Despite being GM's Depression-era budget-luxury line, the LaSalle paced the Indy 500 twice — in 1934 and again in 1937.
Lead trim: LaSalle Series 37-50 322 cu in monobloc V8 (1937–1938)
LaSalle LaSalle Series 501934–1938
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a LaSalle LaSalle Series 50 yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactDespite being GM's Depression-era budget-luxury line, the LaSalle paced the Indy 500 twice — in 1934 and again in 1937.
Beginning with the 1934 model year a significant portion of the LaSalle, now called the Series 50 Model 350, was more closely related to the Oldsmobile L-Series, Buick Series 40 and 50 while sharing an appearance with the senior Cadillac Series 355s, on the Oldsmobile- and Buick-based GM B platform: an elegantly thin grille concealing the previously exposed radiator and Harley Earl's airplane-styled semi-shielded portholes on the hood sides, with all bodies now by Fleetwood. The Series 50 was no longer available with a V8, only an Oldsmobile-sourced flathead inline-eight (4.1 L, parts assembled by Cadillac-trained LaSalle teams), and was the first Cadillac to use Bendix hydraulic brakes; it listed at US$1,550, US$1,000 below the least expensive Cadillac, its mission being to keep the luxury-car division out of the red. Sales were 7,195 in 1934, 8,651 in 1935 and 13,004 in 1936; the name changed to Series 35-50 and 36-50 (with the Packard One-Twenty and Lincoln-Zephyr as competition), and a 1934 Series 50 Model 350 and a 1937 Series 37-50 convertible were Indianapolis 500 pace cars. For 1937 Cadillac made the LaSalle its own again as the Series 37-50 with the 322 cu in (5.3 L) monobloc V8 of the Series 60, new styling, a lower price range and heavy promotion of its all-Cadillac construction; model year sales of 32,000 were a great improvement but far behind the Packard. Wheelbases: 119 in, 120 in and 123 in (1934–36) and 124 in (1935–36); the infobox also lists 240.3 and 248 cu in L-head V8s.
Collectors Spotted in the LaSalle LaSalle Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the LaSalle LaSalle yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaSalle Series 37-50 322 cu in monobloc V8 (1937–1938) | 1937–1938 | 5.3 L V8 | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
| LaSalle Series 50 248 cu in Oldsmobile straight-eight (1934–1936) | 1934–1936 | 4.1 L Inline-8 | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
By its final years this LaSalle had lost its own identity entirely, built essentially identical to the Cadillac Series 61 right before GM killed the brand.
Despite being GM's Depression-era budget-luxury line, the LaSalle paced the Indy 500 twice — in 1934 and again in 1937.
In 1927 a LaSalle ran 952 miles around a track averaging 95.2 mph with only seven minutes total spent on pit stops — nearly matching that year’s Indy 500 winning pace.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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