High Style: 1927 LaSalle 303 Phaeton
Here’s a significant piece of automotive history: the 1927 LaSalle is thought to be the first car built by a major automaker that was styled by an in-house designer, rather than built solely around parameters set forth by engineers. And not just any designer; the LaSalle was the very first product of the Harley Earl era at General Motors, which would make the company a design powerhouse for decades to come, well past Earl’s 1959 retirement. Wearing its 91-year-old lines well, this four-passenger phaeton is a remarkable survivor. Find it here on eBay out of Eudora, Kansas, with a buy-it-now asking price of $31,500 or best offer. Shout-out to reader Matt Williams for sending it our way!
Earl came to GM’s attention while designing custom bodies—frequently flamboyant creations for movie stars—for the clients of Don Lee’s Los Angeles Cadillac dealership. He was invited to create a production design for the new LaSalle, to be positioned as a less expensive but still prestigious companion marque built by Cadillac, and its success spurred the company to form the Art & Colour Section and name Earl its director. True to his roots in the Hollywood milieu, Earl’s LaSalle was said to have been inspired by the exotic Hispano-Suiza, another favorite of the era’s movie stars.
The Cadillac V8 powering this LaSalle has been rebuilt, and is claimed to run great, and the brake pads and tires (although obviously not the sidemounts) are all new. Smaller and lighter than contemporary Cadillacs, LaSalles were meant to be sportier and more agile; it would certainly be interesting to see what that meant in the late 1920s from a modern perspective! The engine and a new top seem to be the only major chinks in this car’s originality. All of the paint, glass, and upholstery are claimed to be the real deal.
Remarkably, all of these gauges are said to work, but I’d say this instrument panel could use a little help. The front and rear bench seats are hidden under delightfully vintage-looking covers, and the leather underneath is said to be in rough shape, too. Nevertheless, it’s pretty exciting to think that this old car could still be used and enjoyed as-is—that in itself is a feat of preservation.
Regardless of how you feel about the dreaded P-word—yes, patina—there’s no denying that this LaSalle still has another P-word, presence, in spades. Its good running condition, overall completeness, and structural soundness (the wood framing in the body is said to look “like new” and the only rust is the surface rust on the fenders) are the cherries on top of this stylish sundae. Would any of you readers like to call this legendary piece of automotive history your own, and what would you do with it?
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Comments
Beautiful car but I’m not a fan of patina so a quality repaint in original colours is in order along with at least nickel plating the bumpers. Patina has been popularized only because of the high cost of restoration. As far as I’m concerned all restoration is, is the catching up of neglect and lack of maintenance. As I’ve said before if your going to repair the engine for example than why not the body, they’re both part of the car aren’t they. This is a car half done but at least the heavey lifting is over. I started a resto 8 years ago and I promised myself that it would not roll a mile until it was done, and I’m getting close. JMHO.
No offense Mark but, thank God you’ll never own it.
No offence taken Dirk, my only change was to paint it so I’ll speak to that. So let me get this straight your ok with a new top on it, tires, engine, and seat covers. Which are all parts of the car. Let’s be clear a car is in fact an assembly of parts and pc’s. And from time to time parts need to be replaced do to wear. Is not the body work on a car just more parts and pc’s? Is not paint nothing more than a protective coating to ward off rust? If we don’t need new paint then why would we need anything? Most people think of paint as a way to choose a colour but that is not its primary function protecting the metal is. So in that regard I’d be the perfect guy to own it because I’d keep this car dray until a new protective coating was put on it. I think this whole patina idea is completely stupid. I thought that the name of the game was to preserve these old cars what better way to preserve than to put on a new protective coating. I’m not saying to over restore with base clear paint I’m saying single stage glose paint in correct colour just like the factory did it. So Dirk maybe your not the right guy to own the car, or should I say a collection of parts.
I think it comes down to the difference between historic preservation, versus historic reproduction, while maintaining the original intended function which is, in this case, to be a car that you can drive down the road and transport passengers with. So, to that end yes, it’s perfectly okay to rebuild the original engine or install new tires as long as the engine is not replaced with something inappropriate, a new top is not vinyl, and tires are not low profile radials or something. Paint, on the other hand is strictly visual and original paint offers a perfect opportunity to preserve something original that the car left the factory with even if it is a bit worn and “patinated”, it still has great historic value and is worthy of preservation rather than reproduction and no, at this point, I don’t think we’re worried about the fenders rusting away.
