1956 DeSoto Fireflite Pacesetter Convertible
With 400 examples built, the Fireflite Pacesetter Convertible stands as one of the more collectible limited-production offerings of the mid-1950s.
The White and Gold exterior livery directly referenced the car selected to pace the 1956 Indianapolis 500, an honor DeSoto earned as the official pace car supplier for that year’s race.
Chrysler’s 330 CI Firedome Hemi V-8, producing 255 horsepower, supplied the motivation, routed through a push-button PowerFlite automatic transmission. Power assists covered the expected bases: steering, brakes, windows, front seat, and convertible top.
Inside, the Pacesetter carried a notable list of period accessories. The DeSotomatic by Benrus, a 15-jewel Swiss self-winding watch mounted in the steering wheel hub, was a rare option rarely seen today.
An under-dash 45 RPM record player and AM radio with dual antennas rounded out the package, reflecting the optimism of mid-decade American car culture at its most expressive.
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