Vehicle Description
1939 LaSalle Series 50 Touring Sedan
Alfred P. Sloan, GM's Chairman of the Board, developed the concept
for four new GM marques - LaSalle, Marquette, Viking and Pontiac -
paired with already established brands to fill price gaps he
perceived in the General Motors product portfolio. Sloan created
LaSalle as a companion marque for Cadillac. LaSalle automobiles
were manufactured by Cadillac, but were priced lower than
Cadillac-branded automobiles, were shorter, and were marketed as
the second-most prestigious marque in the General Motors portfolio.
LaSalles were titled as LaSalles, and not as Cadillacs. Like
Cadillac - named after Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac - the LaSalle
brand name was based on that of another French explorer,
Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle.
For your consideration, a 1939 LaSalle Series 50 touring sedan.
This car would be put firmly in the category of barn find as it
truly is a time capsule. It has cracking and crazing on the paint,
some dimpling on the chrome, but the body is rust free as is the
underlying steel structure which is still very much intact. The
engine has not run in many years, and the interior is preserved as
it came from the factory, although it will need some TLC to get her
back up to full bore snuff.
Exterior
Harley Earl's work with the LaSalle resulted in a graceful vehicle,
led by an elegantly thin grille that now concealed the previously
exposed radiator, which was shared with Cadillac and Pontiac.
Earl's other contribution was the modern, airplane-styled,
waterfall side panels in the grille next to the vertical covering,
horizontal chromed ribs within the hood cowl and the full body
running trim spear. All bodies were now made by Fleetwood, and we
can see this car has the optional vent windows which were initially
called "No Draft Individually Controlled Ventilation" later renamed
"Ventiplanes" on the door glass setup. Body panels are all steel,
no rust and fairly straight, all bathed in dark blue. This paint is
showing some cracking, crazing, scratches and minor dents and
dings. A single large bullet styled cased headlight hangs from
either side of the grille, and just below are wonderfully bodacious
rounded front fenders that include the curved vertical ribbed
grille flanking. These run to the doors where they create a running
board, which connects to a rear fender slightly jutting from the
rear quarter panel. These fenders frame red steel wheels with
chrome trim rings at the edges, and a central badged moon cap in
wonderful chrome. The long hood makes its way to a split
windscreen, and a full metal top which curves to the back of the
car, where it undulates into the humped trunk lid design. The rear
fenders are elongated and house a tail light at the back of the
bulbous shaped rear quarters. In front and on back is a large wide
chromed bumper to contrast the back and bring your eye to the
bottom of the car's design. The rear bumper is badged with black
LaSalle in grandmother's handwriting.
Interior
A swing of the single door on either side shows art deco styled
stitched edging on felted door panels that house patina chromed
knobs and cranks. A long split back solid seat bench sits within a
deep tub and is covered in tan fuzzy broadcloth which is slightly
soiled but unworn through in any areas. There is some tan piping on
the edges to add additional depth. In back is a beautiful what
looks like a restored rear bench complete with armrests and
inserted ash receptacles. Up front a factory dash has a horizontal
gauge cluster which sits under a black wood veneered dash top. It
is peeling just a bit and shows some cracks. The lower dash
switches between wood veneer panels under the speedometer, and for
the glovebox door for the passenger, and a central ribbed and
badged chromed panel that has a few nicely aged cream bakelite
buttons on its bottom. The original steering wheel is in and it
shows some crack off of the exterior finish, and is banjo styled
center and a large tan painted horn button. On the driver's right
is a nifty old Delco Tone Sensitivity radio mounted to the column.
It is truly one of the highlights of this old example of early
luxury motoring. Gray carpeting covers the floors, and above is a
slightly stained headliner.
Drivetrain
Under the cowled hood, sits a factory 322ci V8. It has a massive
air cleaning system on top covering a single 2-barrel carburetor.
On back is a 3-speed manual transmission, and way backs the 3.77
rear axle. The engine bay is in patinaed and unrestored barn find
condition. This engine turns by hand, but has not actually ran in
many years.
Undercarriage
All original black painted steel X frame and floor pans, there are
very slight areas of minor surface rust, but it is unremarkable.
Independent coil spring front suspension is on and in back leaf
springs. Drum braking is on all 4 corners.
Right out of the late 1930's and GM's answer to a market which they
felt was left untapped between the Buick and the Cadillac, it
filled the niche for many years until the division's demise in
1940. This truly original barn find is ripe for the restoration
bay, and shows some mid level luxury from the end of the
1930's.
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.
