Classic Cars - 1940 LaSalle

This Classic Car of its time, the LaSalle, was a vehicle product of the big General Motors Corporation. This 1940 LaSalle was also sold as a companion to the Cadillac from 1927 to around 1940's. These to automobiles were linked by theme names for the employers. Their names were Antoinet Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac and Rene' Robert Cavelier, Sieur de LaSalle. The LaSalle originated from GM's CEO Alfred P. Sloan's. Sloan intended that the GM market would place the company's automobile price points. The Chevrolet was the entry level product. The next in line were Oldsmobile then the Buick and the Cadillac. A while back the automobile brands were generally built a different model per year.

CEO Alfred Sloan thought that the only way to bridge the gap was to try to develop the companion models that could be sold through the current sales Network. Harley Earl was a designer that got him a thirty year career as GM's vice president. Earl was hired by Cadillac and them never had intended for the LaSalle to ever be a junior Cadillac, only something that was more agile and very stylish. Earl's LaSalle then emerged as a smaller elegant companion to Cadillac's larger cars, and unlike anything else built by an American automotive manufacturer.

The 1940 LaSalle specifications are:

1. Length 210"
2. Width 69.75"
3. Height 66.5"
4. Weight 3,780 lbs
5. Engine 322 cid V-8 flathead
6. Bore 3,375"
7. Stroke 4.5"
8. Compression 6.25:1
9. Horsepower 130
10. Carburetor Carter WDO 2-bbl
11. Electrical 6 volt
12. Fuel tank 22 gallon
13. Tires/original 70.0X16
14. Suspension Front : ind. Coil with knee action shock absorbers
15. Transmission 3 speed synchro mesh manual shift
16. Final drive 3.92:1
17. Price/new $1,380