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Help needed: What's my 1937 Cadillac LaSalle worth?

Started by mgrizer, July 06, 2009, 07:45:14 PM

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mgrizer

I'm trying to get an idea of worth for a 1937 cadillac 50 series...four door sedan... that I just collected via an estate.  Some details:

1. three owner car that was purchased here in AZ and never left the state
2. car has 35,000 original miles
3. all original expect repainted and new tires
4. paint is in excellent shape (reputable shop painted it a few years back) with only a handful of minor rock chips
5. interior is in good shape with only some minor shows of wear
6. car runs and drives fantastic (driven a few miles every week)
7. great chrome and glass

The car was appraised via an auction house in Fe 09 with results saying the car should fetch between $50,000-$70,000.  that number sounded high to me so I'm reaching out to this forum for knowledge.  I do plan on selling the vehicle for 10-15% under value as soon as I estalish a true street value.  I have many more pictures that I'm unable to post on this site.

Please understand that I'm trying to get a "ball park" number so that I can sell it for a fair price

I truly appreciate any input!  Thanks in advance for your assistance

Jim Thomas

Mgrizer,    I think any car will bring more at action than wiith an arm length sale.  I have  a 1938 coupe and the last time
I checked  the gold book said 30000-35000, that was  last year sometime.  Ther was only 2,711 Coupes produced with OPERA S EATS where as  there were 21,1544 of the 5019 built. (production numbers as publshed in the La Salle Bible
wriitten by RON VAN GELDEREN and MATT LARSEN) I would hate to see you into a '37 4dr  for any more then 25 or30 thousands. Jim

tozerco

Your estimates sound like a lot of money to me in comparison with this car:

Ebay Item number: 160345737090

No reserve, what has to be a very rare side-mounted car with an original radio currently at $11,000 with no bids.


John Tozer
#7946
John Tozer
#7946

'37 7513
'37 7533

Otto Skorzeny

I agree with the above comments.

Manheim, whose listings I generally consider to be on the high side, lists a 60 series topping out at $26,000. They had no listing for a 50 series.

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

Your car looks like a very fine example. I would personally put the value at around $30,000. Finding someone to pay that amount in this market is a whole different story.

The $50-$75K figure you mention sounds way too high for a 50series sedan, even in the hyper atmosphere of an auction.
fward

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

HUGE VENDOR LIST CLICK HERE

Fred Zwicker #23106

Check www.manheimgold.com
for current values, but remember that the market is very soft at present.

I just checked and a 1937 LaSalle 4-door is worth today (per Manheim):

Good Condition    $18,000
Excellent Cond.      26,000
Show Condition      32,000

Even as nice as the car looks in the pictures, generally speaking 4-door sedans just don't bring the high dollar.

Considering today's market conditions, expect that a 25 - 30% discount from above figures might be more realistic for a fast sale. While I have a 1939 LaSalle Convertible and love cars from that era, IMO feel that the older cars seem to have peaked off in value, other than the more deisirable and rare models.  Your car being a 4-door does not fit that category.   See what others think, but this is my opinion.  Of course the true test is to post your detailed description and many pictures on eBay, setting a high reserve and see what happens.   The car looks great, although looks like some water damage to the passenger door upholstery.

Good luck,
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

Fred Zwicker #23106

The Series 60 is a 1937 Cadillac in Manheim's Guide (I just checked).  Instead, at the Manheim site, check "LaSalle" as make of car and then year 1937 to confirm the values of your Series 50 that I just posted. 

I agree with Forrest that finding someone to pay close to the listed value is another story, as the market is soft now and will probably remain that way for some time.  The car really looks  nice and the mileage is a good feature - it is the lack of potential buyers that hurts the end value of the car.

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

marion

Great info guys!!!

Thanks so much for sharing!

I'll keep checking back to see if others continue to add comments

Rusty Shepherd CLC 6397

#7
Any La Salle is a rare automobile and yours appears to be a really nice one and it's low-mileage.  If you don't have a financial need to sell the car, have you thought about keeping and enjoying it? As for the value, I watch ebay, Collector Car Trader and auction results and a year or two ago, I think your car might have brought $25,000.00; today, if it sold at all, it likely would bring less. The $70,000 figure you got at the top of the range from the auction house is in the range of a couple of '38-'40 V-16 sedans currently for sale.  BTW, La Salle was always a separate make just as Toyota's Lexus, Nissan's Infiniti and Honda's Acura are.  To make that clearer, the Cadillac-La Salle Club's name was changed a few years ago to the Cadillac & La Salle Club.

marion

so much to learn...  :)

I appreciate your comments!

Stinson

Just reviewed the following in the Gold Book Classic Cars.
Check out this site for your car.

1937 LASALLE Series 50 Dsp/HP Eng Fair Good Exc Show  Loan
CONV COUPE 1937-38 322/125 V8 29,000 47,000 66,000 79,000  42,000
CONV SEDAN 1937-38 322/130 V8 34,000 51,000 71,000 83,000  46,000
OPERA COUPE 1937-38 322/125 V8 15,000 27,000 42,000 48,000  24,000
SEDAN 1937-38 322/130 V8 12,000 18,000 26,000 32,000  16,000
SEDAN 2D 1937-38 322/125 V8 13,000 22,000 29,000 34,000  20,000

Ty Stinson
CLC22330
Ty Stinson
'37 Cad 8519 Touring Sedan V12
CLC22330

Otto Skorzeny

#10
Quote from: Fred Zwicker #23106 on July 07, 2009, 07:58:30 AM
The Series 60 is a 1937 Cadillac in Manheim's Guide (I just checked).  Instead, at the Manheim site, check "LaSalle" as make of car and then year 1937 to confirm the values of your Series 50 that I just posted. 

I got thrown off by the Cadillac LaSalle language and the body of the question left out LaSalle all together.

Why do people say that?

That's like saying you have a 1939 Ford Mercury.
fward

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

HUGE VENDOR LIST CLICK HERE

marion

I apologize for not being clearer...as i was unaware of the proper "Cadillac-LaSalle" nomenclature

Otto Skorzeny

No need to apologize. Lots of people say that. I was really just sort of thinking out loud on the keyboard.

LaSalle is a distinct make from Cadillac, though -  the same as Buick or Chevrolet.
fward

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

HUGE VENDOR LIST CLICK HERE