This 1930 LaSalle is 1 of 239 built, so it's pretty rare, but thankfully it's a pretty complete car. Built to hold 7 passengers, this convertible is powered by a 340 Cadillac flathead V8. In it's day it would run 95 mph with ease. Scotlea thinks we can do better than that! It's going back all original, or 99.9% original as we plan to upgrade the interior, wiring, ignition, and squeeze a bit more power from that flathead. It's going to be a beautiful car when finished, but it started out pretty rough but it had been sitting inside for decades...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/91-1930-lasalle#sigProGalleria9a5d7fe2ef
Back to the shop and cleaned out and powerwashed...
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Tearing it down...lots of rotten and broken wood that has to be built from scratch...
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This car had to go all the way down to the frame, which was powerwashed a few times to get almost 90 years of crud off. Engine and trans are out and were cleaned up too - both in good condition. Interestingly, the engine block is aluminum!!!
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/91-1930-lasalle#sigProGalleria5bd0a7c990
Parts are coming back in ready to be installed... Gots lots of chrome work done, some powdercoating, convertible top hinges were rebuild and chromed wheels are ready for new tires, brake drums were turned...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/91-1930-lasalle#sigProGalleria1a10641049
Probably the hardest part of this restoration is the woodwork since the entire body is mounted on wood, the doors are framed with wood, the seats are wood frames, etc. Here the base wood is being redesigned and the front doors and b-pillars set in place. This took months because the wood was either eaten by termites, broken, or missing. A lot of trial and error went into this process...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/91-1930-lasalle#sigProGalleria7f97fcde55
Woodwork finished up and body ready to go to paint...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/91-1930-lasalle#sigProGalleria3bab4ce961
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Front and rear suspension cleaned, rebuilt and painted...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/91-1930-lasalle#sigProGalleriab84aae4bc0
Wheels respoked in hickory...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/91-1930-lasalle#sigProGalleria6b5eb5add3
Bodywork continues...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/91-1930-lasalle#sigProGalleriaa0fc9c4e61
After a few months of work - we have paint !!!
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/91-1930-lasalle#sigProGalleria634cd53029
Finally - assembly time!! Starting with the engine...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/91-1930-lasalle#sigProGalleria904256d53e
Fenders, suspension, wooden hubs, lots of little parts and pieces going together...
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/91-1930-lasalle#sigProGalleriaf48e48febe
Completed - finally!!! This project took 2 1/2 years from start to finish to driving down the road again, and it looks beautiful if I do say so myself!!!!
http://scotlea.com/gallery/item/91-1930-lasalle#sigProGalleriad29830b482