<VV> 1954 CHEVY CONCEPT CAR HUNT - FOLLOWUP

[Rod Murray]

getting some interesting feedback...enjoy!
 
1st, Lon Anderson sent over this link
http://www.car-nection.com/yann/Dbas_txt/Drm55.htm
<http://www.car-nection.com/yann/Dbas_txt/Drm55.htm>  ...offers pictures
and the synopsis here...
 
Fleetwood (???) (USA) XP34, LaSalle II roadster (special order #2220),
CS12, p.105, shown at 1955 Motorama, car also currently in Joe Bortz
collection, Chicago. Photo McC p.310. This was the companion car to the
Cadillac La Salle II 4-door pillarless hardtop (above). The front of
both cars is atypical of other Cadillac show cars of the fifties
although the small fender grilles above the front bumper ends reappeared
on production Cadillacs in 1957. The rear of the Cadillac La Salle II
show-cars emulates that of early Chevrolet Corvette models. These two
show cars were attempts by Cadillac to revive the La Salle name, which
had gone out of circulation in 1941 Other similar attempts were made
again in the mid-sixties, and a third time in the early seventies, when
the name was proposed for what later became the compact Seville. 
 
next, check out this note from mel francis of Corsa Enterprises spoiler
fame...he does a lot of work on concept car restoration.
 
 ... The LaSalle cars were actually non-powered prototypes. They had
engine assemblies that were made up of exterior castings, which
portrayed an OHC V-6. They are tiny cars, the first compact prototypes!
The 4-door coupe is the most complete of the two, and when you open the
hood, you'd swear the engine was a runner, as it's still fully detailed
and connected, right down to the last wire, but empty inside.

 

Th e sedan and the small sports roadster were actually early prototypes
for the Corvair program, where they worked out compact exterior sizing
independent suspension setups, and used 13" wheels. The brakes were in
the wheels, with finned drums bolting to a tabbed wheel rim. That's a
50-year old tire there, still holding air! This will probably be the
next one to work on and is much more complete that the Biscayne. Here's
a link to the Corvair chronology, see the July 1956 entry in the
timeline.
http://www.roadtripmemories.com/roadmaven/corvairchronology.htm 

 

I've got Joe now interested in converting these two cars to electric, so
they can be moved around at shows under their own power. The electric
power systems would be hidden and under the hoods, you'd still see the
mockup V6 engines. 

 

vairy best, rod