Hood.

[scotrace]

You Are Indeed Fortunate

It's scarce to see a steering wheel without cracks... Super Nice! You have a nicely preserved machine.

 

[Wild Root]

The first photo is of when I first bought the car. Now, I have replaced the old horn ring with a good original that isn't broken in half.

I wish there wansn't any cracks in the wheel, but there is just one off to left as you can see in this shot.

Any way, she's not bad on the inside but the body and paint is getting a little bad. Need to save up some dough and get it done.

Root.

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

Root, those pics really make me want to get a vintage car! I can just imagine myself behind the wheel.

My dad is interested in a 1937 Cadillac or 1937 LaSalle, I need to get on the ball and find him one so I can borrow it a lot!

 

[jamespowers]

I am a little on the outside of what many of you consider vintage cars.
I do all my driving in cars that are classics. I wouldn't have it any other way. The 57 chevy is a marque that is instantly recognizable from a good distance away. The 57 GMC is my just about every day truck. The 59 Oldsmobile is one heck of a long vehicle but I love driving it and it really handles well with all the power stuff you get today. My wife drives the newest car which is a 73 Mach 1.
As far as safety goes, let me tell you. I have had accidents in just about every car and the other guy got the worst of it----no seatbelts and all. No flying through windows when broadsided or front ended. However, it is a great responsibility knowing what that big machine with solid steel can do. I have walked away without a scratch and the other guy (airbag didn't save him) ended up in the hospital---the stupid drunk.
I suppose I get there just as fast as anyone and I probably couldn't drive a car that I could not get to do at least 80---in town. Just kidding.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Wild Root]

Did you say a 37 LaSalle?

Just so happens there is one for sale at the moment!

http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/1/0/78770110.htm

The price is really good for such a rare classic!

Root.

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

Thanks, I will forward that on to him. I really like big sedans and that is a beautiful one. Plus driving a car like that, I wouldn't feel strange wearing a homburg.

 

[BellyTank]

Crash Experience...

What Vladimir hinted at is true regarding accidents- when metal hits metal,
your old clunker will do damage to a Honda but when your skull or your kids' hits the metal, you'll be much, much worse off- rather the panel shop than the ER.
You can install seat belts in any older car if you really want to even though the law says you don't need to. They help you if someone hits you- forget about "I'm not going to hit anyone"- it doesn't mean anything. You can also upgrade the brakes and make sure the suspension is in top order to keep you out of serious harm in an accident. Great brakes are useless if your suspension is shot.

I was in a '49 Ford and was hit head on by a crazy speeding '70s Nissan and the Nissan was totalled. I was only doing about 5mph luckily. The Ford was also totalled- the engine was almost on the front seat, the doors were toast, the whole front end was pancaked, chassis bent. The engine lived on in another life. A car hitting you at 50mph when you're parked has just the same effect as you hitting a parked car at 50mph. I was wearing my aftermarket seat belt and I'm really glad I was otherwise I would have been kebab.
Don't over-estimate your safety.

B
T
-The voice of experience.

 

[scotrace]

Marcus

My dad is interested in a 1937 Cadillac or 1937 LaSalle, I need to get on the ball and find him one so I can borrow it a lot!

Marcus Brody drove a '38 or '39 Lasalle in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Kind of fun. His was a coupe.

 

[Wild Root]

A friend of mine has a 1940 LaSalle and if you know your cars, that was the last year for that Name. Cadillac dropped the LaSalle name after 1940.

When my friend got it, the paint was shot. It was really bad so, he sanded it down and preped it for paint. He had a buddy come over and spray it OD green. He thought it cheaper and fun to make it a WWII staff car. I haven't seen it yet, but I'm sure it's looking good.

Root.

 

[scotrace]

Interesting to explore...

I wonder how many (if any) '40 Lasalles became blackout models or were pressed into such service? I'm betting the one you're speaking of will be the only one!

The blackout treatment on the '42 cars that were produced is really neat to see.

 

[Wild Root]

Black out models.

Now if you remember I mentioned that LaSalle ended production in 1940. The black out model cars were just 1942 Model cars with the stainless and chrome painted over with dark paint. They weren't miltary staff cars. The staff car was a four door sedan that was painted OD green with the white star on the side and such.

This is not my buddy's car, but this is a 41 Chrysler that was painted up to be a WWII staff car.

Root.

 

[jamespowers]

Don't over-estimate your safety.

OH, I don't. I just go by what was tested. Yes, they had crash tests in late 1955 as you can see here with people standing around observing.

