LaSalle 50 Convertible Coupe by Fisher
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Car producer : |
LaSalle |
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Model: |
50 Convertible Coupe by Fisher |
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Year: |
1934-1938 |
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Type: |
Cabriolet |
Beginning with the 1934 model year, a significant portion of the LaSalle was more closely related to the Oldsmobile, than to senior Cadillacs. Again, Earl's work with the LaSalle resulted in a graceful vehicle, led by an elegant and thin radiator grille. Earl's other contribution was the modern, airplane-styled, semi-shielded portholes along the side of the hood. All bodies were now made by Fleetwood.
Building upon the 1934 model with improvements both mechanically and stylistically, the '35 Series 50 sale body production shifted from Fleetwood to Fisher but performance increased thanks to some tweaking of the engine and a significant reduction in weight. Offering a full line-up of different bodies, including a Coupe, two Convertibles – one with two seats and a truck, the other with a rumble seat in place of the trunk – and both a four- and two-door Sedan, prices were kept below that of Cadillac but aimed squarely at the likely of Chrysler and Mercury. In total, 8,635 Series 50s of all types would roll off of the production line in the 1935 model year.
This new LaSalle was now priced $1,000 less than the least expensive Cadillac, its mission was not to fill a price gap, but to keep the luxury car division out of the red. But as the economy began to recover, the LaSalle did not, at least not commensurate with the economy. Sales were 7,195 in 1934, 8,651 in 1935 and 13,004 in 1936.
Meanwhile the Packard One-Twenty had been introduced in 1935, and had taken off like a rocket. Additional competition from the Lincoln-Zephyr, introduced in 1936, did not help things either. For 1937 Cadillac made the LaSalle its own again, giving it the 322 cu in (5.3 L) Monobloc V8 of the Series 60, nice new styling, a lower price range and a heavy promotion campaign emphasizing that the car was completely Cadillac built. But it was too late. Model year sales of 32,000 LaSalles was a terrific leap forward, but the LaSalle remained leagues behind the junior Packards.
A 1934 LaSalle Model 350 was chosen as the Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500 and a 1937 LaSalle Series 50 convertible also served as an Indy 500 Pace Car
