In 1952, DeSoto introduced its first V8: the Firedome Eight, featuring Chrysler’s distinctive hemispherical combustion chamber design. See the successful debut here in an original promotional clip.
One year after Chrysler introduced the 331 CID Firepower V8 in 1951, launching the Hemi engine family, the DeSoto division received its own Hemi for 1952, a 276.1 CID V8 rated at 160 horsepower. While the two engines shared the Chrysler Corporation’s signature hemi architecture, they shared few common components, owing to their different bore spacing: 4.5625 inches for the Chrysler versus 4.3125 inches for the DeSoto. Still, the family resemblance was nearly impossible for anyone to miss. By the way, Dodge had its own Hemi engine family as well, the Red Ram V8.
Built on an innovative Transfermatic production line at DeSoto’s Warren Avenue plant in Detroit, the Firedome V8 allowed DeSoto to hold its own in the Motor City sales wars for a few more years. (Another important advance for DeSoto in 1952 was power steering.) By 1953, the V8 was outselling the brand’s old L-head six by a two-to-one margin, and from 1955 forward, the V8 was offered exclusively across the DeSoto line. Cylinder Displacement was progressively increased to 291, 330, and 341 cubic inches before the Firedome hemi was eventually dropped in 1958 in favor of a 361 CID Chrysler wedge-chambered V8 used by all the divisions.
In this 1952 clip, we get some excellent views of the Firedome V8’s internal layout, thanks to a working cutaway that shows the hemispherical combustion chambers and efficient port layout in fine detail. There are great glimpses of the new DeSoto on the highway sporting the familiar toothed grille, and at the top of the spot, there’s a brief introduction by Groucho Marx, the DeSoto brand’s beloved spokesman all through the ’50s. (See a sample of his sales pitch here.) Video below.
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Great post – some of my favorite cars are early 50s Mopars. I am thinking that Dodge’s Hemi V8 was not available until 1953, though I’m not totally sure about that. I just can’t ever recall seeing a 1952 Dodge with a V8. I once owned a 1955 Dodge Job-Rated 1/2 ton pickup with what I thought was a Red Ram V8, though I seem to remember someone telling me it was a “Poly” V8, not a Hemi.
The engineering beauty of the hemispherical concept is perfectly portrayed in the first photo.
It amazes me with all those different engines over the different brands. Here in Oz we never got those engines, just a variety of flathead sixes, that also were different from brand to brand. First V8 we got here was the 313 Poly Chrysler Royal.About 58?
There was though a few dealer sold cars converted here however. But very few.
The blonde riding the trans is lovely. Though will be a little old for me now as I was born then