When the fin-tastic “Suddenly It’s 1960!” Mopar offerings of 1957 appeared, they certainly caused an impression. Typical of the era, one could pick and choose from the gaudiest to the cleanest styling of those fin-tastic products, thanks to the varieties offered by the Pentastar divisions. Dodge models having the most decoration, while DeSoto having among the cleanest during that ’57-’58 run.
As known, DeSoto was to fade in 1961 after dropping in sales and failing to make a case for itself in Chrysler’s hierarchy. But before that terminal decline, the nameplate did enjoy a bit of a bounce between ’55-’57. Today’s images capture the marque’s products before that fateful end, featuring a few DeSotos ’57-’58 in action, out in the open, and even working.
3rd pic….what’s her favorite color?
Groucho says “Drive a DeSoto before you decide!”
First pic is in South Bend. Interesting combo of cars. DeSoto, Plymouth, Jeepster, and of course one Studie, a Conestoga.
And a Rambler.
Here’s the location of that shot – it was taken at the intersection of S. Main & W. Ewing Ave., looking southeast. The only thing that remains from the original shot is the shipping-and-receiving dock in the background.
Then-and-now comparison, and Google StreetView link below:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FsouY8C3PKB7n9fz9
Such incomparable works of art, here’s 2 I had, white one went to Sweden, red one went to Arizona:
’58 Firedome coupe:
And there was Jimmy Stewart’s famous 1956 Firedome in Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece, Vertigo.
These are fashion cars. Owners chose their colors and drove them like a bouquet of flowers. There’s an assumption that cars were so good, that buyers just needed to match their wardrobe with them. Dodge LeFem is peak late 1950s fashion. Buyers wanted pretty cars, and got them.
This era is so visual in so many ways. The Mad Men were dominating the industry. The television ads are often about a brand’s appearance on a revolving turntable. Convertibles, designed to be see in.