1938 LASALLE

CHASSIS
DRIVETRAIN
ENGINE
HISTORICAL
ID
OPTIONS
PHOTOS
STYLE

The Series 38-50 replaced the Series 37-50

The 1938 LaSalle was much the same as the 1937 model with only a few changes
The most notable change was that the front-opening "alligator" hood and the column gearshift common to the full Cadillac line.
The grille remained eggcrate style but was two inches wider.
Hood louvers were longer and more visible, due to the fact that the headlights were mounted low, on the sheet metal between the fenders and the grille.
Chevrons were deleted from the nose of the front fenders
If used, sidemount covers were hinged on the fenders
Horns were mounted just behind the grille
The battery was under the hood on the right-hand side but was removed from under the fender.

I.D. DATA

Serial numbers were on the left frame side bar, at the rear of the left front motor support
Engine numbers were the same as the serial number and were located on the crankcase, just behind the left cylinder block
Starting: 2270001; ending 2285501

STYLE

Fisher 124" Wheelbase
Style No.	Doors	Body Type	Seating	Price	Weight
38-5027	2	Sport Coupe	2	$1295	3745 lb
38-5067	2	Convertible Coupe	2	$1415	3735 lb
38-5049	4	Convertible Sedan	5	$1820	3870 lb
38-5011	2	Touring Sedan	5	$1340	3800 lb
38-5019	4	Touring Sedan	5	$1380	3830 lb

ENGINE

Type: Inline, L-head, 8-cylinders
Block: Cast iron (blocks cast enbloc with crankcase)
Bore & Stroke: 3-3/8 x 4.5 inches
Displacement: 322 cu. in.
Compression ratio: 6.25:1
Brake horsepower: 125 @ 3400 rpm
Taxable Horsepower: 36.45
Main bearings: three
Valve lifters: Hydraulic
Carburetor: Stromberg AAV-25, Carter WDO392s

CHASSIS

Wheelbase: 124 inches (160" commercial)
Overall length: 201 inches
Front tread: 58 inches
Rear tread: 59 inches
Tires: 7.00x16

DRIVETRAIN

Transmission: Selective synchromesh (manual)
Speeds: 3 forward, 1 reverse
Left-hand drive, gearshift on column (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

Automatic battery filler: $7.50
Clock: $12.50
Flexible steering wheel: $15.00
Foglights: $17.50/pair
Heater: $26.50-42.50
Radio (master): $79.50
Radio (standard): $65.00
Seat cover(s): $7.50 per seat
Spotlight: $18.50
Trim rings: $1.50 each
Wheel discs: $4.00 each

HISTORICAL NOTES

1938 LaSalle Notes

Introduced October 1937
Model year sales and production: 15,501
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

1938 Automotive Notes

Industry production drops to 2,000,985 cars and 488,100 trucks
William S. Knudsen was president of GM
Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. was chairman of the board at GM
Terraplane becomes a Hudson
Hupmobile is back in business
Steering column gearshift lever introduced
Nash introduces "Weather-Eye" which conditions, heats, and filters air
Buick and others use coil-spring rear suspension
Oldsmobile offers side-mounted spare tires for the last time
Raymond Loewy restyles Studebaker
GM creates the Y-Job dream car on a 1937 Buick chassis

Top model year production for 1938

1. Chevrolet	465,158	... decreased 350,000
2. Ford	410,263	... decreased 532,000
3. Plymouth	279,338	... decreased 272,000
4. Buick	168,689	... decreased 53,000
5. Dodge	114,529	... decreased 80,000
6. Pontiac	97,139	... decreased 139,000
7. Oldsmobile	85,045	... increased 5,000
8. Packard	55,718	... decreased 67,000
9. Chrysler	52,949	... decreased 53,000
10. Hudson	50,270	... increased 30,000
11. Studebaker	46,787	... decreased 51,000
12. Nash	41,542	... decreased 35,000
13. DeSoto	38,831	... decreased 43,000
14. Lincoln	19,626	... decreased 11,000
15. LaSalle	14,635	... decreased 17,000
16. Willys	13,500	... decreased 50,000
17. Cadillac	9,268	... decreased 4,884
18. Graham	5,020	... decreased 13,000
19. Hupmobile	2,001	...
20. American Bantam	2,000	...

PHOTOS

1938 LaSalle

1938 LaSalle model 5027 Opera coupe (Owner: Warren and Sylvia Lauridsen)

1938 LaSalle

1938 LaSalle model 5027 Opera coupe interior (Owner: Warren and Sylvia Lauridsen)

1938 LaSalle

1938 LaSalle model 5027 Opera coupe (Owner: Warren and Sylvia Lauridsen)

1938 LaSalle

1938 LaSalle

1938 LaSalle

1938 LaSalle Series 50 2-door

LITERATURE & LINKS