1933 LaSalle Walkaround

The LaSalle brand (model years 1927-1940) was a lower-priced companion brand to General Motors' line-topper Cadillac.

To my mind, there were three standout model years for the marque in terms of styling.  The introductory 1927 model was styled by Harley Earl (1893-1969) in a project to evaluate Earl's capabilities and the market's reaction to a professonally styled design.  It turned out well becasue the car sold well and Earl became head of GM styling for the next 31 years.

The next noteworthy LaSalle design was the 1934 model styled by Julio Andrade.   It featured a clean, somewhat rounded "streamlined" look that saved the brand from extinction.

Then there was the 1940 swan-song LaSalle, another fine design.  It and the others are pictured below.

But the main subject of this post is a LaSalle sedan from the model year before Andrade's creation.  It is a nice design that appeared just as the American automobile industry was staring to launch its design evolution to integral body shapes.  The car is a LaSalle 345 C photographed for Mecum Auctions.

Gallery

1927 La Salle, Harley Earl at the wheel, his mentor Larry Fisher standing - via General Motors

1934 LaSalle Coupe, unknown photo source

1940 LaSalle Touring Sedan, car listed for sale

1933 LaSalle 345 C - Mecum
Dramatic overhead view.

Modern features for 1933 include the skirts on the front fenders and slightly V'd grille.

Plus, the windshield is ever-so-slightly raked back.

This was at a time when trunks were add-on items or (here) absent.

The large windows give the car an airy appearance.  V12 and V16 engine Cadillacs had similar bodies, but longer, more elegant hoods.