THE DARING ADVENTURER: A Chrysler DeSoto that represents the pinnacle of Virgil Exner’s design influence
December 21, 2017
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Written by independent automotive journalist Roger C. Johnson
Elegant and futuristic for its time, this 1957 Desoto Adventurer Convertible (Lot #1349) is headed for the 2018 Scottsdale Auction.
Like the explorer for which it was named, the DeSoto from Chrysler Corporation sought out new directions. In the automotive world, that meant innovation in styling, engines, suspensions, transmissions, market segments and even performance. As a result, the DeSoto would become the darling of a car-collecting hobby that maintains a love affair with classics from the ’50s even decades after their production ended.
The DeSoto was first conceived as a medium-priced alternative for the car-buying public, but would ultimately evolve into more of a lower-priced luxury car. Either way, it was competing mostly with other Chrysler products, rather than the GM and Ford cars it was intended to challenge.
The DeSoto has always lived on the edge of probability since it was first introduced in 1929 at the beginning of the Great Depression, when medium-priced cars were taking the worst hit from a sales standpoint. Ironically, the production of the DeSoto brand ceased towards the end of Great Recession in 1960, which hit the sales of higher-end cars most of all.
The 1957 DeSoto Adventurer (Lot #1349) you see here – which is crossing the block at No Reserve on Saturday, January 21, as part of the 2018 Scottsdale Auction’s Salon Collection – may be the very pinnacle of Virgil Exner’s “Forward Look” design influence. It captures the American public’s fascination with space travel, rockets and jet airplanes – all within a single vehicle. But Chrysler’s strategy encompassed more than just exterior styling. It was backed up with engineering to match.
This Adventurer was DeSoto’s version of the Chrysler 300, so it came with proper credentials: a 345ci HEMI wearing dual in-line four-barrel carburetors and generating one horsepower per cubic inch. It was the first hint at this car’s performance capability, which was proven on the sand of Daytona Beach.
A modern and wonderfully efficient 3-speed TorqueFlite transmission managed the HEMI power on its way to the rear tires. Just push the button on the dashboard with your left thumb, and you were off and running with the best of them. Chrysler’s torsion-bar front suspension system gave this machine the handling to match its aggressive yet luxurious presence.
The car’s interior is lavish, well-executed and offers a 60/40 split bench seat up front and full-width rear seat. The cockpit is trimmed in gold and white to match the car’s exterior hues. Golden threads were actually woven into the carpet to give it an even richer, if not three-dimensional, look and feel.
Nevertheless, styling is the name of the game when it comes to collectible automobiles. They had to look great when they were new, and if the design was timeless they would continue looking great even generations later. The smooth yet pronounced rear fins of this DeSoto and the triple-taillight configuration – culminating with integrated exhaust outlets right below them – are as much art form and function as they are breathtaking and spellbinding. Optional chrome wire wheels set this car off and contrast elegantly with the car’s otherwise futuristic look. Power drum brakes and steering add to the joy of driving this collectible.
Another example of Chrysler’s innovative engineering showed itself in 1957 with their adaptation of quad headlights to their product line, thereby blindsiding GM and Ford once again.
There were less than 500 Adventurer convertibles produced during the brand’s three-year production run, spanning from 1957 through 1959. On one hand, such low volume hastened the demise of this model, but at the same time it added significantly to the stratospheric rarity where these cars are now positioned.
These jet-age machines represent an era when designers saw the future with innocent yet eager eyes. They were certain everything was possible and it was all just around the corner. They were part of a sliver of time in America’s automotive culture that can never be duplicated, but it can definitely be savored. And since this particular car has only traveled 82,000 miles in its life, you’ll have a lifetime to savor it.
It’s time to take your own adventure and make this ultra-rare example of a classic 1957 DeSoto convertible the cornerstone of your own collection. To take the first step for this journey, simply raise your hand when you see the Adventurer moving across the block. Don’t let it go undiscovered.
For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE.