1956 de Soto firedome

Today I’m super stoked to feature this 1956 de Soto firedome. Period correct ads specs and technical information tour outside and inside the car buttons switches and knobs..
Enjoy this episode I sure did =)
Also If you wanna contact me or share your cool awesome ride link to what it’s like Facebook group
 / 707702813881478

[@conradjarrett9316]

This is one of my favorite cars. Jimmy Stewart drove a 1956 DeSoto Firedome two-door coupe in the movie Vertigo. The car has tasteful, beautiful lines, well balanced overall looks.

[@What.its.like.]

It’s a stunning car in person and the color combinations they offered were sweet =)

[@glennso47]

It’s delicious, it’s delightful, it’s DeSoto. Tell them Groucho sent ya!

[@richardwarren7492]

Nice - - one thing about those 50's cars - - The colors! So refreshing vs the blah - Black, White, shades of Silver/Gray with a Red or Blue thrown in these days. Some of those 2 tones are awesome, let alone 3 tones! Another great vid, thanks.

[@What.its.like.]

I’m so happy I have an audience that agrees with my perception on new cars, in the early days I wasn’t sure which direction I wanted to take this channel but it’s clear now and so happy I don’t have to do any new cars =)

[@billolsen4360]

Colors in the 50's were cheerful, optimistic. Color preference for cars track very closely to color preferences of caskets in any given point in time.

[@marktomlin9787]

Awesome videos, keep them coming 👍

[@asteverino8569]

Thanks for this great personal review. I remember seeing a pink with black two tone as a kid. Nice unique features too.

[@What.its.like.]

=)

[@jamesromeo3962]

I bought my 56 Desoto in 1967 at Eglin AFB, Florida, loaded my Triumph Bonneville into the back seat area, seat went into trunk, spare went beside the bike, and I drove to Melbourne, FL before heading off to Thailand. Had sell both before leaving.

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet =) This car belongs to a friend of mine we might do a revisit

[@stanmarcusgtv]

Gorgeous car, as was the 1956 Chrysler

[@What.its.like.]

I love desoto from this era 1955 and 1956 I can’t think of a bad car design from those two years

[@TheDejael]

Exner excellence! Very sporty grand touring car. A great cruiser. A great year for DeSoto!

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree =) 55/56 is my favorite years for De Soto

[@jackgoldstein2254]

Beautiful car! I love the colors! This is one of 44,909 Firedome 4-door sedans built in 1956, and was DeSoto's most popular model for the year. Base price was $2805, and shipping weight was 3855, according to my book. The PowerFlite transmission was $189, power steering $97, power brakes $40, radio $110, two-tone $18, and heather $93.

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for that added information =)

[@christopherkraft1327]

Wow, this De Soto is spectacular!!! Great review, thanks again for sharing another fun video!!! 👍👍

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much I love de Soto =) 55-56 are my favorite years (besides de Soto air flow)

[@davidmagen415]

We had a pink and white Desoto. It had a push button tranny I remember the radio had tubes in it and you had to wait for it to warm up.🏖

[@stanleycostello9610]

I had a 1964 Polara which also had pushbutton transmission. When I was late for work, especially in the winter time, the Polara would not get into gear until it was good and ready.

[@glennso47]

As long as it has coat hooks and the radio works it is okay 👌😁

[@Al-thecarhistorian]

Good job. You're making great strides in the presentation of your subject. You are developing a pattern that flows from one automobile to the next. Keep up the momentum.

[@craigjorgensen4637]

Totally agree! He is trying hard and the results show!

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you it means so much it really does

[@What.its.like.]

More videos one does the easier gets especially finding the information.. I shouldn’t say that too loud tho

[@craigjorgensen4637]

@@What.its.like. Too dah LOO!

[@billolsen4360]

George Fenneman is the spokesman in that TV commercial. He worked for Grouch Marx on "You Bet Your Life" and De Soto was the sponsor for the run of the show.

[@geralddavis900]

The 1956 DeSoto Was My Wonderful Mama's Very FIRST Car!!! The Firedome!!!

[@bluesharp59]

Thumbs Up, liked your video.

[@TheDejael]

The 2-speed automatic push-button transmission is the Powerflite, introduced in mid-1954, but the push-button control, mounted to the left of the driver, was newly introduced for 1956. In 1954, it was a gear selector on the steering column, and in 1955, it was a selector lever mounted on the dash to the right of the steering wheel. In mid-1956, Chrysler Corp. introduced their all-new three-speed automatic transmission, named Torqueflite, in April 1956. It was offered on Imperial, Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge D-500, and the new Plymouth Fury and Belvedere series. It was an extra-cost option on four of the five 1957 Chrysler cars, except standard on Imperial; with push-buttons available until 1965, when Chrysler went back to traditional gear selector lever on the steering column, with Elwood Engel's more conservative auto styling in the mid-1960s.