A part of the value in having something “old” is that it really and truly is old to the greatest possible extent which would include its looking old. The more a thing resembles something old but looks new, the closer it comes to a historic reproduction as opposed to a historic preservation and the closer it comes to being a modern replica of itself. I think we already have enough replicas
One option regarding the paint that might make a lot of people happy would be to do a partial respray of say, the hood tops and the fenders. Use old-fashioned nitrocellulose lacquer (something like $200 – $300 per gallon the last time I looked). A skilled paint man could make it look all of a piece with the old paint.
Hey Mark. At least you don’t have aspirations to put a Cummins diesel into it. I guess I should be thankful for that anyway. Or do you?
The Dirk from what I can see we are down to a difference of opinion and don’t think there is a wrong answer here.dont get me wrong I’m all for saving old paint where possible but when the paint is no longer there what are you saving. New paint is not going to make this car any less than it was, but it will preserve it and make it more appealing to look at. Young people will still get its historical significance and no it won’t be a replica just because you painted it. There a 1920’s cord sitting in a musium in our area that is perfectly restored. Every time I’m there that car is drawing a crowd of on lookers young and old, it is stunning to see how gorgeous it was in its prime. That’s what matters when young and old alike are drawn to it and are interested. By contrast there is on the same floor a truck that is in as found condition tires are sun rotted right off the rims. Guess what no ones looking at that truck they walk right past it to look at the restored cars just the 60 plus old guys are the one giving the old truck a second look. In our day and age I find that people lack imagination and are drawn to images where they don’t have to use there’s. I also beleave the cars that are restored and look it are the ones that are still going to be around long after you and I are not. And no not every car I see needs a cumins under the hood. My restoration still has its flatty there and running and there it will stay.
Lastly Dirk I plan on driving my car and I want it to look as it did not like the heap of crap I started with. And yes I’m going to paint it.
What kind of car do you have Mark? Make, year, body style? Are you restoring it to strict originality (as much as possible)?
To answer your question Dirk it’s a 1951 dodge Mayfair two door hard top. I’m keeping it as original as possible except for brake up grade to disc and better seats it will be original colours, paint was shot rockers were shot body damage all the way down right side. Engine is a runner after 25 years and oil pressure is strong 40 psi. This is a Canadian only model and is quite rare do too, being in the rust belt of Canadian winters. I’ve only ever seen one othere like it in the 8 years that I have looked. Under carriage has been gone threw front to back and the car looks like new across the bottom. Id post pic’s but I can’t seem to get them to load to the BF site.
Hey Mark, I had problems loading photos also. Now I add the photo before making a comment. Works for me, Try it with your Mayfair pics. Best of luck, Mike.
Nice car Mark. I’ve always liked Plyms and Dodges of that period and I’ve had quite a few of them but never the Canadian two door hardtop although I know exactly what it is. Sounds like under the circumstances you had little choice but to paint it. If the upload works, here’s a pic of one of my Plym bus coupes in a posed shot with a “hitchhiker”. I don’t know what’s wrong with the two guys in the ’56 Buick passing her by – must be gay or something.
Here’s another shot of the same Plymouth. I think it was a ’51 if memory serves, I sold it 4 or 5 years ago. Those straight six flatheads will run forever. I belonged to a local car club called the Bombardiers and we did a lot of posed photo shoots – lots of fun. At 75, I was the “senior member”.
LOL on the hitchhiking comment Dirk! Both are nice rigs!
Great looking car Dirk and your right about those flatties ( bullit prof ) they were build for industrial applications until 2001 so parts for the engine are surprisingly easy to get. I love the sound of the flatties they got a tone of there own. This has be great fun ingaging in a debat with fellow gear heads thanks guys.
My car was put threw a barbed wire fence so every thing is scratched up front and a fence post was raked down the right side. No choice but to do up the body work.
I still wanna see that hardtop Mark.
If your willing to shot me your email address Dirk I’d be happy to send you some pic’s mine is [email protected]. Maybe you can throw them on. I work from an iPad and I can’t seem to get the formatting to work.
Great lines and I could see Hollywood welding a Mercedes Star on the radiator to double as transport for a few guys in black uniforms and bad German accents.
