LaSalle was a brand created by Alfred Sloan of General Motors and designed by the recently recruited, Harley Earl, to fill the niche between Buick and Cadillac. It represents the introduction of the stylists era towards design and production. Manufactured and sold by the Cadillac division, the rapid design pace and innovations by other GM nameplates as well as fierce competition from rival manufacturers such as Packard blurred the distinction. Even though LaSalle had outsold and in fact ensured the survival of the Cadillac brand, in the midst of a deep recession, the decision was made in 1940 to discontinue the brand. This 1937 LaSalle Touring Sedan featured a 322 cubic inch V8 engine shared by the Cadillac and luxury items for the time such as fog lamps, grille guards, a clock and a heater.
