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1940 LaSalle Series 50 convertible value question

Started by David Temple, July 21, 2008, 07:48:27 PM

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David Temple

Can anyone provide a realistic price range for a 1940 LaSalle Series 50 convertible coupe in about condition 4? It needs rust repair on both rear wheel wells and the front corners of the body. Otherwise, the LaSalle appears to have a very good body. The car is missing only the back seat. Its engine seems very healthy judging by how smoothly it runs. The current owner I am told is considering two options - to sell it or street rod it. In my opinion, Harley Earl styled it right the first time!

Otto Skorzeny

http://www.manheimgold.com/car_lo.html

It's really impossible to tell without seeing it to assess the extent of the rust and any other issues that might be involved in the restoration. Off hand I would say $10,000 to $20,000 but that's just a wild guess. It could be a lot more or a lot less. How are the rest of the components? Trim, top, steering, frame, brakes, dash, etc?
fward

Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for YOURSELF

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Motorama

#2
Thanks for the info and link. Of course all of the chrome needs replating. The top assembly is present and appears to be in working order. I believe the frame is fine. The brakes would need rebuilding. If anyone is interested in seeing photos, I took some yesterday.
David W. Temple, author Motorama: GM's Legendary Show and Concept Cars

Otto Skorzeny

Yes, please post them. Everybody here likes looking at photos. It will also help with the value question. If possible, you should have an expert look at the car - maybe someone from this club with the same model. If you can post the ID tag information, that will tell people a lot.
fward

Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for YOURSELF

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David Temple

Here are a couple of photos. More will follow.
David Temple

David Temple

Areas where rust will need to be repaired

David Temple

Interior and rear floor

Otto Skorzeny

Wow! That's a lot of work. Why does the current owner wish to sell it? I notice a nice Packard under restoration next to it.
fward

Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for YOURSELF

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Rusty Shepherd CLC 6397

#8
You mentioned that the car was missing the rear seat (singular).  I thought that the 40-5067's had two folding auxiliary seats in the rear compartment instead of a full seat and checking Walter McCalll's 80 Years of Cadillac La Salle, I verified that when I saw that Cadillac called it a  "Convertible Coupe for Two or Four Passengers".

Correction:  1939 was the last year for the auxiliary/jump seats in the rear compartment of all Cadillac and La Salle convertible coupes except the large series 75 V-8 and 90 V-16. 1940 small series convertible coupes, including the 40-5067 La Salle, had a full rear seat.  RS

David Temple

#9
Since I am not very familiar with pre-war Cadillacs and LaSalles I just assumed the car came with a back seat and therefore it must be missing. I don't know what seating this car had in back but clearly it is missing something for rear passengers.

David Temple

Quote from: ottoskorzeny on July 23, 2008, 06:11:13 PM
Wow! That's a lot of work. Why does the current owner wish to sell it? I notice a nice Packard under restoration next to it.

I was simply told the owner is considering selling it or street rodding it and haven't a clue to his motives other than that's his taste - street rods. In my opinion the car is very restorable and should be restored to original condition. The idea of stuffing a Chevy 350 under the hood and applying custom paint to those graceful lines generates in me about the same feeling as finger nails scratching a black board! Yes, that is a Packard sitting next to it - a 1940 One-Twenty Sedan. It belongs to a friend of mine. It was far, far rougher than the LaSalle. When I first saw the rust in it I thought to myself "this is almost not possible to fix!"

Bob Hoffmann CLC#96

Quote from: Rusty Shepherd CLC 6397 on July 23, 2008, 06:42:30 PM
You mentioned that the car was missing the rear seat (singular).  I thought that the 40-5067's had two folding auxiliary seats in the rear compartment instead of a full seat and checking Walter McCalll's 80 Years of Cadillac La Salle, I verified that when I saw that Cadillac called it a  "Convertible Coupe for Two or Four Passengers".
Hi Rusty, not sure what you verified, but 39 was the last year for the folding rear seats on the small series cars. The 75/90 carried them thru 1940. Bob
1968 Eldorado slick top ,white/red interior
2015 Holden Ute HSV Maloo red/black interior.
             
Too much fun is more than you can have.

Fred Zwicker #23106

#12
Hi Rusty,

I agree with Bob Hoffman's comment on this.  Attached are two pictures of a 1940 LaSalle Series 52 convertible, owned by one of my friends.  The 1940 LaSalle 52 Series has the headlights in the fenders and has a torpedo body.  All 1940 LaSalles (Series 50 & 52) have the headlights in the fenders.  The body of the 1940 LaSalle Series 50 does not have the torpedo body and is about the same as the 1939 Series 50, other than the headlight location, grilles and other minor details.  See www.fzoldcars.com for many restoration pictures of my 1939 LaSalle Series 50 convertible.

You will want to determine which series you are looking at for later use, as most everything on the body and interior is different.  I did not get photos of the inside of this car, but may be going to PA next week and if my friend is home, I will see if I can take some interior pictures for reference. 

Fred
(Corrected above copy to reflect that all 1940 LaSalles have headlights in the fenders).
1930 LaSalle Convertible Coupe, CCCA Senior
1939 LaSalle 2-Dr. Conv.  CLC Senior in 2008
1940 Cadillac Series 75 4 Dr. Convertible
1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Coupe
1948 Cadillac Convertible - modified by Holly (driver)
1966 Cadillac DeVille Conv. Restored - Red
See Pictures at www.tpcarcollection.com

buicksplus

Sorry Fred, but the 1940 Series 50 has headlamps in the fender, just like the 52.  The convertible under discussion is a 50 series (check the tail lamps and trunk) and the headlamps are in the fender.

I think this convertible coupe (yes, it should have a regular back seat, no folding or rumble seats in 1940) looks rather complete and is a rare and valuable LaSalle.  Fully restored it would probably be worth 60K or more.  Obviously the restoration costs would be substantial, but I would think many collectors would pay 10 or 15K for it as it sits -- assuming it is mostly complete.

Bill
Bill Sullivan CLC# 12700

Rusty Shepherd CLC 6397

#14
Hey, Bob,
Thanks for setting the record straight.  The nomenclature "for two OR four passengers" in 80 Years of Cadillac-La Salle led me to believe that the 40-5067's were still equipped with auxiliary/jump seats.  Either that nomenclature was incorrect for 1940 model La Salles or I misinterpreted it. Terry Wenger emailed to also say that after 1939, only the large cars had the aux. seats.  I wonder what a man who ordered a 40-9067 for himself and a 40-5067 for his son would think when they were delivered and he found that his Sixteen had jump seats and his boy's La Salle had a full seat!   

Fred Zwicker #23106

#15
Bill - I agree with you on this - all of the 1940 LaSalles have headlights mounted in the fenders.  Sorry my comment on this was incorrect and I have just verified that you are correct after looking closely at "LaSalle - Cadillac's Companion Car".  If I can still do so, I will change my post accordingly, as don't want to give incorrect info. Here is another picture of the 1940 LaSalle Series 52 convertible owned by a friend of mine, showing the headlight area.

Fred
1930 LaSalle Convertible Coupe, CCCA Senior
1939 LaSalle 2-Dr. Conv.  CLC Senior in 2008
1940 Cadillac Series 75 4 Dr. Convertible
1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Coupe
1948 Cadillac Convertible - modified by Holly (driver)
1966 Cadillac DeVille Conv. Restored - Red
See Pictures at www.tpcarcollection.com

David Temple

The body number for this LaSalle is 128; trim code is 28; paint code is 5. If I recall correctly the style number is 40-5067.