap visor treatment was available. Special side “color sweep” beauty panels were standard on Fireflite convertibles and hardtops; optional on other DeSoto models.
Genuine leather trimmed upholstery was provided in the Fireflite Sportsman. Others had silk-like nylon upholstery and nylon carpeting. Added in the Spring of 1955 was the Fireflite “Coronado”. It was a 4-door sedan that featured an upgraded interior and three-tone exterior paint treatment, with unique Coronado Green paint in combination with Surf White sweeps and a Black top.
1955 DeSoto Facts – Engines
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Firedome Series Hemi V-8: V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 291. CID.
Bore and stroke: 3.720 x 3.344inches.
Compression ratio: 7.5:1.
Horsepower: 185 @ 4400 RPM.
Torque: 245 ft. lbs. @ 2800 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake 260° Exhaust 244°, Overlap 14°, Lift (Intake) 0.360″ (Exhaust) 0.360″.
Carburetor: Ball & ball two-barrel models 2117S.
Fireflite Series Hemi V-8: V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 291.0 CID.
Bore and stroke: 3.720 x 3.344inches.
Compression ratio: 7.5:1.
Horsepower: 200 @ 4400 RPM.
Torque: 274 ft. lbs. @ 2800 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake 244 Exhaust 244°, Overlap 26°, Lift (Intake) 0.360″ (Exhaust) 0.360″.
Carburetor: Carter WCFB four-barrel models 2129S; early vehicles 2210S.
1955 DeSoto Facts – Chassis Features
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- Wheelbase: 126.0″.
- Overall length: 217.9″.
- Overall width: 78.30″.
- Overall height: 60.60″.
- Front tread: 60.20″.
- Rear tread: 59.60″.
- Tires: 7.60 x 15.
1955 DeSoto Facts – Powertrains
- Powerflite Transmission Ratios
- All: 1st –1.72:1, 2nd – 1.00:1; Reverse – 2.39:1
- Stall: 2.6:1 – 1650 RPM.
- Three Speed Manual Transmission Ratios
- All: 1st – 2.50:1, 2nd – 1.68:1, 3rd – 1.00:1, Reverse – 3.20:1
- Three Speed Manual Transmission Overdrive Ratios
- All: 1st – 2.50:1, 2nd – 1.68:1, 3rd – 1.00:1, Reverse – 3.20:1, Overdrive 0.70:1
- Rear Gear Standard Ratios
- V8 Firedome:
3-Speed Manual Transmission – 3.90:1.
3-Speed Manual Transmission with Overdrive – 4.30:1
2-Speed Automatic Transmission – 3.731:1. - V-8 Fireflite:
3-Speed Manual Transmission – 3.73:1.
3-Speed Manual Transmission with Overdrive – 4.10:1
2-Speed Automatic Transmission – 3.54:1
- V8 Firedome:
1955 DeSoto Facts – Powertrain Options
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- Three-speed manual column mounted transmission was standard – all models.
- Four-barrel carburetor power package for Firedome series ($40).
- Overdrive manual transmission was optional ($108).
- Powerflite automatic transmission with “Flight Control” selector lever on the dashboard ($189).
1955 DeSoto Facts – Significant Options
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- Air conditioning ($567).
- Directional signals.
- Heater ($92).
- Power brakes ($40).
- Power front seat. ($70).
- Power steering ($113).
- Radio, manual tuning ($110).
- Radio, push button tuning ($128).
- Power windows ($102).
- White sidewall tires.
1955 DeSoto Downloads and Images
1955 DeSoto Facts – Related Document Downloads
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1955 DeSoto Print Advertisements
1955 DeSoto AMA Specifications Sheets
1955 DeSoto Fireflite Road Test – Motor Life Magazine
1955 DeSoto Facts – Related Images
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1955 DeSoto Fireflite Convertible
The 1955 Fireflite convertible was the top-down version of the Sportsman and trimmed in the same quality fashion. The hardtop Sportsman’s popularity contributed to its low sales of only 775 units.
1955 DeSoto Fireflite Sportsman 2-door Hardtop
The 1955 DeSoto Fireflite Sportsman was the top-of-the-line hardtop coupe. Aside from its 200 HP, it featured special side trim and a super upscale leather interior. 10,313 were delivered.
1955 DeSoto Fireflite Coronado 4-door Sedan
The 1955 DeSoto Fireflite Coronado 4-door Sedan was a late offering this year, and for all extents and purposes was merely a regular Sedan with upgraded trim and interior about 500 were produced.
1955 DeSoto Fireflite 4-door Sedan
The 1955 DeSoto Fireflite 4-door sedan threw away the stodgy look of the earlier cars. Combined with the Coronado Sedan, the result was 26,637 sold.
1955 DeSoto Firedome Convertible
The DeSoto Firedome Convertible was snappy looking and was less luxuriously trimmed than its Fireflite counterpart. Later, it would receive the Fireflite trim as an option It had only the 188 HP Hemi, but the Fireflite 4-barrel could be ordered. Only 625 were sold.
1955 DeSoto Firedome Sportsman 2-door Hardtop
The 1955 DeSoto Firedome Sportsman hardtop featured the same upscale interior trim as the convertible. Firedome Sportsman hardtops were popular with 28,994 produced.
1955 DeSoto Firedome Special Hardtop
The 1955 DeSoto Firedome Special Hardtop was introduced with a less sumptuous interior to move the sporty hardtop down in price range. While not separate totals are available since it was the same body as the Sportsman, it was likely responsible for the strong Firedome hardtop sales.
1955 DeSoto Firedome 4-door Sedan
The 1955 DeSoto Firedome 4-door sedan was the bread and butter DeSoto and sold the most as well, It accounted for 40% of production and 46,388 were delivered.
1955 DeSoto Firedome Station Wagon
The 1955 DeSoto Firedome Station Wagon was the only wagon available in this year. Though quite handsome for a wagon, it was the highest priced DeSoto for this year (except for the Coronado introduced later). This likely prevented stronger sales. 1,803 were sold.