LaSalle (car brand)

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LaSalle was the name of a Cadillac- Ägide brand owned by the US automobile company General Motors from 1927 to 1940 .

history

In the mid-1920s, General Motors boss Alfred P. Sloan identified a gap in the company's extensive range of automobiles between the top brands Cadillac and Buick , which should be filled by a new brand.

The LaSalle (named after Robert Cavelier de La Salle , a French explorer of the 17th century) was then developed under the leadership of Cadillac . It appeared in March 1927 and was built by Cadillac. The body design of the LaSalle came from Harley Earl and is considered an example of a car body that was deliberately designed for effect rather than pure functionality. Earl joined GM after the success of his LaSalle and in 1928 was appointed head of the Art and Color Section , the first design division of an automotive company.

All automakers, including LaSalle, were badly affected by the economic crisis that followed the New York stock market crash in autumn 1929. While in many cases sales recovered noticeably from the mid-1930s, the GM bosses believed that LaSalle did not achieve the sales figures that would have justified continuing the brand. In the summer of 1940 the brand was given up; their place was the Cadillac Series 61, a cheaper Cadillac entry-level model.

Series 303-345 C (model years 1927-1933)

LaSalle Phaeton, 1928
LaSalle Series 345-B Cabriolet, 1932

In March 1927 Cadillac launched the self-developed LaSalle (Series 303) as an independent brand below its own models. On two wheelbases (125 and 134 inches), 11 different open and closed variants with Fisher bodies and (only on the short wheelbase) 4 versions with bodies from the body manufacturer Fleetwood were offered . Both companies had recently passed into GM ownership. The LaSalle models cost between $ 2,495 and $ 4,700, a few hundred dollars less than the slightly larger and more powerful Cadillac models.

The technology was very similar to that of Cadillac's own models. The LaSalle was powered by a new five-liter V8 (bore × stroke: 79.4 × 125.4 mm, fork angle 90 °), which was structurally different from the previous Cadillac V8, but whose features were soon adopted for the larger Cadillac V8 . With a compression ratio of 4.8: 1, this machine had an output of 75 hp. The manual transmission had three gears. The chassis, too, with leaf-sprung rigid axles at the front and rear and mechanically operated four-wheel brakes, was based on the standard used at the time.

In 1928 some model variants were discontinued; But Fisher delivered new base models (coupe and sedan), each costing $ 2,350. Fleetwood only made three different Town Cabriolets available on the short or long wheelbase. The front drum brakes were enlarged to 16 inches in diameter.

In 1929 the Series 328 appeared with a V8 enlarged to 5.4 liters (328 cubic inches). All models, with the exception of the Roadster and the open Phaeton four-seater, were now based on the longer wheelbase. Fleetwood also put a five-door Imperial Sedan with a partition into production. All versions received two electrically operated windshield wipers and windows made of safety glass.

In 1930 (Series 340), the short wheelbase models were discontinued and the bodies stylistically approached the Cadillac models. The drive was now taken over by the almost unchanged 5.6-liter V8 from the Cadillac Series 341 of 1928/29.

From 1931 to 1933 (Series 345-A, -B and -C) the unchanged V8 from the Cadillac Series 353 and Series 355 was in service with LaSalle. The range of models was reduced in 1932 to 4 models with Fisher body (330.2 cm wheelbase: Coupé, Cabriolet, Town Coupé and Sedan) and 3 Fleetwood versions with a longer wheelbase (345.4 cm: Sedan, Town Sedan and Imperial Sedan) . In 1933, the bodies were modernized with the front fenders pulled down to the sides and other details.

Dates LaSalle (1927–1933)
Model year Displacement (cm³) Horsepower) Wheelbase (cm) Length (cm) Empty weight kg) Price (US $) number of pieces
1927 4966 75 317.5-340.4 470-499 1705-2310 2495-4700 12,000
1928 4986 75 317.5-340.4 470-499 1705-2310 2350-4900 14,806
1929 5376 about 80 317.4-340.4 470-499 1807-2322 2295-4900 22,961
1930 5573 90 340.4 512 1986-2204 2490-3995 11.005
1931 5786 95 340.4 513 1968-2186 2195-3245 10,103
1932 5786 115 330.2-345.4 518-533 2097-2294 2395-2795 3,290
1933 5786 115 330.2-345.4 518-533 2118-2274 2245-2645 3,381

Series 50/52 (model years 1934-1940)

LaSalle Roadster, 1936
LaSalle Series 50 Cabriolet, 1939

From model year 1934, General Motors pursued a new concept with the LaSalle. It was decoupled from the technology of the Cadillac models and provided with components from other GM brands. The LaSalle should be cheaper than a Cadillac in order to stimulate sales through the lower prices and thus to help Cadillac through the sales crisis of the recession.

This new Series 50 (or Model 350) appeared in January 1934, rested on a new X-shaped tubular steel frame and had independently suspended front wheels, three-speed transmissions, and a new 3.9-liter in-line eight-cylinder engine that was assembled by Cadillac, but actually by Oldsmobile came from. Five different Fleetwood bodies were offered on a wheelbase of 302.3 cm: Sedan, Club Sedan, Cabriolet, Coupé and four-door convertible. Prices now started at $ 1,595.

In 1935 all the bodies came from Fisher and were given the new "Turret Top" all-steel roof. The offer now only comprised coupé, convertible and two- and four-door sedans. The in-line eight-cylinder was enlarged to 4.1 liters with a slightly longer stroke, the wheelbase was lengthened by 2.5 cm and the price was further reduced (now from $ 1,225).

In 1936 there were practically no changes, in 1937 the LaSalle received a Cadillac V8 again, namely the 5.3-liter that appeared in the Cadillac Series 60 the previous year . At the same time, the wheelbase was lengthened by 10 cm and the bodywork was revised, for example with higher front fenders. In 1939 the LaSalle received a new front section with a very narrow radiator grille and additional side grills on the "catwalks", the transitions between the fenders and the body. A sunroof was available under the name "Sunshine Turret Top"; the surcharge was $ 40.

The last LaSalle (Series 50 or 52) with a slightly shorter wheelbase was introduced in October 1939. The Series 52 was new, with a modified body, a more reclined windshield, a curved rear window and a rounder rear.

A model year 1941 was still planned, but not put into production.

Data LaSalle Series 50/52 (1934–1940)
Model year Displacement (cm³) Horsepower) Wheelbase (cm) Length (cm) Empty weight kg) Price (US $) number of pieces
1934 3939 95 302.3 511 1712-1794 1595-1695 7,218
1935 4065 105 304.8 508 1574-1640 1225-1325 8,653
1936 4065 105 304.8 508 1574-1640 1175-1255 13.004
1937 5278 125 315 511 1665-1744 995-1485 32.005
1938 5278 125 315 511 1665-1744 1295-1820 15,501
1939 5278 125 304.8 515 1647-1712 1323-1895 23,028
1940 5278 130 312.4 525-535 1676-1862 1240-1895 10,382

literature

  • Mary Sieber, Ken Buttolph: Standard Catalog of Cadillac 1903-1990 . Krause Publications, Iola 1991, ISBN 0-87341-174-9 , pp. 218-228.

Web links

Commons : La Salle  - Collection of Images