In the late 1920s, General Motors expanded its lineup with one of the additions being the LaSalle. It was a separate brand marketed by the Cadillac Division. By the end of the 1930s, GM decided to contract its footprint, and LaSalle was retired. This 1940 drop-top is a long-term project that the owner was never able to complete due to illness. After being in storage in Scottsville, New York, it’s available now here on eBay where $6,000 is the magic number so far. It’s far from stock in terms of its drivetrain.
The LaSalle debuted in 1927 and was a Cadillac fixture until 1940. It was one of four new nameplates added to the GM mix with the others being Marquette, Viking, and Pontiac. Before the U.S. entered World War II, only one of them was left (Pontiac). Built by Cadillac, they were luxury cars but offered with a lower price tag due to a size reduction. As the years wore on, the differences between Cadillac and LaSalle became fewer and the execs finally concluded that the LaSalle was taking sales away from Cadillac, not adding to them.
We’re told this 1940 LaSalle was one of just 532 built in the car’s final year. The last owner had it for about 20 years and was working on it during that time until he/she was unable to do so anymore. So, it went into storage and stayed there until recently (we assume). The vehicle is not complete and does not have its original engine or transmission. In their place is a Chrysler Slant-Six motor (why go that route when some V8 choices could have been made?) and a 4-speed manual tranny with overdrive.
We’re told the body is solid and we assume the two-tone paint was done several years ago. The suspension is said to be new, but there are no seats (and perhaps other parts of the interior). The convertible top is also MIA, but the hardware may still be present. The vehicle comes with a transferable New York State registration as that was the case before titles. The car doesn’t run, so would you stick with the inline-6 or go for something else?
Finally, someone else sees my point of view. I wholeheartedly endorse this project. While I’m not crazy about whatever is feeding it, a F.I. unit would be much better, we need these to be more user friendly for today. Just to roll down the road with a more efficient engine, is what should be done to all these classics. I think the slanty is a poor choice here, a 4.3 V6 would be mine, or even a rice burner, but at least someone was on the right track. In this day and age, where everything simply must be to the max, I’d be very surprised if that motor stays in there.
I agree 100%.. This car will be a real beauty if finished correctly. It’ll also be a joy to own and drive with a better driveline. In my opinion, many of the pre-war LaSalle automobiles were examples of the finest looking cars ever designed. I’m too old to tackle anything like this now, but I’d love to see it when it’s complete.
Slant 6 one of the best engine ever made put them in cabs,police cars,20 years they built it indestructible!!
Agree on the engine transplant but the slant six? Somewhat like the right direction but a wrong turn. GMs V6 or small block V8 and if want to go all modern—a new chassis with 4-wheel electric would be cool.
OK. Understanding that this is waaaay out of my wheelhouse, I have to say that I was surprised at how much I like it. From a cost POV, the fact that the convertible top has gone missing hurts. Bottom line, I think that I have to appreciate it from afar.
I would agree with putting in a larger engine and modern drivetrain. It looks like a decent car and anyone with the time and money could probably turn that into a great driver.
I like the slant 6 choice. It’s certainly not ordinary. The Slant has a distinctive look that isn’t “wrong” in a vintage build. There’s a wide range of options to make it more than powerful enough to make this car a very capable cruiser without going way over the top.
Kudos to the builder.
I’m with you Walter.
Nothing wrong at all with a slant six in this car. Very reliable & one could warm it up a little bit w/o a lot of money.
if the ‘235′ (bored/stroked)
For me it seem to just like to have TO3/4 and fuel injection in side of the slant six like my ’66 Dart already has.
Keep it GM-find a old but clean 305 ci (160 hp range)@ the wrecking yard and mate it to a 6 speed manual since this beauty appears to have the original hydraulic brakes. No need for speed here, it’s all about the driving fun.
Unless someone has the wherewithal to bring this back to original, that is, and then it’d still be a driver since it’s not the original drivetrain, wheels, interior etc. that would make it a museum piece.
