LaSalle may have been Cadillac’s “junior marque,” but in its early years, it was available with many of its older sibling’s coachbuilt bodies, courtesy of Fleetwood, the Pennsylvania coachbuilder that GM had acquired and, in 1930, moved lock, stock, and staff to Detroit to exclusively work on Cadillacs and LaSalles. The 1930 catalogue of Fleetwood bodies for LaSalle included various elegant styles, including a large variety of open cars, all with dramatic names that indicated both the fleetness of their lines and the identity of their coachbuilder.

The car offered here, engine number 605131, carries the five-passenger Phaeton body, known as the Fleetshire. While this is not the original body to this chassis, inspection shows considerable original woodwork in the floors, indicating that it may well be an original Fleetwood body. The interior boasts custom cabinetry in the rear compartment and elegant black leather upholstery, all of which, like the Boulevard Maroon and Black paintwork, is still in very nice condition with only minor blemishes. The dashboard trim and gauges are older and appear to have their original finishes. Other accessories and features include painted wire wheels, a radiator stoneguard, the LaSalle “stork” radiator mascot, dual side-mounted spares, and a luggage rack with a period-correct metal trunk. The car is accompanied by a top boot and a copy of its original build sheet.

This was the final automobile purchased by Mr. Roy, in 2013, and it has remained in running and driving order; in fact, it led his funeral procession earlier this year. Now ready for happier duties with a new owner, it would make an ideal CCCA CARavan car or local parade vehicle—“fleet” indeed!