Poll: Which DeSoto? (11/15/2021)

There isn’t much difference in the two so I voted for a tie

They look pretty much the same to me, hence a tie. Would prefer the '56 for the 12 Volt electric system as opposed to the '55 positive ground 6 volt system. Personally I don't care for the styling of either, love the '57 though.

I favor the 55.

superior paint scheme on the `55 👍 👍 👍 

I agree that the paint job is better on the 1955, but the 1956 for its grille and fins wins this poll for me.

Posted by: @carsman1958

There isn’t much difference in the two so I voted for a tie

What?  There isn't much difference in the two?  The rear ends and the grilles are completely different on them.  

From 1953 to 1956, to my eyes DeSoto was one of the most beautifully styled cars in the Chrysler Corp. line-up.  Of the two years featured here, I love both, but vote for the '55 because of the classic DeSoto grille.  And for what it's worth, the dashboards in these two years was outstanding to look at.  

I like the fins of the 56 but that grille on the 55 made it a close second. 🥸

The '55 is a more unified design. The finned rear end of the '56, while very good looking, doesn't quite mesh with the front half of the car, to my eye.

I like them both very much but prefer the more conservative tail end of the '55.  I also prefer its grille and trim/paint application.  The '55 is my favorite DeSoto of that decade.

@georgeschire George that’s the thing. Back in those days all they did was change the front and the rear and the rest of the car stayed the same. I remember looking at motors repair manuals and they would show the differences between each years and that was how you made a designation from one year to the next.

Posted by: @carsman1958

@georgeschire George that’s the thing. Back in those days all they did was change the front and the rear and the rest of the car stayed the same. I remember looking at motors repair manuals and they would show the differences between each years and that was how you made a designation from one year to the next.

I'm not disagreeing with you.  But it was those "front and rear" treatments on cars that distinguished one year from the next.  In the case of these two DeSoto's, though the basic body is the same, their "front and rear" are noticeably different.  I like the body style of both years, so for me, it comes down to which "front and rear" is more appealing to me.  And in these examples, it's the '55.  

Close, but the '56 does it for me.

A tough choice.  Both are delightful and delovely. But I went with distinctively updated '56 for it's Flight Sweep Twin Tower fins, triple taillights, refined front end design, pushbutton PowerFlite transmission and more powerful hemi V8s.  Drive a DeSoto Before You Decide!