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55 Firedome Coupe
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Powerflite
Posted 2016-10-12 10:43 AM (#523270)
Subject: 55 Firedome Coupe



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Posts: 9699
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Location: So. Cal		This car has been for sale for a while, but now it is going without reserve and a low starting bid.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/391592363462?forcerRptr=true&item=391592363...

1955 DeSoto Firedome Sportsman Hardtop Coupe

Original California DeSoto with 14,183 miles showing on the odometer!
Resided with the same owner for the last eight years and he bought the car from the original owner!
Rare Firedome No-post Hardtop Coupe
291 CID Hemi Firedome V-8 engine with two-bbl. carb on high-rise intake with dual exhaust (185 hp)
Two-speed Flitecontrol automatic transmission
Dual exhausts
Carnival Red exterior with contrasting Surf White roof
Black and ivory interior
15-inch original DeSoto wheels covered by full ‘DeS’ crested hub caps
Newer Classic Coker whitewall tires
“Looking forward” to a new, classic car? “Drive a DeSoto before you decide!” MotoeXotica Classic Cars is pleased to present one of the rarest of the DeSotos, the 1955 Firedome Sportsman Coupe. Debuting the new “Forward Look,” with its long, tapered fins and a 185-horsepower Hemi Firedome V-8, it’s no wonder the DeSoto was picked as The Official Pace Car for the 1956 Indianapolis 500!

Owned by the same owner for eight years, who purchased the car from the original California owner, this nicely presented Desoto no-post hardtop couple comes equipped with the aforementioned 291 CID V-8 engine, a two-barrel carburetor on a high-rise intake and is mated to a two-speed Flitecontrol automatic transmission. The car has dual exhausts and features power steering and power drum brakes. This is an original California DeSoto only showing 14,183 miles on the clock and the previous owner states the mileage is original, however, there is no documentation to support that. The wheels are 15-inch original DeSoto steelies, covered by full “DeS” crested hub caps with newer Coker Classic H78-15 whitewall tires.

Finished in bright Carnival Red, this coupe shows extremely well with only minor imperfections visible upon close inspection. The contrasting Surf White roof is a tastefully executed contrast to the rest of the exterior. All of the original Sportsman trim is present, complete and displays normal wear with only very slight signs of marring. The front grille has a brilliant finish. The front and rear chrome bumpers fit extremely tight and show well with only minor issues. The engine bay is tidy; even the words on the valve covers sport new paint. The original 15-inch wheels present well with only slight signs of marring. Car comes with dual exhausts.

Inside, through the New Horizon wraparound windshield, (a DeSoto first that year), the rich black and ivory vinyl front and rear seats show well, with little or no noticeable wear. The matching door panels, carpet and dual-****pit dashboard (another DeS first) are a contrasting complement to the striking red exterior of the car and look great with minor wear. The fuel gauge is inoperable but all of the other gauges function as designed and all have the correct appearance. There is a factory clock and working original equipment AM radio, too. The horn is inoperable but the originally equipped DeSoto steering wheel is in good, original condition.

Lead stylist Virgil Exner employed The Forward Look on all 1955 through 1961 Chrysler vehicles. What evolved was a line of cars lower, longer and wider—and modern in every sense of the word.

The Firedome was a full-sized Chrysler automobile produced from 1952 to 1959. In 1955, Chrysler dropped its six-cylinder DeSoto Powermaster series and added the topline Fireflite series, pushing the Firedome down to entry level status. Still, the Firedome was not a cheap offering, riding on a 126-inch wheelbase, retaining its V-8 engine and increasing its 276 CID to 291 CID with a larger bore and it came with a host of features and interior upgrades that the Powermaster series lacked. While Powerflite two-speed automatics were advertised as standard transmissions on the Firedome, officially the car was offered with a three-speed manual, though few were produced. With 129,767 copies sold, DeSoto placed 12th in sales for 1955.

Comparable examples of competitors include the Buick 60 (Century) Riviera two-door hardtop, Mercury Monterey coupe and the Oldsmobile Holiday 88 hardtop coupe.

This DeSoto conjures up visions of the more relaxed, simpler times of the ’50s, weekend get-aways or a family trips to the drive-in…GET OUT AND DRIVE!

Current mileage on the odometer shows 14,183 miles, it is sold as is where is on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title.

VIN: 55186949



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CaprockClassics
Posted 2016-10-12 11:17 AM (#523274 - in reply to #523270)
Subject: Re: 55 Firedome Coupe



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Posts: 631
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Location: Lubbock, TX		That's Moto-Exotica. I know for a fact that even their no-reserve auctions have shill bidders. They're a sleazy outfit who have bought several cars from me in the past which enabled me to get a look at their operation. Not credible or honest
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ABloch
Posted 2016-10-12 1:06 PM (#523292 - in reply to #523270)
Subject: Re: 55 Firedome Coupe



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Posts: 1479
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Location: Pacific Northwest		What Peter said. I flew out and did an inspection before I bought from them. Very glad I did. We had a nice visit and did not buy the car. It was not the Desoto we were after it was a different car btw.
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Greg P.
Posted 2016-10-14 2:32 PM (#523443 - in reply to #523270)
Subject: RE: 55 Firedome Coupe



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Posts: 769
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Location: Oley, PA		Pretty car, but I wouldn't think of bidding on it without an in-person inspection. It's been repainted at least once. I'd be curious to know the original color. Some rust is showing the on the right rear quarter. Makes me wonder how the rest of the body is under that red paint. Also interior has been reupholstered with non-original materials. I'm doubtful that its a 14,000 mile car, but anything is possible.
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Lancer Mike
Posted 2016-10-14 5:42 PM (#523456 - in reply to #523292)
Subject: Re: 55 Firedome Coupe



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Location: The Mile High City		I would not buy a car from them.

If they say it is 14,000 original miles - you can bet the odometer turned all the way through at least once.

Edited by Lancer Mike 2016-10-14 5:45 PM
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FwdLk56
Posted 2016-10-16 6:47 AM (#523526 - in reply to #523270)
Subject: Re: 55 Firedome Coupe


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Location: Indiana
as a general rule, i have always felt those types of "professional" restoration shops are geared for an entirely different audience than the average DIY FL Forum member...
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CaprockClassics
Posted 2016-10-16 9:45 AM (#523540 - in reply to #523270)
Subject: Re: 55 Firedome Coupe



Elite Veteran

Posts: 631
50010025
Location: Lubbock, TX		That's the thing though, MotoExotica is NOT a "restoration shop", they just flip cars they buy at various auctions. There are no projects in their workshop, just cars getting prepped for resale.

That's all fine, they have the right to turn a profit, but their cars are not in their inventory because they're the best, they just buy whatever seems like a deal.

Edited by CaprockClassics 2016-10-16 9:49 AM
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Viper Guy
Posted 2016-10-16 11:53 PM (#523612 - in reply to #523456)
Subject: Re: 55 Firedome Coupe



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Posts: 2004
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Location: Branson, MO
Lancer Mike - 2016-10-14 4:42 PM

I would not buy a car from them.

If they say it is 14,000 original miles - you can bet the odometer turned all the way through at least once.


By the looks of this one, I'd say that there are many more miles than 14K on the car. The brake pedal for instance looks well worn for 14K miles and the seats and maybe even the interior door panels are not factory original by any stretch of the imagination.

As many of you know and have seen pictures of my '59 Firesweep with 23K miles, the entire interior is still like factory new. So there is no reason a 14K mile "original" car should be any different.
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