1932 Lasalle 345-B 5 Passenger Sedan

Motor no. 1100385
Body no. 293

115 bhp, 353 cu. in. L-head V-8 engine, three-speed manual transmission, front and rear leaf spring suspension with floating rear axle, and four-wheel drum brakes. Wheelbase: 130 in.

Nineteen thirty-two was a magnificent year for automobile styling, and few cars looked better than the “junior Cadillac,” the LaSalle. Dignified and subtly streamlined new styling wrapped around a magnificently engineered chassis, carrying a more refined 115 bhp eight-cylinder engine, fully synchromesh three-speed transmission with “Triple Silent” helical gears, and a modern mechanical fuel pump. Buyers responded strongly for an expensive automobile in the worst year of the Great Depression, buying 3,386 LaSalles – 700 more cars than the Cadillac V-8 model of the year.

The five-passenger sedan offered here was the 385th LaSalle built for 1932. According to its build sheet it was originally delivered by the Cadillac Motor Car Company of Maine at Portland. In 1993 its restoration was begun by a longtime collector, who after stripping its paint saw his circumstances change and sold it in 1995 to Clark and Utana Rhyne of Wardville, Oklahoma. The Rhynes maintained the car in good running order until selling it in 1996 to the present owner. When acquired it was noted to be running and driving well, and remained very straight and solid. Its cosmetic restoration was then completed in the current handsome livery, two shades of grey with button-tufted blue wool cloth interior, accented by beautiful subtle woodwork and a pair of bud vases.

The noted service facility Parker’s Packards has just completed a full balanced engine rebuild, along with a new clutch, pressure plate, and flywheel, and the car in a test drive was noted to run and drive quite well, traveling happily at 55 mph with few rattles and good steering. All gauges except the gas gauge function properly, as do the brake lights. New tires have been fitted. With its correct original single rear-mounted spare, rather than the usual “dual sidemounts,” the car has a long, fleet and rather sporting look, as well as much-improved engine access – important for an automobile that would be ideal for family touring. It is now a Classic Car Club of America Full Classic® and thus eligible for that club’s well-known and highly regarded CARavans, for which it would be a most enjoyable, elegant, and uncommon choice.