Mario's Tribute to the 1955 Cadillac LaSalle II Roadster Concept Car

1 In the mid-fifties, some executives at GM decided to revive the old LaSalle nameplate which was an old sister brand to Cadillac.

2 Harley Earl took a great interest in the LaSalle Concept Car and had his team draft up two different models. One was the small roadster you see here which was launched alongside a 6-passenger sport coupe.

3 Unusual traits included open rear wheels, a vertical slatted grill, side exhausts and floating Dagmar Bumperettes. Original ad for the 1955 LaSalle.

4 Buck Rogers was responsible for the styling of new LaSalle’s and he used some daring design cues as well as some from LaSalle’s earlier production cars.

5 The 1955 LaSalle II Roadster was one of General Motors star cars featured at the General Motors Motorama in 1955 that served to showcase the car designs of the future.

6 1955 Cadillac LaSalle on display at the GM Motorama in NYC. The fiberglass body rested on a custom-built steel frame with an independent suspension utilizing torsion bars in the front.

7 Concept Cars at the 1955 GM Motorama Car Show in NYC. In 1955 Harley Earl's Art & Color Section created two Cadillac LaSalle II dream cars for display in their GM Motorama Car Shows.

8 The engineers came up with a uni-body construction that relied on strength coming from the side sills of the chassis.

9 GM Motorama specialist Joe Bortz found the LaSalle II Roadster in unrestored condition in the late 80’s at the Warhoops Salvage Yard in Michigan.

10 Finding this car was quite a discovery as the Concept car was originally ordered to be destroyed by GM Management.

11 Years ago both the LaSalle ‘dream cars’ were quietly tucked away into a corner of the Warhoops Salvage yard until Joe Bortz acquired them in the 1990s.

12 Joe kindly displayed the LaSalle in as-found condition at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours for GM’s 100th anniversary before restoration.

13 Integral brake drums were cast into the wheels. These provided functional cooling but were also stylistic.

14 Beautiful padded interior, lots of legroom and large instruments, radio and heater. Full wrap around curved front windshield were all high points.

15 Comfortable luxurious bucket seats with a center console, power windows and an automatic transmission.

16 Large Speedometer and Tachometer in view for the driver.

17 The Engine is a lightweight compact 2.5 Liter V-6 producing 150 horsepower. Independent suspension, fuel injection and turbine-style wheels with brake drums cast into their center sections.

18 Both cars featured a range of technological advancements including independent suspension, fuel injection and turbine-style wheels.

19 The Roadster had a wheelbase of 99.9 inches, an overall length of 151.7 inches, a height of 42.8 inches and a ground clearance of 5.1 inches.

20 Joe Bortz rescued the 1955 LaSalle Roadster in the Warhoops Junkyard, MI in 1988 and restored it to its original condition.

21 The 1955 Cadillac LaSalle II Roadster was one of General Motors star cars featured at the General Motors Motorama in 1955 that served to showcase the car designs of the future.

22 External-Type brake drums featured cooling fins that were both aesthetic and functional.

23 Open rear wheels of the LaSalle II Roadster evoking images of the first-generation LaSalle designs.

24 The reason the cars were given the LaSalle name was in honor of legendary designer Harley Earl who designed the first LaSalle in 1927.

25 Harley Earl's first project at GM was the 1927 LaSalle. General Motors Cadillac division from 1927 through 1940.

26 The fiberglass body rested on a custom-built steel frame with an independent suspension utilizing torsion bars in the front.

27 Carl Renner was the designer responsible for much of the vehicle's styling. Later, he worked on the re-styled Corvette in 1956.

28 The front grille featured vertical bumpers, bullet guards, and LaS emblems. The Concept Car is on display at the Petersen Auto Museum in California.

29 Hideaway convertible top behind the bucket seats.

30 On display at the Milwaukee Sheraton Hotel. It was painted pearlescent white with contrasting blue concave bodyside ellipses.

31 The restored 1955 Cadillac LaSalle II Roadster. The side coves became a part of future Corvettes.

32 1955 GM Motorama brochure introducing the Cadillac LaSalle Concept Cars.

33 Diecast Model of the 1955 Cadillac LaSalle II Roadster.

34 MINICHAMPS 1955 General Motors LaSalle II Roadster Concept 1-18 scale model.

35 Diecast Model Currently for sale on Ebay for $250 Jan 2025.

36 Diecast Model of the 1955 Cadillac LaSalle II Roadster.

37 1955 Cadillac LaSalle ll 4 door Sedan.

38 1955 Cadillac LaSalle II 4 door Sedan at the 1955 GM Motorama.

39 1927 Cadillac LaSalle Roadster. First one designed and produced by Harley Earl.

40 1940 Cadillac LaSalle. The Last one designed and produced by Harley Earl.