Nineteen fifty-five proved to be a very important year for DeSoto. Reinvigorated by Virgil Exner’s “Forward Look” design, Desoto stepped up to the competition from Ford and Chevrolet and held their ground with pride. It was a massive success for the company, and sales doubled from the previous year, proving the worth of Exner’s radical redesign and helping to bring DeSoto into the mainstream.

That year also saw the introduction of the Fireflite as DeSoto’s top-of-the-line model. With styling just as showy as its assortment of chrome trim, the Fireflite looked slightly sportier than its rivals, and that certainly helped to sway a few buyers in its favor. The 200-horsepower engine was powered by a Hemi V-8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and it could be had with an automatic or manual transmission and in a variety of body styles, including a four-door sedan and two-door coupes and convertibles.

The following year saw a slight update to Exner’s design, and DeSoto added more flair to the Fireflite with tailfins and an increase in power to 255 brake horsepower, as the Powerflite transmission was now standard equipment. The fresh design, backed by DeSoto’s known performance, made it a natural choice to pace the Indianapolis 500. About 400 Indianapolis Pacesetters were built for public use by DeSoto, with dealers being issued stencils to duplicate the body-side lettering seen at Indianapolis.

This rare example has been restored and shows evidence of a good life. Modern vinyl lettering now adorns the white exterior, and the external brightwork is straight and shows well. The saddle vinyl top and soft boot have been replaced and fit well, as does the gorgeous period upholstery. The seats and door panels are covered in a gold vinyl with brown tweed inserts, and the carpeting is black with gold Lurex flecks. Another highlight of the time-warp passenger compartment is the rare Highway Hi-Fi 45-rpm record player. The gauges are clean and sharp, and the odometer indicates 16,885 miles. Over the past 13 years, the car has been driven 100 miles by two prominent collectors. Other highlights on the car include a power top, seat, and steering, a dual-power rear antenna, and a well- detailed trunk and undercarriage.

Even though DeSoto started to hit hard times and the company closed its doors in 1960, the Fireflite has always been remembered as a high point in the company’s history, and as such, good examples are always in demand. Very few Pacesetters are ever seen on the open market, and this car’s availability is an opportunity not to be missed.