LaSalle Models & History (1937)
The Series 37-50 replaced the 36-50
- There were only minor body changes
- Die-cast eggcrate grille
- Hood louver treatment featuring rectangular lines
- Headlights attached lower on the radiator casing
- New front fenders with higher rear halves and a lengthwise crease along the top surface
- Bumpers carrying the LaSalle insignia
- Entire rear quarter window pivoted
- Windshields had a 39 degree slope and a deeper vee
- 1937 LaSalle bodies were constructed entirely of steel
- The line now included a convertible sedan
- The big change for 1937 was the return to a V-8 engine — the 322-cubic inch unit was the same as used in the 1936 Cadillac Series 60
- The engine shared all the changes made in other 1937 Cadillac V-8s.
- Unique to the LaSalle and the Cadillac Series 60 was the relocation of the exhaust down-pipe to the front of the right-hand cylinder block and the use of a single muffler
- Chassis changes, common to LaSalle and Cadillac Series 60 included use of hypoid rear axle, addition of front stabilizer bar, new steering box with shaft out of bottom
- A LaSalle commercial chassis with 160-3/8 inch wheelbase was offered. This, and all Cadillac commercial chassis, featured one-piece side rails in the frame
I.D. DATA
- Serial numbers were on the top surface of the frame side bar, left side, just ahead of the dash
- Engine numbers were the same as the serial number and were located on the crankcase, just behind the left cylinder block
- Starting: 2230001; ending 2262005
STYLE
Fisher 124″ Wheelbase | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Style No. | Doors | Body Type | Seating | Price | Weight |
37-5011 | 2 | Touring Sedan | 5 | $1105 | 3780 lb |
37-5019 | 4 | Touring Sedan | 5 | $1145 | 3810 lb |
37-5049 | 2 | Convertible Sedan | 5 | $1485 | 3850 lb |
37-5067 | 2 | Convertible Coupe | 2 | $1175 | 3715 lb |
37-5027 | 2 | Sport Coupe | 2 | $ 995 | 3675 lb |
ENGINE
- Type: Inline, L-head, 8-cylinders
- Block: Cast iron (blocks cast enbloc with crankcase)
- Bore & Stroke: 3.00 x 4.375 inches
- Displacement: 248 cu. in.
- Compression ratio: 6.25:1 (5.75:1 opt)
- Brake horsepower: 105 @ 3600 rpm
- Taxable Horsepower: 28.8
- Main bearings: five
- Valve lifters: Mechanical
- Carburetor: Stromberg EE-15 Duplex downdraft
CHASSIS
- Wheelbase: 124 inches (160-3/8″ commercial)
- Overall length: 201-1/4 inches (237-7/8″ commercial)
- Front tread: 58 inches
- Rear tread: 59 inches
- Tires: 7.00×16
DRIVETRAIN
- Transmission: Selective synchromesh
- Speeds: 3 forward, 1 reverse
- Left-hand drive, center controls (rhd opt)
- Handbrake at left, under panel
- Single plate dry disc clutch
- Shaft drive, Hotchkiss
- Semi-floating rear axle, Hypoid gearing.
- Overall ratio: 3.92:1
- Hydraulic brakes on four wheels
- Disc wheels
- Wheel size: 16″
OPTIONS
HISTORICAL NOTES
1937 LaSalle Notes
- Introduced November 1936
- Model year sales: 32,005
- Model year production: 32,005
- Nicholas Dreystadt was general manager
- Ernest W. Seaholm was chief engineer
- William Mitchell was chief designer (Cadillac Studio)
- Don E. Ahrens was general sales manager
1937 Automotive Notes
- Industry production rises slightly to 3,915,889 cars and 893,085 trucks
- Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. was president of GM until May when William S. Knudsen became president
- Lammot du Pont was chairman of the board at GM until May when Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. became chairman of the board
- Oldsmobile introduces a semi-automatic called Safety Automatic Transmission
- This is the last year for Cord
- LaFayette becomes the Nash
- Pierce-Arrow files for bankruptcy
- Chrysler features a seat that not only moves back and forth, but also up and down
- Studebaker features windshield washers
- Buick features the first steering-wheel horn ring
- Chevrolet introduces the Master and Master DeLuxe
- A Ford V-8 wins the Monte Carlo Rally
- Top model year production for 1937
1. Ford 942,005 … increased 11,000 2. Chevrolet 815,375 … decreased 103,000 3. Plymouth 551,994 … increased 31,000 4. Dodge 295,047 … increased over 32,000 5. Pontiac 236,189 … increased 60,000 units 6. Buick 220,346 … increased 52,000 7. Oldsmobile 79,830 … decreased 111,000 8. Packard 122,593 … (doubled) an increase of 61,566 9. Chrysler 106,120 … increased 47,000 10. Studebaker 98,000 … increased 42,000 11. Terraplane 90,253 … increased 3,000 12. DeSoto 81,775 … (doubled) an increase of 41,000 13. Nash 77,000 … increased 34,000 14. Willys 63,467 … (doubled) an increase of 32,000 15. LaSalle 32,000 … (doubled plus) an increase of 19,000 16. Lincoln 30,875 … (doubled) an increase of 14,000 17. Hudson 20,464 … decreased 6,000 18. Graham 18,219 … decreased 1,000 19. Cadillac 14,152 … increased 1,272