LaSalle II Roadster

ENGINE: 2.5-liter V-6
TOP SPEED: N/A
HORSEPOWER: 150 (est.)
NUMBER BUILT: 1

In the mid-1950s, Harley Earl had GM’s Art & Color department draft two concepts to test consumer reaction to a possible revival of the LaSalle nameplate—this roadster and a six-passenger sports coupe. The styling of the LaSalle II Roadster took design cues from earlier LaSalle production vehicles but also employed some daring new elements such as open rear wheels, a vertically slatted grille, side exhaust, and floating Dagmar bumperettes. Although both LaSalle “dreams cars” were eventually ordered to be destroyed, neither of them was, and automotive collector Joe Bortz discovered them at a Michigan salvage yard in the 1990s and has since fully restored them.

COURTESY OF BORTZ AUTO, COLLECTION OF JOSEPH BORTZ TRUST

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