1928 LaSalle Model 303 Convertible Coupe

LaSalle was produced as a companion marque to Cadillac from 1927 to 1940. General Motors President Alfred P. Sloan originated the 'companion' car concept as a means to introduce new nameplates that could be sold through existing sales organizations. The LaSalle also helped fill a price gap in the GM product line that had developed between the highest-priced Buicks and lowest-priced Cadillacs in the mid-1920s.

The original 1927 LaSalle was styled by a young California custom car builder named Harley Earl, who developed the car under contract to then Cadillac head Lawrence P. Fisher. Earl drew inspiration from Europe's rakish Hispano-Suiza for his design, creating a sporty yet elegant counterpoint to the larger Cadillacs. The LaSalle was offered in bright two-tone combinations that made it a stand-out among the typically drab-colored cars of the mid-1920s.

Built by Cadillac to Cadillac standards, the original LaSalle was a trend-setting vehicle and it was continued in 1928 with only minor changes. Alfred Sloan had by that time hired Harley Earl to implement his vision of a central design section within GM - Earl would go on to establish GM as the American style leader and would become the auto industry's first design vice-president.

This 1928 LaSalle is one of four Series 303 Convertible Coupes known. It has been well cared for since new and remains factory-original in many details.