[@What.its.like.]

Great information

[@davidtosh7200]

I like the 1956 DeSoto Firedome DeLuxe 2 door Sportsman hardtop with a standard V-8 engine. DeLuxe badges only applied for V-8 powered 1956 DeSoto Firedome 2 door hardtop. There are several makes of 1956 cars still uses the DeLuxe badges, such as 1956 Clipper DeLuxe 4 door pillared sedan (Clipper is the only year for separate make from Packard for 1956), 1956 Chrysler New Yorker DeLuxe V-8, 2 door Newport hardtop with 3 tone paint job, and 1956 Oldsmobile 98 DeLuxe are available in Starfire Convertible, 2 door Holiday hardtop, and 4 door Holiday hardtop.

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for that added information =)

[@chrisjeffries2322]

I would say it was Chrysler Corp's best looking car for 56.

[@What.its.like.]

I would agree love the wagons especially 1956 de Soto

[@jerrycallender9927]

WELL DONE! Mama had a 1955 Fireflite 2-door hardtop. Kick a wheel going into passing gear at 45 mph

[@What.its.like.]

=)

[@1575murray]

These cars did not have a parking pawl in the transmission like Ford and GM did. They had a brake drum on the output shaft which was the actual parking brake. Chrysler changed the design in 1962-63 to be like the other makes.

[@danielross1033]

I own a fireflite sportsman coupe at the time of writing this it’s my photo on here but she’s rough and needs love but it’s a amazing car

[@What.its.like.]

That’s awesome yeah these are super underrated for what they are

[@Al-thecarhistorian]

This is my favorite year for DeSoto. My parents had friends back in '56 who owned a grey over white DeSoto station wagon. I loved riding in the way back. In the scheme of things, I feel the 1956 Chrysler Corp. cars were better looking than the 1955 models. In general, FoMoCo and GM lost styling points from '55 to '56. Just my opinion, of course.

[@What.its.like.]

55 and 56 are my favorite years as well =)

[@chipieal]

The pull knob under the dash opens the cowl vent. it pos up for open and down for closed

[@customkey]

George Fenneman narrating the tv commercial which was from the Groucho Marx "You Bet Your Life" tv show, which was sponsored by De Soto. And remember to tell 'em that "Groucho Sent You!"

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you for that information =)

[@donh01965]

The thing you asked about is a manual choke for the carburetor. I like your enthusiasm, nice video.

[@williamowens5542]

I had a 1956 Firedome, for a few years in the 1980s. I don't remember a manual choke, nor that button. Maybe automatic choke was an option on mine. Or could the manual choke have been added to this one as an easy way to "fix" an automatic choke that didn't always work well?

[@What.its.like.]

Owner said it has electric or automatic choke.. that’s what I thought it was. =)

[@Al-thecarhistorian]

@@williamowens5542 Automatic choke was standard on all models.

[@glennso47]

Automatic chokes were integral with the accelerator at least they were on Chevy in the 1950s through 1970s until they switched to injection.

[@emjayay]

Whatever it's for it's a later addition, not from the factory.

[@charleshamilton9274]

What an odd name for a car, “Firedome.” I wonder what the hell the marketing department was thinking…Great video. Thanks!

[@What.its.like.]

Desoto was fire everything fireflite firesweep firedome and then there was the adventurer

[@mrvince316]

This is my good friend's car. Only 22,000 miles.

[@What.its.like.]

It’s an epic time capsule and I’m so happy he give me the opportunity to feature it here =) How was the car show ?

[@mrvince316]

@@What.its.like. Great, as always!

[@louiswiley6121]

I remember the engine had on the valve cover, "Firedome V-8.

[@tillivanilli6481]

