LaSalle Models & History (1929)
The 1929 LaSalle replaced the Series 303 with Series 328
- The Victoria and business coupe were dropped
- A landau cabriolet was added
- The transformable town cabriolet was available with a collapsible quarter
- The convertible imperial sedan (all weather phaeton) was available on special order
- All Fisher bodies except roadster and phaetons were mounted on 134″ wheelbase
- Parking lights were moved to the top of the front fenders
- The brightwork was chrome plated
- Security Plate glass were installed in all windows and windshields
- Closed body interiors 2.5″ wider and 1″ higher
- Adjustable front seat on closed bodies with no division
- Electric tandem windshield wipers
- Oval panel on rear of body, formed by quarter molding
- Duplex-mechanical brakes with all shoes inside drums
- The engine was bored out by another eighth of an inch
- Piston pins pressure lubricated
- Midyear change to metric spark plugs
- Synchromesh transmission
I.D. DATA
- Serial numbers were not used on the 1929 LaSalle
- Engine numbers stamped on a plate on the front face of the dash and on the crankcase just below the water inlet on the right side
- Starting: 400001. Ending: 422961.
STYLE
| Fisher 125″ wheelbase | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Style No. | Doors | Body Type | Seating | Price | Weight |
| 1186 | 2 | Roadster | 2/4 | $2345 | 3990 lb |
| 1185 | 4 | Phaeton | 4 | $2295 | 4140 lb |
| 1185-B | 4 | Sport Phaeton | 4 | $2875 | 4405 lb |
| Fisher 134″ wheelbase | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Style No. | Doors | Body Type | Seating | Price | Weight |
| 8590 | 2 | Coupe | 2/4 | $2495 | 4310 lb |
| 8580 | 2 | Convertible Coupe | 2/4 | $2595 | 4135 lb |
| 8555 | 4 | Family Sedan | 5 | $2450 | 4550 lb |
| 8550 | 4 | Sedan | 5 | $2595 | 4490 lb |
| 8610 | 4 | Town Sedan | 5 | $2675 | —- lb |
| 8615 | 4 | Imperial Town Sedan | 5 | $—- | —- lb |
| 8530 | 4 | Sedan | 7 | $2775 | 4615 lb |
| 8540 | 4 | Imperial | 7 | $2875 | 4760 lb |
| 8570 | 2 | Coupe | 5 | $2625 | 4335 lb |
| 8600 | 4 | Landau Cabriolet | 5 | $2725 | 4635 lb |
| 8605 | 4 | Imperial Landau Cabriolet | 5 | $—- | —- lb |
| Fleetwood 125″ wheelbase | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Style No. | Doors | Body Type | Seating | Price | Weight |
| 3051 | 4 | Transformable Town Cabriolet | 5/7 | $4800 | 5100 lb |
| 3130 | 4 | Town Cabriolet | 5/7 | $4500 | 5100 lb |
| Fleetwood 134″ wheelbase | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Style No. | Doors | Body Type | Seating | Price | Weight |
| 3751 | 4 | Transformable Town Cabriolet | 5/7 | $4900 | 5125 lb |
| 3751-C | 4 | Transformable Town Cabriolet | 5/7 | $—- | —- lb |
| 3780 | 4 | Convertible Imperial Sedan | 5 | $—- | —- lb |
ENGINE
- Engine type: 90° V-8 L-head
- Block: Cast iron offset on copper/aluminum crankcase
- Bore & Stroke: 3-1/4″ x 4-15/16″
- Displacement: 328 cu. in.
- Compression ratio: 5.3 : 1 (4.8 : 1 optional)
- Horsepower: about 80
- SAE/Taxable/NACC Horsepower: 33.8
- Main bearings: 3
- Valve lifters: mechanical with rollers riding on cam
- Carburetor: Made by Cadillac under C. F. Johnson patents
- Torque Compression: 105-107 psi at 1000 rpm and 5.3:1 ratio
- Torque Compression: 90-92 psi at 1000 rpm and 4.8:1 ratio
CHASSIS
| Feature | 125″ Wheelbase | 134″ Wheelbase |
|---|---|---|
| Overall length | 185″ | 196-5/8″ |
| Front Tread | 56″ | 56″ |
| Rear Tread | 58″ | 58″ |
| Tires | 6.50-19 (31 x 6.20) | 6.50-19 (31 x 6.20) |
DRIVETRAIN
- Selective sliding gear transmission, in unit with engine
- Speeds: 3-Forward, 1-Reverse
- Left-hand drive, center controls (rhd opt)
- Twin disc clutch
- Shaft drive (torque tube) 3/4-floating rear axle, helical bevel drive
- Overall ratio: 4.54:1 std (4.07:1, 4.91:1 opt)
- Duplex-mechanical brakes on four wheels, all shoes internal, 15″ drums on all wheels
- Artillery wheels (wire and disc opt)
- Wheel size: 19″
OPTIONS
- Colored fenders
- Disc wheels
- Fender wells
- Heater: $40
- “LaSalle” radiator ornament: $12
- Seat covers: $30-230
- Tire covers: $5 – $12
- Tonneau windshield: $185
- Trunks: $60-100
- Wire wheels
HISTORICAL NOTES
1929 LaSalle Notes
- Introduced August 1928
- Introduced synchromesh transmission
- Featured safety glass
- Model year sales: 22,961
- Model year production: 22,961
- President & general manager: Lawrence P. Fisher
- Ernest W. Seaholm was chief engineer
- H. M. Stephens was general sales manager
1929 Automotive Notes
- Industry production increases to 4,455,178 cars and 881,909 trucks
- Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. was president of GM
- Pierre S. du Pont was chairman of the board at GM until February when Lammot du Pont became chairman of the board
- Stock market crashes in October to begin the Great Depression
- The Ford Model A is a big success
- Chevrolet brings out a 6-cyl
- Oldsmobile introduces the short-lived Viking
- Buick introduces the Marquette
- Duesenberg introduces the Model J which runs 187 km/h at the Indianapolis Speedway
- The luxury market is filled with Cord L-29, Ruxton, Marmon, Stutz, Lincoln, Packard, Pierce-Arrow, Auburn, as well as the Viking and Duesenberg
- DeSoto goes on sale with a record 81,065 first year sales.
- Chrysler introduces the Fargo
- David Dunbar Buick died (1854-1929)
- Walter C. White died
- Top model year production for 1929
1. Ford 1,507,132 … increased almost 900,000 2. Chevrolet 1,328,605 … increased over 135,000 3. Hudson/Essex 300,962 … increased over 18,000 4. Chrysler 244,921 … increased over 84,000 (including Plymouth & Fargo) 5. Willys-Overland/Whippet 242,000 … decreased 73,000 6. Pontiac/Oakland 211,054 … decreased 33,000 units 7. Buick 196,104 … decreased over 25,000 8. Dodge 124,557 … 9. Nash 116,622 … decreased over 21,000 10. DeSoto 81,065 … a record first year start 11. Cadillac/LaSalle 36,598 … decreased over 4000
1929 LaSalle Photo Gallery
Keyword: LaSalle (1929)