What we have here is a result of the car running into a few tons of solid concrete at 50 mph. The picture is kind of blurry but the caption reads "56 shows passenger compartment remains intact." The car moved the concrete about a foot from the impact as you can see. No glass was broken, the engine didn't end up in the car and you can still tell it was is a car.
Modern automobiles (excluding large SUVs) could never pass this test at that speed. The engine would most certainly be in the car next to you, the firewall would certainly bend back and break your legs no matter what you are wearing. Crash tests with the minivans and passenger vehicles of today do not pass this test. Good luck getting the doors open as well. Pick your modern marque carefully. Example---2002 Saturn and a concrete barrier with a sign pole.

Don't even ask if this guy survived. Can you say crumple zone?
As for the steel dash, yes they were steel but if you get your hands on a car that the original owner was not cheap purchasing, you could get a padded dash. They make reproductions as well. You could also have seatbelts if you wish. They are reproduced to the exact pattern and colors. The same is true of my 59 Olds and my truck. It is just a matter of how far back you go and which car you choose.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

American manufacturers were dragged kicking and screaming into developing safer cars. If it was not for European firms like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, etc who knows how safe cars would be today. In the 1930's, 40's and even into the 50's people's survivability in car crashes was just sort of a non-issue. Sort of like the safety of smoking was thought of back then. Almost nobody in the 30's or the 40's wore seatbelts, it was rare for a car to have them. Padded dashes and safer steering wheels were largely an innovation of the 50's, as was safety glass for car windshields.

Even so, European cars were still usually ahead of the curve. My 1986 Mercedes E-class has more safety features than most American cars of the 1990's.

By the way, I sort of doubt that Saturn hit that pole at 50mph. Something obviously went very, very wrong there.

 

[BellyTank]

Volvo invented the seat belt as we know it today and refused to patent the design as they thought it a matter of public safety rather than a way to make revenue. The point with car safety is not about damage to the car, it's about the people inside. Inertia is the problem- what happens when the car stops in a millisecond from 50mph to zero and your body is still doing 50. Human flesh and metal are incompatible at high speed. I don't even understand why someone would try to defend the safety of older cars over new ones. I'm amazed at how the thought of using restraints seems so unappealing to some drivers.
One day, you'll wish you had been wearing one. Hopefully later rather than sooner.

B
T

 

[scotrace]

Right You Are

The black out model cars were just 1942 Model cars with the stainless and chrome painted over with dark paint.

Absolutely. Factory blackout models were 1942 and above (some vehicles, mainly farm trucks, were produced during the war). But I believe I remember that one could buy aftermarket blackout kits to tone down the family grocery-getter. Surely a Lasalle or two got that treatment. Cars were "blacked out" in war production to conserve needed metals for the war effort, and to avoid becoming a sitting duck in an air raid.
If you can get your hands on a copy of any issue of "Motor" magazine from the war years, it's a fascinating read. This was the magazine aimed at the automotive industry. Tire shortages made for some ingenious conservation ideas. There was also the problem of salespeople who had no new cars to sell, and a crippling mechanic shortage (many were drafted).
As a side note, have you ever seen the pictures of the Duesenburgs, V-16 Cadillacs, Packards, Cords, etc, that were dontaed for the scrap drives? I saw a picture of a Duesey sitting on the scales, tires removed, ready to be scrapped. Sort of makes one ill.

 

[BellyTank]

Seconded!

It seems there is an abundance of potential and material here.

B
T

 

[Michaelson]

why? Discussions seem to be selective. Regards. Michaelson

 

[BellyTank]

Michaelson?

Someone here bent your bumper out of shape?
Is it the "deaf ears" syndrome?

I'm listening...

B
T

 

[Michaelson]

I've already deleted my post. It's interesting to read all the followup posts talking about safety and the problems with the old cars that echo exactly what I wrote, and mine was based on personal daily driving experiences with my 50 Special Deluxe that is regularily on my 20 mile round trips to work 52 weeks a year in ALL types of weather. So, why bother? I'll take my car discussions to the car forum I frequent, and just enjoy driving my daily driver. There are 4 classics on my property now, and all 1950 and earlier.

Thanks for asking, BH.

You can all carry on now.

Regards. Michaelson

 

[Dismuke]

I've already deleted my post. It's interesting to read all the followup posts talking about safety and the problems with the old cars that echo exactly what I wrote, and mine was based on personal daily driving experiences with my 50 Special Deluxe that is regularily on my 20 mile round trips to work 52 weeks a year in ALL types of weather. So, why bother?

So you take offense over the fact that other people agree with and reinforce what you said?

Huhhhhh?

Most people I know actually like it when other people agree with what they say.

All I can say is you must have a pretty charmed life if something like that gets you even mildly upset.