Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: Crazylumpy on September 20, 2013, 11:29:42 AM

Title: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Crazylumpy on September 20, 2013, 11:29:42 AM
Hello all... This is my first post, I'm a young Hot Rodder that has fallen in love with my new 32 LaSalle. I want to hot rod out the Cadillac, but what all your opinions first. I have a family and I want a sweet ride we can get in and drive across the country if we wanted to..

I purchased a 32 LaSalle from an Estate sale a while ago, it has no interior, but all the drive train is intact and good condition. I was told the car has only approximately 56K original miles.

This is what I want to do...

I want to pull all the drive train out of my '32 and install all new 2013 Cadillac drive train out of a CTS-V it would include- LSA Supercharged engine, 6- speed automatic trans, independent rear end, all wheel disc brakes, A/C, new updated Leather interior.

I will keep the exterior as stock as possible, I don't want to change anything on the exterior, Also I want the dash look totally stock as well. I want it to look as stock as possible with all new power equipment and electronics.

My questions:
Whats the old drive train worth?
How much does the stock engine and trans weight?
Is there enough room under the hood for a modern V8 LS engine?
What would something like this be worth when I'm done?

Any other tips?




Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Eldovert on September 20, 2013, 11:52:46 AM
My opinion is to leave that car alone. Finish the interior in a correct manor and sell the car..that's where the value is. Buy another stripped out car and put a modern hot rod chassis under it. You are going to need that to handle the power and some big brakes to slow things down. That way you could have the mounts for engine and trans or a independent rear put in by professionals.
That car is too nice to hot rod.
Cheers,Pat MacPhail
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: C.R. Patton II on September 20, 2013, 01:02:51 PM

Hello Al

Welcome to our Club and the Forum!

As a purist I will make a strong attempt to be objective. If your LaSalle is ALL original now please keep it that way.

Alright now that I have exhibited my bias I can move on. Try to do a cost estimate on maintaining the vehicle original versus the conversion to a restomod. Then compare that to the price that you (may) receive from a prospective buyer.

One more piece of my bias: the model you own is rare and valuable with appreciation expected in the future.
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on September 20, 2013, 01:22:59 PM
Hello Mr Collins and welcome to the forum.

First, may I congratulate you on your acquisition. It certainly looks a treasure.

Secondly, I have to agree with the views given thus far and strongly advise against modifying the car. Simply put, it is far too nice an example (at least to my eyes) to modify which will cause irreversible harm to it's value as an historic object. Prewar classics that have survived are very few and most highly prized when maintained or restored to original spec. In addition, the economic worth of the car will be decimated- and that is after the expenditure of many thousands modifying it.

It would be a different matter entirely if the car were a "basket case", however this is not the situation here.

One man's opinion. 
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: INTMD8 on September 20, 2013, 02:53:37 PM
To do it correctly it would need a new chassis as well in my opinion.  Also, I think it would be hard to get a decent set of 4 wheel discs under an original appearing spoked wheel. Not sure what that would end up looking like.

That being said, if it's a functional/original car even I would have a hard time taking it down for that kind of build. 

Probably be better off selling this one or keeping it and picking up another body/incomplete car to start with.

Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Crazylumpy on September 20, 2013, 03:17:02 PM
I want post some more pictures of my car, I will try to point out all the bad things on the car.

Can someone tell me what this is worth in the current condition?
Also what would it be worth put back to original condition?

I'm missing one gauge in the dash, can someone tell me what it is?

Thanks for the feedback, I'm starting to consider saving 40K and putting it back to stock...

Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: N Kahn on September 20, 2013, 03:38:41 PM
To do a resto mod on that car would be to destroy it.
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on September 20, 2013, 03:51:43 PM
OCPG only gives values to 1933. Here's what I found from NADA website for 1932 LaSalle 2dr Town Coupe:

Original

Low: $28,000; Average: $41,700; High: $68,800

I'm not familiar with NADA's grading system but it seems that "Low" is perhaps a #4 car, "Average" #3 - #2-  and "High" for a #1.

*I tread very lightly here as my market knowledge of these cars is very limited and comparable documented sales of such are few and far between.  Others may have more info on the subject.

