LaSalle Models & History (1931)
The Series 345-A replaced the Series 340 this year
- The straight sill was retained
- The hood louvers were retained until mid-model when they were replaced by doors, but the cowl doors did not match the hood doors
- Radiator screen was an option
- New oval instrument panel featured with a different grouping from the Cadillac 355
- Single bar bumper is quickest way to distinguish a 1931 Series 345 from the 1930 Series 340.
- Metal covers installed on the springs
- Radiator positioned vertical instead of sloping to the rear
- An intake muffler is installed
- Three-point engine mounting retained
- The distributor is 1.5 inches lower than on the Cadillac 355
I.D. DATA
- Serial numbers were not used on the 1931 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: 900001. Ending: 910103.
STYLE
| Fisher 134″ wheelbase | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Style No. | Doors | Body Type | Seating | Price | Weight |
| 31652 | 4 | Town Sedan | 5 | $2345 | 4565 lb |
| 31658 | 2 | Coupe | 2/4 | $2195 | 4470 lb |
| 31659 | 4 | Sedan | 5 | $2295 | 4650 lb |
| 31662 | 4 | Sedan | 7 | $2475 | 4750 lb |
| 31663 | 4 | Imperial Sedan | 7 | $2595 | 4825 lb |
| 31668 | 2 | Convertible Coupe | 2/4 | $2295 | 4440 lb |
| 31672 | 2 | Coupe | 5 | $2295 | 4490 lb |
| Fleetwood 134″ wheelbase | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Style No. | Doors | Body Type | Seating | Price | Weight |
| 4602 | 2 | Roadster | 2/4 | $2245 | 4345 lb |
| 4657 | 4 | Transformable | 7 | $2345 | 4440 lb |
| 4680 | 4 | All-weather Phaeton | 5 | $3245 | 4675 lb |
| n/a | 4 | Sedanette | 5 | $3245 | 4650 lb |
| n/a | 4 | Sedanette Cabriolet | 5 | $3245 | 4675 lb |
ENGINE
- Engine type: 90° V-8 L-head
- Block: Cast iron on aluminum crankcase
- Bore & Stroke: 3-3/8″ x 4-15/16″
- Displacement: 353 cu. in.
- Compression ratio: 5.35 : 1 (5.25: 1 optional)
- Brake Horsepower: over 95 @ 3000 rpm
- SAE/Taxable/NACC Horsepower: 36.45
- Main bearings: 3
- Valve lifters: mechanical
- Carburetor: Cadillac/Johnson with intake silencer
CHASSIS
- Wheelbase: 134 inches
- Overall length: 202 inches
- Height: 72.5 inches
- Front tread: 57.25 inches
- Rear tread: 59.5 inches
- Tires: 6.50 x 19 (7.00 x 18 opt on 7-passenger sedan)
DRIVETRAIN
- Selective synchromesh transmission
- Speeds: 3-Forward, 1-Reverse
- Left-hand drive, center controls (rhd opt)
- Twin disc clutch
- Shaft drive (torque tube) 3/4-floating rear axle, spiral bevel drive
- Overall ratio: 4.75:1 std (4.07:1, 4.54:1 opt)
- Mechanical brakes on four wheels (15″ drums on all wheels)
- Wood artillery wheels
- Wheel size: 19″
OPTIONS
- Auxiliary lights: $37.50-75.00
- Heater: $41-55
- Heron or Goddess ornament: $20
- Mirrors: $32.00/pair
- Radiator screen: $33
- Radio: (price on application)
- Seat covers: $25.75-73.50
- Tire cover(s): $5-40
- Tonneau windshield: $185
- Trunks: $100-119
- Wind wings: $25.00-47.50
HISTORICAL NOTES
1931 LaSalle Notes
- Introduced August 1930
- Model year sales: 10,103
- Model year production: 10,103
- Lawrence P. Fisher was president
- Ernest W. Seaholm was chief engineer
- J. C. Chick was general sales manager
1931 Automotive Notes
- Industry production dropped another million to 2,038,183 cars and 434,176 trucks
- Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. was president of GM
- Lammot du Pont was chairman of the board at GM
- Chrysler introduces its first 8-cyl engine
- Last year for Oakland, but Pontiac continues
- Studebaker started “free-wheeling” but now it is offered by Auburn, Chrysler, DeSoto, DeVaux, Dodge, Essex, Graham, Hudson, Hupmobile, Lincoln, Marmon, Peerless, Pierce-Arrow, Plymouth, and Willys
- Startix (a device to restart a stalled engine) is offered on several makes
- Oldsmobile first to adopt “Synchro-Mesh” transmission
- Packard and others offer shock-absorber adjustments from the dashboard
- Last year for the Model A
- B. B. Ellerbeck patents a retractable hardtop convertible
- Top model year production for 1931
| 1. Chevrolet | 619,554 | … decreased 21,000 |
| 2. Ford | 615,455 | … decreased over 525,000 |
| 3. Buick | 138,965 | … decreased nearly 43,000 |
| 4. Plymouth | 106,986 | … increased 30,000 |
| 5. Studebaker | 96,173 | … decreased 27,000 |
| 6. Pontiac | 84,708 | … increased 22,000 units |
| 7. Willys | 65,800 | … increased 36,000 |
| 8. Chrysler | 65,500 | … decreased 12,000 |
| 9. Dodge | 52,364 | … decreased 38,000 |
| 10. Essex | 47,418 | … decreased 21,000 |
| 11. Oldsmobile | 47,277 | … increased 2,000 |
| 12. Nash | 37,386 | … decreased 26,000 |
| 13. Auburn | 36,148 | … increased 22,000 |
| 14. DeSoto | 32,580 | … about the same as 1930 |
| 15. Graham | 28,428 | … increased 5,000 |
| 16. Hudson | 22,246 | … increased 14,000 |
| 17. Hupmobile | 17,451 | … increased 5,000 |
| 18. Packard | 15,450 | … decreased 21,000 |
| 19. Cadillac | 15,196 | … decreased 2,000 |
| 20. Oakland | 13,408 | … decreased 8,000 |
| 21. Whippet | 13,400 | … decreased 17,000 |
| 22. LaSalle | 10,095 | … decreased 5,000 |
| 23. Reo | 6,762 | … decreased 5,000 |
| 24. Marmon | 5,687 | … increased 1,000 |
| 25. Pierce-Arrow | 4,500 | … decreased 5,000 |
| 26. Lincoln | 3,556 | … about the same as 1930 |
| 27. Franklin | 2,851 | … decreased 3,000 |
| 28. Cord | 1,433 | … about the same as 1930 |
| 29. American Austin | 1,279 | … decreased 7,000 |
1931 LaSalle Photo Gallery
Keyword: LaSalle (1931)