1961 DeSoto Full-Sizes

A bad omen, the single 1961 DeSoto series, based on last year’s Fireflite, does not even bear a name - and, indeed, it disappears after only one month and a half on the market, on November 30, 1960. Remaining orders on hand are fulfilled by providing Chrysler Windsors to the customers. True enough, the few last DeSotos are close to Chryslers, with their not-so-subtle front end featuring slanted quad headlights and horizontally-split double grille.


DeSoto

● Introduction: 1959. Construction: unibody. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 5.9-litre, 265 hp, mounted at the front. 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. Length: 548 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door hardtop coupe, four-door hardtop sedan.


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DeSoto (United States, 1929-1961)

Full-Sizes
1929 – 1930 – 1931 – 1932 – 1933 – 1934 – 1935 – 1936 – 1937 – 1938 – 1939 – 1940 – 1941 – 1942 – 1946 – 1947 – 1948 – 1949 – 1950 – 1951 – 1952 – 1953 – 1954 – 1955 – 1956 – 1957 – 1958 – 1959 – 1960 – 1961


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1960 DeSoto Full-Sizes

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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