Sanctioned for its poor sales records, DeSoto sees its range greatly reduced this year, the Fireflite losing much prestige to place itself at the price level of the now-departed Firesweep. But make no mistake: the 1960 DeSotos remain very fine cars, with brand new bodies - closely related to Chrysler’s - sporting long, outward-canted rear fins. Handling is excellent thanks to its torsion bar suspension, and power is provided in much sufficient quantity by its V-8 engines. Alas, sales decline again, more as a consequence of in-fighting within the Chrysler Corporation than due to a bad product.
DeSoto Fireflite
The 1960 Fireflite is a cheaper model than it used to be, available in no more than three versions - neither station wagons nor convertible coupes are offered this year. Its new unibody platform is shared with Chrysler models.
● Introduction: 1959. Construction: unibody. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 5.9-litre, 295 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engine: V-8, 6.3-litre, 330 hp (with automatic transmission only). Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional (with automatic transmission only). Length: 547 cm. Top speed: n/a Range: four-door sedan, two-door hardtop coupe, four-door hardtop sedan.
DeSoto Adventurer
Up to now considered DeSoto’s equivalent to the Chrysler 300, the top-of-the-line Adventurer endures the same ordeal as the Fireflite this year, being relegated to a much cheaper model positioned roughly where the defunct Firedome used to stand. Previously available exclusively as hardtop coupes or convertibles, this new Adventurer offers a range similar to the Fireflite’s. A slightly larger engine, a Torque-Flite automatic transmission and more chrome are all standard.
● Introduction: 1959. Construction: unibody. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 6.3-litre, 305 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 6.3-litre, 330 hp; and V-8, 6.3-litre, 350 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic gearbox. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 551 cm. Top speed: n/a Range: four-door sedan, two-door hardtop coupe, four-door hardtop sedan.
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Click to jump to another model year of the same car: 1960 – 1961
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DeSoto Fireflite
The 1960 Fireflite is a cheaper model than it used to be, available in no more than three versions - neither station wagons nor convertible coupes are offered this year. Its new unibody platform is shared with Chrysler models.
● Introduction: 1959. Construction: unibody. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 5.9-litre, 295 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engine: V-8, 6.3-litre, 330 hp (with automatic transmission only). Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional (with automatic transmission only). Length: 547 cm. Top speed: n/a Range: four-door sedan, two-door hardtop coupe, four-door hardtop sedan.
DeSoto Adventurer
Up to now considered DeSoto’s equivalent to the Chrysler 300, the top-of-the-line Adventurer endures the same ordeal as the Fireflite this year, being relegated to a much cheaper model positioned roughly where the defunct Firedome used to stand. Previously available exclusively as hardtop coupes or convertibles, this new Adventurer offers a range similar to the Fireflite’s. A slightly larger engine, a Torque-Flite automatic transmission and more chrome are all standard.
● Introduction: 1959. Construction: unibody. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 6.3-litre, 305 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 6.3-litre, 330 hp; and V-8, 6.3-litre, 350 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic gearbox. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 551 cm. Top speed: n/a Range: four-door sedan, two-door hardtop coupe, four-door hardtop sedan.
Any mistake you’ve just spotted? A detail to add? A suggestion? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment!
Click to jump to another model year of the same car: 1960 – 1961
Click here to return to a list of all DeSoto vehicles presented on this blog.
Click here to return to this blog’s initial post, featuring a list of all brands already presented.
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