Paint, chrome, polished brass, and new leather…. Whatever it takes. This rolling road queen deserves to look as good as it did the day it rolled out the factory’s door. Show how much you admire the thought that went into the planning and design of this once proud work of art. Maybe it’s been neglected and banished to the sidelines for many years but, it’s time to make up for those past sins and correct the poor attention to proper maintenance. Do this so it can live on to show future generations there was once a great dedication to style and class and there was once something other than a piece of plastic that looks like it was squeezed from a toothpaste tube.
Wear and tare has always facinated me, the reality that this car shows use and abuse and the care that was taken. The lesson that can only be learned by original condition. The fine line between maintenance and vandalism is razor thin. If I were to acquire this car it would go to a years worth of shows in survivor class. Then 3 years being restored to show room new. Then Pebble beach and the auction block. I would look forward to seeing the condition the next caretakers or vandals are keeping this fine machine in.
Wrong ebay auction Nathan – I got a ’63 Caddy convertible when I clicked that ad –
Looks like the LaSalle ended, and eBay thinks the ’63 would be a good substitute.
Now that’s what I would call, a really beautiful old car. Hope it went to the right buyer. As for the E bay ad redirecting to a 1963 Caddy convert, I sometimes wonder if they have anybody on their staff that actually knows anything about old cars.
Great write-up, Nathan!
The ad is gone but regardless that’s a beautiful car. I could see that fixed up and being in a 4th of July Parade. You don’t see something like this often and I hope whoever gets will appreciate it, fix it and drive it like it should be.
How do you find all the parts to completely rebuild a 91 year old Cadillac engine?
You machine new parts from scratch.
Join the club where you’ll find lots of help in finding what you need.
Beautiful car. If Barn Finds just showed just one car a day like this or the 57 I wouldn’t need to scroll down so much. The good values sure don’t last long.
Man, am I out of touch!
Ended: Jul 30, 2018 , 12:59PM
Sold for:US $31,500.00
it was a classic – unrestored, survivor – and some one with deeper pockets than me snatched it up, before I could get a look at it.
Other than crank one would be surprised at how many parts are still out and about.
This needs if not a complete rebuild at least a quality refurbishing, paint , top and interior a metals redone.
Years ago one could find old Caddy and La Salle 8′ up to more cylinders in everything from firetrucks to logging equipment; (donky) yarders and loading shovels equipment.
Through many years I checked old homemade and modified of such equipment along western coast of Wa.
and Ore. rural communities, found and got up and running 6 of those that had been running when parked and a dozen or more in old autos, just advertised and sold.
One was in an old farm tractor that a thrifty farmer had kept running.
No way an expert on these so was wondering how many years they kept engine design.
My dad had one almost exactly like this. Sold it years ago to an AACA member who was later murdered!
I clicked on the site and then the little picture in the corner it brought up the car for me anyway! These were grand cars for the time and were beautiful cars! I have seen one redone and it was jaw dropping to me!
Love this car. Wish I had the $$$..
You look at what shows at Pebble Beach and many of them are ground up restorations, and some, never existed per se, back when they would have been built. You look at my Allante, now 25, never restored, 150,000 miles, maintained, a few little dents, a rip in the driver’s seat leather, some missing knobs to control the power seat, a few rust bubbles over one rear wheel, some peeling of the clear coat on the plastic parts (bumpers), transmission is correct but a non-numbers matching rebuilt, belts and hoses and tires are all replacements, as is radiator, brakes, etc. SO, I drive it. Fast. Often. So this car, I would certainly paint it, and install a contemporary electric fuel pump, and a dual master cylinder, and replace the leather if it is beat up, and drive it a lot on secondary roads on sunny days. And go to car shows. Top up, here in CA.
Thankfully, antique automobile collectors have finally gotten in tune with the rest of the antique collecting world. The mainstream hobby has finally come to realize that a car in reasonably good condition should be preserved as is instead of being restored and, to that end, and for several years now, Pebble Beach has had a special class for original unrestored preservation cars. A very desirable and prestigious class I might add.
Back in the 20’s, if you were in middle management and wanted a special car, you looked at the LaSalle. You never bought a Cadillac unless you were the boss. My grandfather bought LaSalles in both the 20’s and 30’s and kept his gray pre-war 2dr business coupe until his death in 1958. Badly rusted, but still ran. The grill was special. Because of the body designs being so advanced, I think the LaSalles are now considered true classic cars.
We could sure use Harley Earl nowadays.