In any case, $40K invested in the car in keeping it stock will harvest far better results (from an investment standpoint) than the same sum spent on modifications.

HTH,
Eric



Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: INTMD8 on September 20, 2013, 04:52:36 PM
It is a sedan however what model I'm unsure.
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Crazylumpy on September 20, 2013, 05:19:13 PM
Its a 1932 V8 LaSalle Sedan
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on September 20, 2013, 05:34:58 PM
Here's the NADA link for 1932 LaSalle values.

There are a few Sedan variants, including an Imperial which likely means it has front/rear interior division window. It would be a great help if you could post a photo of the data plate which I'm certain the LaSalle gurus here will be more than happy to devour and decipher for you.  ;D

http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Cars/1932/La-Salle
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Jeff Wilk on September 20, 2013, 07:43:04 PM
Folks here will buy that car from you right now. Trailer it to Hershey in 3 weeks and go home with CASH in your luggage, but DONT rod this one.   Way tooooooo nice and rare!
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Crazylumpy on September 20, 2013, 08:04:15 PM
If someone here is willing to give me decent money for it I'll let it go....
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: 35-709 on September 20, 2013, 08:17:49 PM
This is the dash from my '35 Cadillac sedan, I cannot see the instrument blocked by the clock on your panel but the picture below will show you all of the instruments that were in the '35 and despite some differences in the faces I believe they were pretty much the same for the LaSalle.  The one you appear to be missing is the temperature or the headlight beam indicator.  If it is the headlight beam indicator, there were 3 beams back then rather than 2.  See the pictures below, the first one is of all the instruments/gauges and the second one is the one I believe you are missing and is marked "Drive" - "City" - "Pass".

As to modifying the car, I feel also that that is much too nice a car to modify --- and I am one of those dreaded modifiers, but hasten to add that I like the original cars too and have both
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Bob Hoffmann CLC#96 on September 20, 2013, 09:24:04 PM
Al,
The gauges are:
fuel
amp
oil pressure
temp
ride control.
It's a town sedan, a fairly rare & desirable body style.
HTH, Bob
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: 35-709 on September 20, 2013, 09:34:59 PM
Ah!  There you go, the '35 is different. 
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Jim Stamper on September 20, 2013, 10:33:44 PM

     I would leave it stock and finish it.

     As to resale of running gear. Certainly it has value, especially if it is a fresh as it looks. But the value is to the car it is in. Since it is a rare car and a low production year, 3290 total, all body styles, I think you would find, by reason of its rareness there aren't cars out there looking for your running gear.

     Lastly, driven within the limits of the cars capabilities ( 45-50 MPH) and in a defensive driving manner these cars are fun to drive.  By putting the modern drivetrain in and old wood framed body and having the temptation to move even a little beyond the old cars capability is courting disaster. These were not high speed cars and in any kind of a serious impact or roll over accident they pretty well deform and disintegrate. The bodies are made of smaller steel panels tacked on to wood joinery and the seams leaded over, no "impact zone " for the passengers involved at all, as there is in the modern Cadillac donor car, to say nothing of air bags. I am not sure impact zone is the term I mean, but you get the idea, in the modern Cadillac, seat belted in, your chances are very good. Zero in the old wood framed bodied car.

     Good luck with your car, you have some good potential for a very nice car with the interior correctly finished. I think you can finish it for far less than the $40,000. About 10 years ago a 1929 Cadillac four door I used to own had an entire correct interior done for $8500. It is 10 years later, but that looks like your greatest expense from just the pictures we have seen.

                        Jim Stamper CLC#13470

     
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: INTMD8 on September 20, 2013, 11:13:01 PM
Quote from: Jim Stamper on September 20, 2013, 10:33:44 PM
I think you can finish it for far less than the $40,000.     

I think 40k is the number he put on doing a restomod. I think it would cost at least twice as much to do the build he detailed, doing the work yourself.

