1932 Cadillac Lasalle series 345-B
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This one is not only for Old Timers, whatever that year begins? I am only 66, but it’s for the young at heart as well. This was one rare car to be seen on the road around 1932 or 1933 on up.
Right when the great depression started, a guy by the name of Alfred P. Sloan, designed the 1932 Cadillac La Salle. He was quite an innovator for his time. He designed a faster than most luxury style car for most anybody who had some money.
These cars were not realistically cheap for 1932. Remember, the stock market crashed and everybody across the country went broke overnight. If you thought Coronavirus was bad, imagine eating soup every day for about 7 or more years?
The Lasalle starting price was around $ 2,395.00 to $2,795.00. If you were around in 1932 and you saw one of these coming down the street, you would automatically think two things.
“Uh Oh, Gangster Car!” Or you might think, “Man, somebody in this town is rich!” Back in 1932, a Lasalle was a fancy looking car, and it wasn’t that popular. Cadillac Motor division only made 3,390 of these series 345-B models. That makes this car a highly sought after collectors dream car. Lasalles were originated in 1927 by a Man named, “Harley Earl.”
As I mentioned earlier, Gangsters loved this car. It had above average horsepower ( 115) and could run over 80 MPH. This car was smooth shifting for it’s time, and it came with safety glass. There are many distinctions to know about a car like this.
For one, they have full sided running boards going right into the long front rolling fenders. What a look! The hood ornament looks like an angel taking flight, There is a chrome bent bar connecting the bullet shaped head lamps. When you wanted to turn on the headlights. The center of the steering wheel is where you would turn a dial to “lights’ Pretty strange if you ask me. All of these cars came with 17” wheels.
To me, some weird designs came with a La Salle. For example, on the inside door panels, there were no arm rests. Behind the driver’s seat, was a lower fold down shelf for the back seat passengers to put their shoes on. Maybe for tying their shoe laces? It was also a great compartment to seal weapons. The wiper blades worked from the top of the windshield.
Gotta hand it to Cadillac, this was one beautiful car for its year. They are rare and they are highly sought after by collectors. To you model car makers, those plastic ones. If you ever see one of these at the hobby shop, I forewarn you, they are very hard to put together. Joseywales2@gmail.com