A historically significant 1934 LaSalle pace car with concours honors will cross the block at Amelia Auction 2026.
A 1934 LaSalle Series 350 Convertible Coupe from the Bill Spurling Collection is scheduled to be offered without reserve at the Amelia Auction in 2026, with an estimated value between $120,000 and $160,000. Presented by Broad Arrow Auctions, the car combines historical importance, limited production, and award-winning restoration, positioning it as a notable prewar entry in the sale.
The LaSalle carries rare historical distinction as the official pace car for the 1934 Indianapolis 500, a role that underscored the model’s engineering credibility and public visibility during its era. Only 600 Convertible Coupes were built for the 1934 model year, further enhancing the rarity of this example. The car retains its numbers-matching chassis, body, and engine, identified by chassis number 21-5104, engine number 2105104, and body number 230.
LaSalle was introduced in 1927 as a Cadillac-engineered brand and played a central role in shaping General Motors’ design philosophy. Styled under the direction of Harley Earl, LaSalle’s influence helped lead to the formation of GM’s Art and Colour Section. The Series 350, introduced in 1933, marked a dramatic design shift inspired by aircraft-influenced Art Deco styling, featuring a slender grille, pontoon fenders, aeronautical bumper elements, and five hood portholes. Built by Fleetwood, the model was powered by a straight-eight engine and featured hydraulic brakes and independent front suspension on an X-type chassis.
This particular example earned a class award at the 28th Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in 2023 in the American Classic 1934–1948 category, a class limited to automobiles meeting strict selection standards. Documentation shows the car was originally finished in a black body and fenders with Vincennes Red wheel discs, the same configuration it retained when discovered by Bill Spurling in upstate New York. Factory records indicate the LaSalle was shipped to Cadillac Auto of Boston in late 1933.
The car was fully restored by Classic Car Restoration of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, prior to its concours appearance. It now presents in a two-tone orange and black color scheme with a black cloth convertible top, teardrop headlights, factory wheel discs, rear fender skirts, and steel wheels. Inside, the cabin reflects restrained 1930s styling with black leather seating, Wilton wool carpeting, a four-spoke banjo steering wheel, and restored rumble seat accommodations.
Offered from the Bill and Patty Spurling Collection, the LaSalle represents a rare blend of design heritage, documented history, and concours-level presentation as it heads to the Amelia Auction stage. See it here.
