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?
Imagine if her outfit had a second colour applique matching the DeSoto’s side trim.
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
Two Studes, actually. In addition to the two-tone wagon across the street is the back of a 53-54 sedan behind the Marine Corps sign.
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.
Thats my favorite Desota.
It was funny how quickly those 3 light tail fins of the ’57 became a caricature of the fin era. I remember a comic strip where a car that looked like this was a feature in a running joke about keeping the car running.
Anyone recall that?
See the taxicab in the opening credits of “The Nanny.”
Yes, the comic strip was “Shoe,” which followed the antics of a group of anthropomorphized birds. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe_(comic_strip)
Came here to say the same thing.
Thanks Dave and 210 !
I was going crazy trying to find it.
http://www.shoecomics.com/search_comics_archive_results.php?page=61#
http://www.shoecomics.com/archives/shoe_daily/shoe_daily121901.jpg
The movie is still a good watch, and the DeSoto is an absolute treat to observe moving about.
Yes . . . in an odd pale lavender ? Was that a factory color for 1956 ? Liz Taylor Lavender, or something of the sort—in Mad Magazine, maybe . . .!
The shading in the photo might be distorting the color a bit. Scottie Ferguson’s DeSoto in Vertigo was white.
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.
Desotos are by far the best looking of the 1957 forward look cars.
Chrysler hit it out of the park with this one. It’s perhaps more illusion than reality, but what an illusion! Probably one of my favourite car photos of all time. 🙂
It’s sad that a few years later the brand disappeared entirely.
My high-school buddy preferred the DeSoto, but I liked the Chrysler’s front, rear, and side decorative details—even the wheel covers, come to think of it. Same exact sheet metal, granted . . . First American cars to make me forget my first love, the Cord 810-812.
Note that (numbered from the top) photos 2, 6, and 8 are the lower cost Firesweep series that were on shorter Dodge wheelbases and had a different front end and fender treatment due to using some Dodge pieces. I believe that all models (Firedome, Fireflite, Firesweep) could have had dual or quad headlamps, as quad headlamps were not yet legal in all states. I believe all the cars in the photos are ’57’s, owing to the arrangement of the two-tone paint scheme on the lower body. 57 & 58 DeSotos and Chryslers are my favorite “Forward Look” Mopars.
DeSoto were the best looking Mopars of these years. It’s as though these were designed first, and the other brands adapted from them.
Not entirely my style but I find these to be beautiful .
Picture #2 shows a 1940’s Rag Top across the street, notice the crudely added “lollipop” turn signal in the fender top .
-Nate
My Mom and me on our DeSoto!
I think 4 & 7 are the same car somewhere in Northern Michigan. The shot with the boat is probably 1960 based on the yellow corner tag on a yellow on green ’59 license plate. I don’t see the tag on the other, so it’s probably 1959. I think that is an ice fishing shanty on the trailer.
#9 is also the same car. Zooming in on that one, we can make out the license plate number is UU-1914. UU plates were issued in Grand Traverse County.
And thanks for explaining what’s being towed in that one shot – I couldn’t figure it out.
My favorite car ever was a 1963 Rambler American. Smooth as silk with fold down seats. Perfect for…….well, you know. And wipers that were hand powered by a string looped through the wing windows. Hand powered because the vacuum was just too weak. But I loved it and so did all of my friends who partied inside while driving through the Ohio countryside.