1940 Cadillac Lasalle

This car’s chassis number is: 40-52191.

According to our limited research (which is never infallible, we should add), that makes this car a 1940 LaSalle (series 40-52) special two-door touring sedan – with a body by Fisher and an interior by Fleetwood.

In common with many vehicles from the vendor’s collection, this car comes with an abridged history and few service records.

But it does have a wad of bills, invoices and receipts, plus photographs of a major restoration carried out in (we think) 2012, when the car was living in Massachusetts.

Prior to that, the car was silver in colour and was alive and well in Columbus, Ohio, in 1991 and, some time after that, in Brooklyn, New York.

We believe the interior – upholstery, headlining, door cards, carpets, etc – was restored in 2011.

It seems to have spent much of its later life gainfully employed as a car for weddings, proms, etc.

We know that it entered the vendor’s static display collection in 2015.

Today, the car’s odometer reads 87,732 miles.

Overall, this handsome car presents very well indeed.

The bodywork is largely free of any dinks, dents, creases, ripples or folds of note.

The white paintwork is good, too, and the panels and shut lines seem consistent and even.

The doors slam home with impressive weight and precision.

The wheels are good and all the chrome hub caps (which are in the boot) are shiny and bright.

The chrome and badging has held up pretty well and is largely free of foxing and pitting.

The front bumper is drooping down slightly towards the n/s and the chrome grille to the o/s of the main grill has popped out.

There is a rusty streak running down from underneath the n/s headlamp and a rust stain on the sill below the o/s/f door.

Both rear wheel arches have a small scuff on them. There are some scratches on top of the n/s/f wing.

Apart from that, it’s all rather good.

The interior condition is equally impressive.

The upholstery is in excellent condition and needs only to be briefly acquainted with a damp cloth to remove some scuff marks around the seat bases.

The seats are comfortable, supportive and functional, front and back.

The headlining is fine, as are the door cards, carpets and mats.

The dashboard, steering wheel and gear selector are all in good nick. We think it's a 3-speed manual.

We can’t make any claims about the functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t tried to start the vehicle.

Lifting up the carpets here or in the boot reveals…..nothing to worry about, as far as we can see.

In general, the undersides seem to have a good degree of structural integrity.

There is little more than just superficial rust dust in evidence.

You will, of course, want to see for yourself and reach your own conclusion.

The engine bay is clean and dry and everything appears to be in its right and proper place.

The car doesn’t come with a continuous service history or comprehensive records of work done.

It does, however, have photographic evidence of a major restoration, and a paper trail that covers plenty of time, money and care invested in this fine vehicle.

Currently, this car has neither an MoT certificate nor a current V5.

It must be registered in the country of your choice and you will need to contact the appropriate vehicle licensing agency for instructions on how to do this. Any paperwork shown in the gallery is a facsimile and in no way constitutes any kind of licensing or registration certification.

With the proviso that we can’t vouch for the car’s mechanical and electrical status, we think this 40-52 series 1940 Cadillac LaSalle is a fine example of a rare and distinguished model.

It has clearly been restored to a high standard over a decade ago and now needs a little TLC to get it back to its no-doubt magnificent best.

If the car proves to be as dynamically and functionally impressive as it looks, then this should be a very rewarding car to own, drive and simply enjoy.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £8,000 - £14,000 plus Bonhams bond payment and £250 NOVA fee.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.