Beautyful greetings from Bavaria (germany) & me, fot that great Vido about these amazingly bautyful styled & genius designed Full Size Class of American Automobile/s, what i love so much! :) I´m restoring an ´67 Chevy Caprice/Impala 4 Door Sport Sedan/Hardtop from ground up with my over 70 years old Dad for us...By the way, this is exactly the same kind/version,.. of the Movie Cars used for the TV Show "Suprnatural", & i´m also looking for restore it as an Tribute Version of the movie Cars from "Supernatural"... I learned to rebuild shet metal/bring new sheet metal in form, for exmpl. to rebuild the rusted wheel archs of the front fenders & quarter panels...then welding, grinding, cuting, ...until we got back rust free front fenders like new :) We´re still working on it & i really hope we could finish the whole restoration untill Mai/June the next year, because my parents would hav theyr "Golden Wedding" & i really really wish that this project, this so bautyful full size classic us car would make the car for that event & even more events of my family in future, too.... :) However, what i like to say is that i really love those brochures with all these illustrations of the cars like it is shown here in your video about the beautyful ´56 DESOTO Full Size Models & i can fully agree with you that it is a lot more beautyful if you could get these brochures with the illustartions of these cars & could hav it in your own hands! :) I´m also drawing, styling & desining cars, esp. with the style of the US cars made in th Aera between 55-79, i like to get a retro styling for new models, evn to get that kin of amazing beautyful look & styling of these cars. I´m a Enginering & Product Desyner/Stylist what have that kind of talent to draw & style, desing such cars & i really really hope & wish to could bring back that art, that look & also many of the genius design back to th present & future, becaus in my eyes back then the cars was mad exactly right & with style, a beautyful look & genius design. 4 xmpl.; I also love the MOPARS mad sinc 2004, like the Chrysler 300C, the Dodge Magnum, Dodge Charger & Challenger, too! I think that´s exactly the right way for the future of these makes, th whole us Auto Industry, esp. also to use the most importand ground up design of an Rear Wheel Drive (Base Model) Platform with V8 Engines, esp. in the genius "Push Rod Deign", 90° Cyl. Bank angle,...because this engine design has a amazingly potential for future, too. It was never "old" or "bader" when an Engine is mad as an Push Rod V8, instead the DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft-Design") like some people think or tell, NO. It´s only another kind of genius Ventil activating/Timing Design what has the same potential, it´s only importand how you´ll design an engine & what th engine should can, or can better/less better in an specific use. But even because the OHC 90°V8 PUSH ROD has less spinning and movable parts, it is cheaper to make, to maintain, to get more reliable/durable and also better repairable, too. The best xmpl. are the presend HEMI´s of the Mopar Family, or even also the LS Engine Family from GM, they´re so gnius, most high potential kind of designs for the future in engine building & design. I really really hope that these Engines in that design would be used in future, also for the middle class of sedans & trucks in future. & that is because i really love also the younger Mopars like the odge Charger, Chrysler 300C 4 xmpl. & i also bought such an car, an ´06 Charger R/T DAYTONA, 1 of only 4000 made "DAYTONA - Top Banana!" what i´ve build up (little restore & get out more of the high potential drive train & engine to get it long living, high durable/reliable,...) & i really love these cars, too. However i´m a big big fan of the US classic cars, esp. made between ~ 1955-79, but even because i love these kind of cars, i also love these mopars made between 2004-present! :)

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome You’ll get the car done for sure.. are parts for American cars hard to get in Germany I got a lot of the ads/brochures from a site called old car brochure they mostly have American cars but lots of makes even companies that don’t exist anymore two sections brochure and pictures (the pictures are usually ads from inside magazines at the time) I have a Facebook group called what it’s like here is the link I’d love to see your car if you want to share on there feel free =) facebook.com/groups/707697117215381/permalink/707702813881478/

[@kerris.8620]

Love this! Thank you. I have this exact car. Mine is Iresdescent Lavender and White. I needed a girly car for me. My husband has his own hot rods. It's hard to find info. on these.

[@What.its.like.]

I know it is Classic Cars nobody even gives a thought about that’s why this channel exist for people that are looking to get into the car hobby and one specs and information on cars that are off the beaten path this car belongs to a friend of mine =)

[@tomdavis5038]

Ours is Plum and White, a two door Firedome Seville. My wife and I built and traded a 70 Barracuda for it by my request. I have no regrets, probably because my first car was 1956 DeSoto given to me by an uncle.

[@craigjorgensen4637]

Well done! Decent cars that had trouble competing with Buick and Oldsmobiles that were better cars in most respects. The Center Plane brakes were troublesome and difficult to properly adjust. Not bad cars and this one is a great survivor and a beautiful car! Your research is excellent!

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you I really try I want to keep this cars alive as well as the information =)

[@superhawk3057]

it was great Thank you for showing this car. My Dad had one of theas in 1968 it was great to take my girl freind to the dive-in with this car.

[@What.its.like.]

This car would be a great drive in car lots of space, amc wagon would be better seats fold into a bed

[@glennso47]

The car advertisement for nowadays is digital.

[@plunkervillerr1529]

Good job.

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you I didn’t notice because I did it twice for some reason I thought it was a 55.. Got through editing the whole episode before relizing it was a 56, 55 and 56 was same generation but the 56 is longer wider and taller than the 55 that’s why this one is sort of all over the place in the beginning =)

[@louiswiley6121]

My dad had a 56 Desoto back in the day. He bought it used and installed one engine in it after a service station messed up the original engine.