I agree that it could be finished in stock form for much much less.
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: honestcaddy on September 22, 2013, 01:46:45 PM
AT our shop we build high end customs as well as pebble beach quality restorations, that being said I would HIGHLY recommend you keep that beauty original. It looks like it has already 3/4 the work of a decent restoration completed and 40,000 wouldn't touch finishing it with a modern drive train and all the fabrication that needs to be done, not to mention all the electrical work with today's drive by wire and electronically shifted transmissions etc.
You will be on the road and enjoying this car as is in no time and if it isn't to your liking, sell it and make a profit! then go out and buy an already built custom that someone else has sunk a bunch of money into and have money and time left over! 
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Crazylumpy on September 22, 2013, 03:03:47 PM
Thanks everyone for your input...

This is why I joined the site and posted this topic..

I'm leaning more towards a stock restoration based upon your feedback.

To clarify the $40K for the restomod was not including the salvaged CTS-V that I currently have an handle on. I've built and restored several cars and I think I could complete the STOCK resto for about 25-30k.

Either way I go on this build I'd be doing a lot of the work myself, I'm an Aerospace Engineer with a heavy design background.

Can anyone tell me the current value of my car? Also, the value completely restored to factory specs...
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: C.R. Patton II on September 28, 2013, 10:15:54 PM


Hello Al

I just finished dinner with CLCMCR member Bob Dowell. We are attending the Cadillac & LaSalle Club Museum & Research Center Cadillac Fall Festival for tomorrow's ground breaking ceremony. Bob is a great family man that retired from a career as a successful businessman. He is someone I admire and respect.

He has restored several LaSalle automobiles. Mr. Dowell also enjoys the winter months in a southern state driving a 1933 LaSalle was restomoded by the prior owner. His wife and family love amenities and comfort. I presented your situation and specifically the original condition/rarity of your vehicle for transformation to a restomod He advised that you keep your LaSalle in the current status and find a common Cadillac to modify. If you are a CLC member and possess an international directory like I,  Bob is willing to talk you off the cliff.
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Crazylumpy on September 29, 2013, 10:38:06 AM
Thanks for the feedback, What makes my Lasalle more rare than all the other 32's? What do you think its present value is?

Thanks, a lot everyone....

Al
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: gary griffin on September 29, 2013, 11:28:48 AM
If you are thinking of present value vs. restored or a hot rod I have an example. A  friend of mine has a fairly rare 1942 Cadillac fast back. It is  a lovely  car and has about $80,000 worth of modifications including 500 Cubic inch Cadillac engine and a beautiful leather interior and also lots of chrome under the hood. power seats, disc brakes air conditioning, stereo, power windows, and all of the possible goodies. He wins almost all of the local car shows he goes to and the car is a pleasure to drive. It was what I call a widows car. It was listed in Hemmings for $90,000 and the price went down monthly to $20,000 where my friend bought it.  Modify a classic and you are wasting your time and money in my opinion, but it is your car to do what you want to do with it. So many cool cars to modify why ruin this one?? Good luck in your decision, you will need to live with it for a long time.

   By the way these cars are capable of making your cross country trip if they are in good condition.  That is what our grand parents did.
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Gene Beaird on September 29, 2013, 11:40:38 AM
If you're itching to drop a CTS-V drivetrain into something, I'd really consider something like this:

http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=127363.0

Ultimate sleeper!  NO one would suspect it, and unless they knew exactly what it was, no one would steal it!!!   ;D

Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: INTMD8 on September 29, 2013, 12:31:51 PM
I have a question I don't see addressed yet. What are your intentions for the car when completed? You seem to be hung up on what it will be worth when completed, so do you just plan to sell it?

If your plan is to build it for profit I don't think it would be worthwhile.

The car on ebay, I'm surprised to see a bid on it at 185k if it is in fact a real bid. I don't think it was built to a level that would command that kind of money.
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Crazylumpy on September 29, 2013, 01:32:09 PM
My intent was to keep it as a driver, I want to be able to get in and drive anywhere in comfort and style.

All I want to know is..... what my Cadillac worth in its current condition...???

Thanks,
Al
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: gary griffin on September 29, 2013, 03:49:51 PM
Hi Al,

    There are several references to classic car values and suggested prices, just Google it and I think Kelly has one and Hemmings and so forth.