A good runnig Slant 6 with a manual transmission would actually be pretty torquey and would make a pretty effortless cruiser. Youre not looking to drag race a GTO at a stoplight, but plenty of torque to get you up to cruising speed comfortably. I like the burgundy and silver color combination too, those colors go great together and the wire wheels look great too.
My very 1st thought when looking at the pix was “Glass kit car”. I can see that that is not the case, but that’s the first impression. Does look like it could be a fun project to complete, and then drive the wheels off!
One would think so initially as the current bids seem a little low for even an incomplete project for a desirable and rare car. It seemed especially so upon closer inspection as the hood height looked a little shorter and on each side two of the engine portals on the side of the fenders are missing now (as compared to the photos in the logbook) with just one back towards the door. A picture of the serial number plate would be an answer or if one of the BF readers with knowledge of these beauties would give us their views (Bill McCoskey comes immediately to mind).
Yep. Me Likee! Still I like the sound of a V8. I know most of you don’t agree but you can’t go wrong with a good old fashioned Chevy small block in something like this. That and an auto trans P.S.P.B.A.C. Why not? I know, there’s already a million 350 hot rods out there but only because it’ easy, inexpensive and available. And if done right it looks good done.
If it really has “duals” then somebody made a split manifold for it……they sound really unique. Cannot see from the pictures, just the pipes are shown.
On second thought. For me, the way I’d go is a nicely built Cadillac 472 or 500 and a THM 400. Keep it all Cadillac.
I’m with ya on that 500″ Caddy but I think I’d like EFI & an automatic with overdrive along with every convenience accoutrement available to make long distance cruising more enjoyable , finish it off with a stealth Black paint job & Black Haartz top & a Black Leather interior. I’d keep the spoke wheels & lose the WW tires
I agree 100%. Dis ding’s a Caddy! Keep it pure gas guzzlin’, road gobblin’ Caddy.
That would be good if you owned a gas station
I totally agree. Cadillacs 429 would also be more than enough. Chevy engine, dodge engine or a rice burner? Give me a brake.
The slope six is an odd choice. Personally, I would go with the first not-quite-a-Cadillac 350 Olds engine from a Seville with an updated injection control system, the first of the the not-quite-a-Cadillacs since the LaSalle.
We used the late La Salle floor shift 3 speeds to bolt onto the Olds engines we were putting into everything we could. It’s a direct bolt up and tough to break. Too bad they didn’t do that with this car.
The LaSalle transmissions were popular hot rod units because of their strength.
Very true. Our engines were putting out right around 400 hp and we never had any problems with the transmissions.
Upgrade the suspension, brakes, electrics, interior and how about a Northstar? Would look good at your next cruise-in.
Leave it alone! Archie and Edith sang Gee Our Old LaSalle ran great! Those WERE the days! 😉
You beat me to it! 😁
😃 BIG DOGS 🐕 🐕 run on the same ROADS! 👍
My choice would be 500 cu.in. cuz this car deserves it! If you can’t afford the gas then get a Vega. Updating a Cadillac with a Cadillac engine at least keeps the upscale and high class image.
Amen to that. Born a Cadillac and live like a Cadillac right to the end.
Too bad it’s not a Cadillac then…
Is that a 4 barrel carb I see? I wonder what is a 4-speed manual tranny with overdrive is? There is not much info on the Ebay listing. I like 500″ Caddy motors but it might be more than this chassis could handle…
Chrysler modified their 4 speed transmission so 4th gear was overdrive. It was available starting about 1976.
And you are going to find missing parts from where? Only 500+ ever built.
Steve, I totally agree with you concerning the missing parts. Does anyone out there have any idea where parts could be found for this beauty?
Jim
Nobody’s mentioed the body mods. Looks like it’s been channeled at least and possibly sectioned..
