LaSalle

US, 1927 – 1940

Cadillac Motor Car Co, Detroit, Mich.

Launched as a smaller and less expensive running-mate for the Cadillac, the LaSalle car was conceived in its entirety by General Motors’ stylist Harley J. Earl – a very unusual practice for the period. Unlike other makers ‘cheap lines’, the LaSalle car was manufactured to Cadillac standards throughout, though the wheelbase of the La Salle car was 7in shorter and at $2.495 a La Salle sedan was about $700 cheaper. The engine of the La Salle car was an sv V8 of 5-litres’ capacity. Synchromesh, safety glass and chromium plating were innovations of La Salle cars shared with Cadillac in 1929 and the La Salle car grew steadily in size: first to 5.4 litres, then to 5.6-litres, with a further increase to 5.8-litres in 1930. The whole concept of La Salle cars was changed in 1934 – though the La Salle car was the guinea-pig for the turret-top steel bodies to be used in 1935 by all G.M. divisions save Buick, the La Salle car was cheapened in other respects, having a 4.2-litre straight-8 engine as used in the bigger Oldsmobiles. The price of the La Salle car was $1.595 (£725 in England). A reversion was made to the traditional V8 in 1937, the La Salle cars sharing body shells with Oldsmobile and the more expensive Buicks, and the price of the La Salle car was cut again to $1.205. The La Salle car was squeezed out of the market by the lower list prices of the simpler Cadillac models. The 1940 La Salle cars were as good as their predecessors but at $1.446 as against $1.752 for a Cadillac, there was no longer room for the La Salle car marque.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS

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Rauch & Lang

US, 1905 – 1928

(1) Rauch & Lang Carriage Co, Cleveland, Ohio, 1905 – 1916

(2) Baker, Rauch & Lang Co, Cleveland, Ohio, 1916 – 1922

(3) Rauch & Lang Electric Car Manufacturing Co, Chicopee Falls, Mass., 1922 – 1928

Rauch & Lang were an old-established carriage building firm (founded 1853) when they began to make electric Rauch & Lang cars in 1905. These Rauch & Lang cars followed the usual pattern for such electric vehicles, being mainly closed town cars, although a few open phaeton Rauch & Lang cars were also made. The biggest Rauch & Lang cars were heavier vehicles and included a six-seater limousine with separate outside seat for the chauffeur. Some Rauch & Lang cars had 4-doors, a very unusual feature in electric cars. In 1916 the Rauch & Lang cars became part of the Baker, Rauch & Lane group and production declined. From 1919 onwards the Rauch & Lang cars were sometimes listed as Raulangs, and from 1922 this became the official name of the Rauch & Lang cars.

By this time production of Rauch & Lang cars had been transferred to the Stevens-Duryea factory at Chicopee Falls where the number of private cars made was very small. The factory, which was still turning out a few Stevens-Duryeas, also made petrol and electric taxi-cabs under the name Rauch & Lang cars, and bodies for Stanley Steamers.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; GNG

The information is written with the greatest of care. However, if you have any suggested amendments please contact us at office@prewarcar.com