| What's New?
New, smaller, lower-priced DeSoto
called Firesweep . . . Torsion-bar front suspension ... Wrap-over-top
windshield on convertibles; wrap-over-top back window on Fireflite
hardtop ... Dramatic new station wagon with third seat facing
to. rear . . . Glamorous styling, even when compared to other
'57 Chrysler products.
Your Choice
With the 122-inch wheelbase Firesweep,
Desoto plunges into a price class that within the Chrysler
family has been occupied only by Dodge. The odd part about
the whole maneuver is that Firesweeps are built for DeSoto
by Dodge. This baby DeSoto offers many advantages besides
price. All interior dimensions except two are equal to the
"larger" Firedomes and Fireflites. Slight differences
in front and rear legroom cancel one another.
All three series offer two- and
four-door hardtops and four-door sedans. Convertibles are
restricted to the larger 126-inch wheelbase chassis; four-door
station wagons with or without the rear-facing third seat
are available on both wheelbases.
At one time, it was planned to
move the spare tire on these three-seat models into a spot
beneath the right rear fender, with access gained through
a removable panel in the lower part of the fender as in Plymouth
and Dodg~s. Fortunately, Goodyear came up with their Captive-Air
nylon tire, so this expensive alternative became as unnecessary
as the spare tire itself. This trouble-proof tire is standard
on the wagon. No one, however, has devised a substitute for
the gas tank, which had to be moved under the left rear fender.
DeSoto's newly wide range of
models, bracketing 93 per cent of cars sold outside the lowest
price range, can be taken as another indication that Chrysler
Corp. plans soon to set up separate dealerships for each of
its makes. Now, if DeSoto dealers lose the Plymouth, they
can still tackle Buick, Oldsmobile, and Mercury competition
and be as versatile as at least the latter two.
DeSoto Power
The Firesweep engine, in either
245 or 260 horsepower form (the difference lies in two- and
four-barrel carburetors), is basically Dodge. This single-rocker-arm
design uses "polyspherical" (better called hemispheroid)
combustion chambers, and spark plugs are easily accessible.
The well-proved Firedome and
Fireflite V8s have received the usual boost in displacement,
compression ratio, and degree of cam lift. They check out
at 270 and 295 horsepower, respectively. The potential of
this smooth-running, doublerocker-arm, hemispherical combustion
chamber design seems limitless. It was first introduced in
19 5 2 and puts out more and more almost effortlessly.
Firesweeps offer a choice of
two pushbutton automatics, the three-speed Torqueflite and
two-speed Powerflite, as well as three-speed manual and overdrive.
Fireflites are all equipped with the Torqueflite; Firedomes
make it an option over the little-sold manual box.
DeSoto on the Road
Front-end torsion bars, called
"Torsion-Aire," do wonders for DeSoto ride and handling.
During the press preview in Detroit, it was demonstrated by
driving a car at speed over simulated railroad ties. This
was on a large stage, and any loss of directional control,
front or rear, could. easily have resulted in injury to chorus
girls, standing within inches of the car's path. The DeSoto
(as well as all other Chrysler products) swept over this truly
rough surface with level body and complete freedom from skittishness.
Incorporated into the system
is halljoint mounting of the front wheels, giving greater
stability while cornering and greatly reduced freedom from
dive while braking. A manual adjustment built into the rear
mount of each torsion bar permits correction for front-end
sag should this condition occur after many miles of use. The
full range of DeSoto power boosts is available on any model,
and quickstopping Center-Plane brakes are standard.
Inside Your DeSoto
DeSoto, always noted for one
of the best-looking if not most readable instrument panels,
does not lose its status by switching to a higb-mounted, thermometer-type
speed indicator centered over the lesser gauges. "Black
light" at night prevents annoying reflections, and the
driver really appreciates the flood of illumination thrown
out ahead by the optional dual headlight installation. Unfortunately,
this is available in larger DeSotos only.
Interiors, throughout the range,
seem to offer a little more for the money, and quality of
workmanship is excellent. This is one of the hidden benefits
of relatively low production. Those with small children will
appreciate the left-of-driver location of the transmission
control, and the children of parents who own one of the new
wagons should be fascinated by the prospect of seeing the
world go by in reverse as they cruise down the highway.
Why Buy?
Styling that stands out, even
among its advanced brothers . . . Adequate power, unobtrusively
served up . . . Big car lux-
ury in a reasonably sized package . . . Constantly improving
depreciation rate. |