Dare I ask, in this conversation, if an appropriate original LaSalle/Cadillac lump can be found? Running old engines is not much of a problem – particularly if rebuilt to accommodate modern fuels, etc. I presume we’re talking about a flat-head V8 – maybe 120-140 hp? It would still go “Vroom Vroom” and cruise the car along fast enough for interstates. Why are we talking about “more user friendly” engines among guys who have enough savvy to swap engines, transmissions, etc. Are we saying there are guys out there with sufficient knowledge/skills to do these things but can’t learn to tune a carburetor or a distributor?
As human beings, we have more senses than just sight. Why do we only care that it LOOKS like a 1940 LaSalle? Why don’t we care that it SOUNDS and FEELS like one? Don’t get me wrong, I have no objection to engine/gearbox swapping per se, I just wonder why an original drivetrain hasn’t even made the shortlist.
While we’re at it, is somebody going to notice the oddball rear-end treatment. That “continental” treatment is surely wannabe Lincoln Continental – so the copycat seemingly preceeds the original by a year! A bit of an anachronism, right? Like this LaSalle is pulling Edsel’s leg?
And where did those tail lights come from…? Maybe I shouldn’t quibble about the engine.
Why is it only me that believes that this car has had radical albeit subtle body mods?. I swear it’s been sectioned.
I agree with Walter and BigBlocksRock that the slant 6 and 4 speed is a good fit for this car. It would be an excellent cruiser, probably with about the same performance as it had originally, and probably slightly better fuel economy. Does every hobby vehicle have to be a high performance dragster?? I think not!
Howard, and the rest of you…..
Whatever happened to keeping the classic original?
Howard, do you really feel that all classics should be updated and modernized? I’m all in favor of restomods for some cars. But ALL classics? You really want to erase automotive history? I’m just surprised this is coming from you, Howard.
This LaSalle (which is a lower priced Cadillac) has already been restomoded, so I see nothing wrong with the updates. A 1968 Eldorado 500 cu. in. Would be a nice addition. PS, PB, power everything plus a/c would keep this girl a grande dame.
Not being very well versed in LaSalle, I’m not sure if that “continental” rear is stock or customized. The only other 1940s car I’ve seen that on is a Lincoln Continental, but with a squared off trunk.
I’m rambling here so I’ll finish with, you guys really feel all classics should be upgraded?
Nice but Cadillac did not have a 500 CID in 68.
Michelle..In my mind you don’t cut up a rare car by making a restomod out of it. Something like the thousands of ’40s Fords is a bit different. Stripped rolling chassis is different from complete car.
Its very possible that the last owner got it as a basket case with all sorts of parts missing , and thats why there aren’t extra LaSalle parts included. The LaSalle transmissions were very popular with street rodders and that could have been missing from the start of this project. The running slant six may have been a ” use what you have” thing, I dont really see anything wrong with it as its never going to be original anymore.
It looks nice with that two tone paint job, but I’m not convinced that this car was a convertible when it was “born”. I blew the pics up and tried to tell but I’m not sure it wasn’t a coupe with the top cut off. I saw that one top bow but even that doesn’t look like an original part of the top mechanism to me. It would take an up close look to know for sure. Also, I’m a slant six lover, but I don’t think that would have been my choice to swap into this car. I won’t be buying it but I do hope the buyer does a good job of finishing it.
With all the other sad mongrelizations inflicted on this poor rare LaSalle, the above concerns are only over the incorrect *engine*?
That car had a straight 8 engine so a big 6 would look great in there. maybe a Ford 300. or a Cummins 5.9. The slant with the overdrive 4 speed is something that a lot of Dart and Valiant guys would love to have.
OK, but why not a Buick OHV straight 8 from circa 53-55. At least it is in the same family.
Five cylinder Atlas engine or a 215 Buick V8 is my vote. Slant six has to go but a manual overdrive would be nice. LaSalle’s were beautiful cars.
Not true MitchRoss. The1940 LaSalle had the Cadillac sourced 322 cu. inch Flathead V-8 engines. The Olds straight 8 was only used for a couple of years in the early 1930s. I own two 1940 LaSalle. A coupe and a sedan.