help identifying 1930s car in U.S.

[WiseGuyGoomba]

I'm trying to determine what make/model/year of car my grandfather drove. Here's a link:


http://img136.imageshack.us/my.php?i...unknownlz9.jpg

This photo was taken around 1941. Any help would be appreciated.

WiseGuyG

[MagicRat]

It is a LaSalle, 1938.
This was a General Motors brand, positioned in the market to be a 'companion' brand for Cadillac, built to Cadillac standards but slightly less expensive.

Look here for more info.

[pint4]

I agree with it being a LaSalle. I believe it to be a 1936. based on the grille design and the chrome strips on the fender and down low on either side of the grille shell. The 38 has a different grille design.
Bob

[WiseGuyGoomba]

Thanks, guys. I confirmed with my uncle today that it was a LaSalle. He doubts it could be as late as a 1938, since times were hard for a farmer in the South just after the depression, and it is unlikely grandpa would have owned a 2 year old car (the photo was from late '40 or sometime in '41). 1936 is a possibility, according to him. Is there a way to tell if this was the 2 door or 4 door model from the picture provided?

Has anyone ever attempted to track down the history of a car this age, solely through a state DMV? I wonder how far back they keep info on vehicle registrations... I know every state differs. Though probably next to impossible to determine, I'm curious to find out what became of this gorgeous ride. All I would have is the owner's name, address, and approximate years of registration.

Thanks again for your help!

[MagicRat]

1936 is possible,
http://www.car-nection.com/cadillacd...xt/Las1936.htm

DOT records quite often do not go back that far. They may give you some records. But only a tiny fraction of cars survive more that 20 years or so so more than likely it was scrapped. Most likely, this car was scrapepd for the following reasons:

Remember, WWII stopped all car production from about 1941 through 1946 or so. Even afterwards, new cars were pretty scarce, so the cars of the 1930's ended up being used hard for many years. People used them, they did not save them. Scrap metal prices were high during WWII and the Korean war, and at that time, people had little interest in preserving 1930's cars, so many were not kept, but were scrapped.

Also, back in the 1950's, many LaSalles were parted out because their transmissions were very popular among early hot-rodders in the late '40's through the '50's.