1927 Cadillac LaSalle

Description

Largely credited with reinventing automotive styling, Harley Earl made the first LaSalles beautiful and cemented their place in automotive history. Although it's pretty far removed from stock, you can still see why this 1927 LaSalle sedan is timeless and if you want a big, impressive, never-seen-before rod, they don't come much bigger or more impressive than this.

It looks like the bodywork is still the way Harley Earl intended, and it's kind of refreshing to see that the original design was honored instead of "improved" during the build. The late-20s offered some big, impressive machinery, and the LaSalle was second only to Cadillac in terms of prestige and it shows. The vivid Garnet Red paint glows on the upright bodywork while contrasting black fenders are a traditional touch that gives the car the right look. Fit and finish are quite impressive, particularly considering how many nooks and crannies there are on a car like this, and all four doors close with a reassuringly solid sound. The chrome details that make these cars special, including the radiator shell, big headlights, cowl lights, and elegant door handles have all been fully refinished and it carries accessories like dual sidemounts, a grille guard, and big driving lights up front, all period-correct and adding to the big car's stately appearance. A padded roof gives it a bit of formality and it's in excellent condition.

The builders got a lot of things right, and a big one was keeping the original seat. You've seen modern buckets stuffed into old cars and they never look right, but the wide bench seats covered in gray velour upholstery look exactly right. Door panels were created to emulate the originals, with simple patterns and handy map pockets plus lovely wood trim. Most of the dashboard has been covered in more wood, and the A/C system has been expertly integrated into the design so that it's hard to know where the original ends and the custom stuff begins. A banjo-style wheel, elegant VDO instruments, and a lever-style emergency brake keep it looking suitably vintage. All the modern conveniences are here, including a tilt column, power steering, and a powerful AM/FM/CD stereo system. Out back, there's a big trunk that's a correct period accessory that adds practicality and back seat accommodations are commodious.

For power, this LaSalle uses a reliable Chevrolet LT1 350 cubic inch V8, which fits easily under that long hood. Keeping it fairly stock means that it's reliable and smooth, and with a few clever modifications it sits just right. A big radiator up front keeps it cool effortlessly and all the accessories were tucked in tight to the block using custom bracketry. Sanderson block-hugger headers add clearance and feed a smooth-sounding dual exhaust system that is appropriately quiet. Fat Man Fabrications supplied the front suspension, which uses tubular A-arms and rack-and-pinion steering to upgrade the road manners, while a 4L60E 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission drives the 10-bolt rear end. The original chassis was boxed to add strength, a custom stainless steel gas tank hangs out back, and there's a disc brake at all four corners. 72-spoke Wheel Vintiques wire wheels lend just the right look and carry 265/70/16 wide whitewall radials that are big enough to look right on the massive sedan.

Unusual and beautifully built, this LaSalle won't be duplicated. It's not inexpensive, but the quality and the unusual build make it worth every penny. Call today!