    Rarity and condition are the main points in rarity and we can not judge that here, also market factors even your location can make a difference in value, for example it would be less in Montana. I just flew to Phoenix to check out a 1940 Lasalle and purchased it.  If you are going to keep it long term current value means very little. I have a small collection of fairly rare vehicles and being 72 years old I imagine the value will be decided by my kids when I am not longer able to drive them.

   Good luck in your decision making!!

   Gary Griffin
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Brad Ipsen CLC #737 on September 29, 2013, 10:38:11 PM
This car was on Craig's List not to long ago in the Seattle area.  I saw it and certainly other Cadillac buyers saw it.  I forget now what it was listed for but it seemed like a fair price.  I thought it was a good deal so sent the listing to other Cadillac people.  You were not the only potential buyer that saw it advertised so when you bought the car you set the value in its present condition.  If you market it world wide and find some of the missing parts you may add value to it and then it may be worth more.  If today you marketed it with a Craig's List ad in the Seattle area the value may be less because you won't be a potential buyer and it will have to go to the next guy who may only be willing to pay say $2000 less.   
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Stinson on October 02, 2013, 10:49:42 PM
There is another '32 at the top of this "General Discussion" list. Sell your car for someone to finish it. Try to purchase the other one and mod it. You would be far ahead of the game. and save a good car.
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Thule on October 03, 2013, 11:00:41 AM
this car is way to good to be hot rodded.   as well as i like hot rods. and want to build one
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: rich neary on October 03, 2013, 11:45:15 AM

Old Guy Cadillac owner and lifetime hot rodder here.
Judging from photos, your car is too nice to resto-mod and deserves to be preserved.
Building that long distance family rod you want will require alot more than just dropping in a small block.
Shop around, buy something that's already done or an unfinished project with modern running gear ie: brakes suspension etc. that you can personalize the way you like it. There's lots of good deals out there.
Offer your car for sale  in the meantime. It should bring a good buck.
Rich

Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: yachtflame on October 06, 2013, 11:29:24 PM
I've done several restorations and a few resto-rods. I'm currently working on a 1931 Lasalle convertible coup. The body sat without a chassis in mud for some 15 years and the bottom 2-3 inches was rotted all the way around. The cost to try to restore the car to factory specs was going to cost a lot more then it's finished value. So, I bought a Chevy C10 and which had the same wheel base length. The plan was to put the body on the truck frame. Sounded "good on paper" but turned out the engine on a modern truck is much farther forward then 1930's cars, so that didn't work out. As someone above stated, the wood frame isn't made for modern power and will start to crack and separate. I took what was left of the wood out and replaced it with 1" x 1" steel tubing. I
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: yachtflame on October 06, 2013, 11:56:56 PM
My reply got cut short somehow but it was getting too long any way. A friend has been able to make serious money rodding 1931 Cadillac coups but it takes serious money invested to get to that level. After 8 years on my coup, I kinda wish I'd just bought some one else's unfinished project.
The pictures look as if this one is too good to rod. There are enough "bones" out there to rod.
As for a value for the drive train, I buy lots of parts for resale. I usually pay $1000 to $2500 for every thing taken out of a car including drive train, suspension, upholstery and gauges. Not enough to really help out the repowering and rebuilding.
Good luck with what ever you decide.
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: TedZ on December 08, 2013, 08:54:01 PM
Hi from the owner of a 32 Town Sedan,
     Yours is called a Town Coupe. - I have had my 32 for over 50 years now. - When I got it it had less than 50,000 miles on it. - When it got over 80,000 miles it lost its compression and would not start or run any longer. - Now after rebuilding the motor it runs just fine again and is willing to cruise along at 60 all day long and I have taken it on many trips with very few troubles. - I certainly would not attempt to change it around because that body style is not the common one. - I certainly think you would have more fun just fixing up so that would be safe to drive in its original condition. - Once you have it fixed up and started driving it around you would find it a fun car to drive, certainly after you got use to it.

Ted from New York
Title: Re: 1932 LaSalle RestoMod - Should I Do it...? Please Help....
Post by: Brad Ipsen CLC #737 on December 08, 2013, 09:30:46 PM
This car was on eBay recently.  I don't see it now.