1937 LaSalle Series 50 Convertible Coupe

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

Charles Griffin’s lifelong love affair with American cars began at sixteen when he restored a dusty blue Studebaker. The passion he had for that car followed him through the rest of his life. Over the years, the scale of his garage and projects grew in step with his love for cars. Ultimately, Charles built his own restoration paradise, complete with a paint room, body shop, show room and features that most gear heads only dream about. His sanctuary became a second home to his family and friends. The selection of fine automobiles offered here represents the passion, drive, and memories that Charles shared. Hagerty Marketplace is honored to present the Griffin Collection, offered entirely without reserve.   

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“Here is a car that offers the prestige of Cadillac at a moderate price.” The 1937 LaSalle Series 50 Convertible Coupe was a striking example of General Motors’ ambition to offer a stylish, mid-priced luxury car under the Cadillac umbrella. Designed under Harley Earl’s leadership, the 1937 model featured a dramatic restyling with a narrower, deeper vertical grille, streamlined headlamp pods, and a raked windshield at 24 degrees, enhancing its Art Deco elegance.   Built on a 124-inch wheelbase, the Series 50 shared its body shell and engineering with Cadillac, including a 322-cubic-inch monoblock V8 engine that delivered 125 horsepower. This engine, derived from Cadillac’s Series 60, marked a significant upgrade from the previous year’s inline-eight. The car also featured a three-speed synchromesh transmission, hydraulic brakes, and a Hypoid rear axle, offering a refined driving experience.  

The Convertible Coupe was among several body styles available, and its blend of performance and luxury helped LaSalle double its sales from the previous year. It even served as the official pace car for the 1937 Indianapolis 500, driven by racing legend Ralph De Palma.  

Though LaSalle would be discontinued by 1940, the 1937 Series 50 remains a celebrated icon of pre-war American automotive and Art Deco design. 

Highlights 

• Offered from The Griffin Collection 

• Stylish Convertible Coupe body by Fisher 

• 322 cu-in Cadillac-built V8 

• Three-speed synchromesh transmission 

Features 

• Rumble seat 

• Hydraulic brakes 

• Hypoid rear axle 

• Raked 24-degree windshield 

• Streamlined headlamp pods  

Known Imperfections 

• Please note that all of the lots in The Griffin Collection have been stored in a climate-controlled facility for four years without operation. The Hagerty Marketplace Team has confirmed that this vehicle starts and runs, however, as a result of their extended static display, all lots will benefit from additional mechanical attention before being driven to address any imperfections associated with long-term storage or individual preferences. All lots are sold as is, where is. 

• Door leather is patinated; interior carpets are likely original, and very worn; seat leather is patinaed; passenger-side seat-frame leather is split 

Ownership History    This 1937 LaSalle Series 50 Convertible Coupe is offered from The Griffin Collection of no reserve automobiles.  

Additional Notes  

A Broad Arrow Auctions Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. Broad Arrow Auctions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty.   

Contact: Cason Vogel   Phone: 904.504.7848   email: cvogel@hagerty.com