1940 Lasalle vs. 1940 Packard 120

[Tom Boehm]

I have a 1940 Lasalle. I have been doing some reading on the direct competitors to the Lasalle, the Packard 120 and the Lincoln Zephyr. The obvious big difference between the Lasalle and the 120 is the engine. A 130 hp flathead V8 vs. a 120 hp flathead straight 8. Here are some other differences I thought were interesting:

Cadillac/Lasalle has turn signal lights and Packard does not.
Cadillac/Lasalle has hydraulic valve lifters and the 120 does not.

The 120 has electric windshield wipers and the Cadillac/Lasalle has vacuum wipers.
Packard had an optional overdrive transmission. Cadillac/Lasalle did not.
Packard has a 3 speed synchronized transmission and the Cadillac/Lasalle are only synchronized in 2nd and 3rd gear.
Packard had an optional backup light and Cadillac/Lasalle did not.
The 120 did not have radiator shutters. The thermostat controlled the flow of coolant. The thermostat in Cadillac/Lasalle controlled air flow through the radiator with shutters.

Packard did not publish a service manual in 1940. The large owners manual contained maintenance information.

The Lasalle was priced about $100 more than the 120.

[fishnjim]

These were "down price range" vehicles.   
If I'm not off a year or two, Pack went away from the grille shutter around '37- '38. ie, came and went by '40.   

Actually the ambient temperature air flow controls the cooling not the thermostat.   

[Tom Boehm]

For 1940, The Packard 160 and 180 had vacuum wipers and radiator shutters.

Another fact I find very interesting: In 1940 Packard had the 110,120,160 and 180. The sedans of all series used the same body shell. The coupes of all series used the same body shell.

In 1940 Cadillac/Lasalle had the series 50, 52, 62, 60, 72, 75, and 90. The sedans of all series used 5 different body shells. Same for coupes. 52 and 62 shared one, and 75 and 90 shared one.   50, 52, and 62 shared bodies with other GM divisions, which is why Cadillac/Lasalle was able to field 5 and Packard had one.