Saleofcar.com :DeSoto

DeSoto Fireflight (1956)
for sale

Price: US $12,500.00

Description:

Up for auction is rare opportunity to acquire a true 50's classic vintage Mopar finned car that has lived it's life in sunny rust free California; an original California Black license plate car! This is a great 'driver quality' car that you can drive for years of fun and pleasure for a fraction of the price most 50's finned Mopars would cost...too many cars means I have priced this sweetheart to sell quickly!
This top of the line Desoto Fireflight sedan still retains it's original 330 Hemi with it's original 4V carburetor. The Fireflight was the highest powered option available and this one has been recently refurbished with newly re machined heads, freshly rebuilt carburetor, rebuilt generator, distributor, new plug wires, and tune up, rebuilt automatic (push button) transmission and completely new dual exhaust from it's original dual exhaust manifolds to it's tailpipes.
In addition it has been recently upgraded with top of the line brand new Coker Classic radial (look like bias ply) tires. She has power brakes and AM radio which was also recently rebuilt with new vacuum tubes and vibrator installed.
Everything works; gauges, windows, signals, lights, wipers, back up lights, horn, all locks, and she runs extremely well as the drive train has just been recently refurbished with over $5, 000 spent on a newly rebuilt top end and brand new dual exhaust...plus she sits on all new rubber. She starts right up, runs and drives VERY smooth and quiet except for the low full throat dual exhaust; strong but not 'loud'...as it should be! This year Fireflight is considered to be one of Mopar's best driving and most reliable cars they ever built...and I can see why.
The cosmetics are about average for it's age, This is an older restoration that is cosmetically a bit tired, as we say a good 'ten footer'. I believe the former owner made a color change to the two-tone Mauve and White...probably to give her the appearance of the 1956 Dodge 'La Femme' car. (see attached pix of that car). However certainly the upholstery has seen better days. as you can see in the pictures. You could finish the interior seat restoration, or just drive her and have fun! The 4 door sedans sell for half the money as the same model coupe , and they are twice as much fun because they easily hold 6 plus friends and you can always store luggage galore in her '3 body trunk'.
In interest of full dis closer: The paint has a few minor chips and scratches, with one small 4 crack on the top rear roof...hard to see if you are under 6'. And while this Fireflight has a solid 99% rust free body retaining all of it's fenders and trim with no apparent damage from an accident, when I purchased the car there were two minor surface rust spots which I have stabilized and repainted to match (one on the passenger rear lower fender, and another small spot on the front passenger door). To my knowledge this car was never in an accident, not even a minor fender bender as I can tell. The under frame and fenders are otherwise structurally rust free (extremely clean underneath, all solid pans and rails). Also, 99% of the Stainless trim is there, dent free, with the exception of a missing 1 center cover trim piece where the lower rear window trim comes together. And there is a LOT of stainless steel trim (that I have not polished as it is in nice original) including a built in double faux sun visor over the front windshield, and double SS trim around the rear window frame. The rest of the chrome and aluminum grill is straight however some of the pot metal parts have minor pitting (see pix) which leads me to believe this car was a So Cal beach car for part of it's life..that salt air is probably responsible for the pitting and those minor surface rust spots I fixed. The rubber and plastic parts are original and still pretty nice as you can see. All the 4 windows and 4 vent windows work and she retains all her original glass, although slight bubbling on some of the flat glass is barely noticeable, and there are 2 small chips in the front windshield which are stable. he padded dash is sagging a bit, and there are a few minor cracks in the steering wheel but he horn ring is extra clean.
Since I have finished the mechanical restoration and cosmetic refurbishing, I have put 100s of miles driving her around So Cal to various landmark car show and she still turn heads. The dual exhaust softly purrs (not loudly) down the Freeway at 75+MPH and does not miss a beat climbing hills...this car has torque! She's a blast to drive with power brakes and the 'Armstrong' (non power) steering which is a great feel out on the open road...the drive train and suspension is solid and tight!
I feel I have described my Fireflight fairly, but if you have any questions please feel free to ask before bidding. And if you are in the area, please feel free to stop by our recording studio in San Fernando (Aspens Place Recording studios) and take her out for a test drive, she will not disappoint! I can assure you all mechanical issues have been settled, and I would not hesitate to hop in and drive this car to the East Coast tomorrow! Currently registered and up to date with the California DMV.

_{update: 2016-12-22}