[@mikeweizer3149]

The very first thing that anyone would figure out when they got into any 1955-56DeSoto was that they were getting into a REAL car, Those cars were built like TANKS.I outta know cuz I had a 56 Adventurer when I was in the Air Force in the early 80s!!!!!.

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree I’m a millennial born wrong time period these cars have so much more class style identity and aren’t junk like new cars are.. Sport seats are overrated.. I miss bench seats The EV revolution is an out right lie too btw

[@discerningmind]

Good job. I've never seen pedals for floor vents either. I'm surprised by the rubber-mat flooring. Since DeSoto was an upscale make I'd expect all of them to have carpeting. I'm also surprised that DeSoto utilized vacuum powered windshield wipers as long as up to 1955. You may be interested to know that Chrysler cars had electric windshield wipers since at least 1948. They made have had them in 1946 but I don't have data for that first year of production after the war. As you know, I appreciate and value what you're doing. You've made beneficial strides of improving the videos, and I'd like to point out a couple of things to help. Slow down when reading the data. The data segment always goes like a life or death 911 call. It's uncomfortable for the viewer. No one can process that rate of speed even though the same data is also on the screen. I really like that you present the data with both dialog and showing it on the screen. As well, I'd say you can ease up on some of the data details. Keep the data information basic. An example would be, you can just say something as simple as "a two-barrel carburetor" and that's completely fine. There's no need for the carburetor model number, or a model number on anything like that, given the type of videos you're making. Too much data is too much information and it pulls from the goodness that you're bringing us. In other words it's diluting the good you're telling us.

[@What.its.like.]

The software program I have if I talk slow it makes me sound slow (couldn’t think of a word to describe what I sound like without saying special) but I’ll work on it I liked this one the most of all the ones I’ve done so far as far as audio =)

[@What.its.like.]

I wanted to try to be as thorough as possible if somebody around my age or younger or older is looking to get one of these cars that’s the only reason I put that information in there

[@discerningmind]

@@What.its.like. I understand what you mean. But anyone looking for a car that you video will be looking deeper into it on their own and learn these things, if they actually matter to them. That's why just general info like saying a two-barrel carb and also including other carburetors that were offered is fine. Like the way they do in sales brochures. But specific model numbers for things like that are clutter. And particularly for carburetors because versions will change on the assembly line and even by the plant the car was built in. I hope you understand that I'm trying to help.

[@discerningmind]

@@What.its.like. You can't just talk into the video while filming? I think you talk fine. But a rapid-fire pace ruins what you bring.

[@leightonfarms4962]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@garyporter516]

Desoto had electric wipers since the 1940's not vacuum as you mentioned.

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you for that correction.

[@MonsterHobbiesModelCarGarage]

That's a good deal in 2022 dollars seeing as a Ford Truck can cost up to $40 000!

[@emjayay]

In the vintage photo section you showed a '56 when talking about the '55 model. For one thing, '55 Chrysler products with Powerflite had a lever sprouting from the dashboard on the driver's right. For '56, the pushbuttons on the left. All '55 Chrysler products were all-new. The 1956 models were lightly facelifted, as were the competition. For Chrysler cars the main sheet metal and tail light changes were toward the rear, where all the fender lines were finned up pointing to the next phase of the Forward Look in 1957.

[@What.its.like.]

56 is longer wider and taller than the 55.. =)

[@stanleycostello9610]

My brother calls todays cars "coffin colors."

[@What.its.like.]

Today cars are nothing in comparison to these gems in style

[@glennso47]

@@What.its.like. The cars back then were coffins if you were in an accident.

[@What.its.like.]

Cord made a car that was nicknamed coffin cord because of its hood shape

[@stanmarcusgtv]

those probably are not vent "pedals", they are vent levers that you pull and push to open and close the vents

[@What.its.like.]

Just was going off what the owner told me

[@joshuas8258]

Can you start doing more in-depth exterior walk arounds of the cars you’re reviewing? Would rather see more of that than mostly vintage ads photos before you hop in the interior. The 55/56 DeSoto is def an under appreciated beauty

[@What.its.like.]

Will do =)

[@billywild5440]

Mopar or no car!

[@glennso47]

The steering wheel looks like a death trap. 😵‍💫

[@MonsterHobbiesModelCarGarage]

They used RADIUM on those gauges? I'd be scared of that car! I looked up when they stopped using Radium. I thought it was earlier than this car, but it said Radium paint stopped being used in the 1960's, but was phased out a decade later. Watch out for bone cancer in your jaw!

[@keithdukes5990]

Stop talking crap!!!

[@MonsterHobbiesModelCarGarage]

@@keithdukes5990 Have a read Keith : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radium_jaw

[@charles-ge1nx]

Study more & read less. Were power windows an option? You don’t say.