John_Mereness Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 (edited) Hello, I thought I would do a quick post to thank all who were involved (including a tremendous amount of AACA members) with this 1939 LaSalle Bohman Schwartz of Pasedena, CA restoration project. This One-Off LaSalle was found about 4 years ago in Los Angeles, CA. In 1959, it was put in a garage after unsuccessful mechanical work and the garage door was not opened until the day it was purchased. Unfortunately, the garage had a partially bad roof and as we all know it does not rain much in LA, but when it does it rains buckets. The original purchaser was the President of Marchant Calculating Machine Company (punch the buttons pull the lever) who ordered it through Don Lee Cadillac when he was saw Clark Gable at the wheel of a Packard Darrin, but could not get delivery of Packard Darrin due to long lead times. The next owner when virtually a new car was Mrs. Albert Barrows (Dr. and Mrs Albert Barrows) of San Francisco - she and her husband fell on love with it on the showroom floor. She reported to be the first purchaser when the original refused delivery, but most likely she obtained car as refurbished. The original color was Opalpearlescent Silver with Burgundy leather and Black top with Tan liner. Unusually, the undercarriage is Burgundy as well. The Silver deteriorated quickly and the car was eventually repainted white. The Barrows owned the car until taking delivery of a Jaguar XK120 Drophead in 1951. And the car was used many a time in the Tournament of Roses Parade. The car was shown at the 1954 at the Sixth Palm Springs Road Race Concour after having been refurbished. Bohman & Schwartz either custom made or modified nearly every single component on the car (the cowl has been sectioned and lengthened, hood and fenders modified, frame and suspension modified, and ........ - literally 90% of the parts on the car received some sort of modification by Bohman Schwartz). The intake manifold and generator are experimental Frank Burrell, know later for his business - Detroit Racing Equipment and doing dual carburetor manifolds for Cadillac Flathead Tank engines and hoping-up Allards. I took the car in after two other shops struggled with restoration - I knew I had the friend base to get the car done (and we started nearly at ground zero point re-restoring). While I did plenty of restoration, the main restoration was done via Quality Automotive in Cincinnati, OhIo, Mechanics by Bastian Automotive Restorations and Fail Safe Transmission, Interior and Top by Rick Davin of Vintage Auto Trim in Cincinnati, Fabrication work by Zakira's Garage, Misc. Carburetor fitting fabrication Barnes Custom Metal Fab, Plating was mainly done by Metal-Brite (and with specialized work by Briteworks, Pauls Plating, Dayton Wire Wheel, and such as the Gold by Smith Electrochemical). Randy Ema supplied factory photos. And, there were the aforementioned countless other people who helped. Finally, when everything was at its worst, it would not have made to to Amelia Island Concours without Dale Oakes of EuroClassics, in Dayton, OH - who saved the day this Wednesday at the 11:59th hour. Thanks again everyone. Edited March 17, 2018 by John_Mereness (see edit history) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 What a great car. Thanks for posting all the pictures. I was going to ask for a period pic and then I got to the bottom! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 I assume going directly to Pebble? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
36 D2 Coupe Posted March 11, 2018 Share Posted March 11, 2018 John -Thank you for the story and the pictures of a very handsome car. The dedicated efforts of everyone involved have returned a unique and beautiful coach-built car to life for us all to enjoy and appreciate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Hud Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 You've come a long way baby! (I'm talking to the car) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Boltendal Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Must have been quite a job , well done. Although I'm not into these years as you know is a fantastic result. Allow me a remark, could it be the car is sitting a tad to deep at the rear, or is that the pictures. It kind of hangs at the rear, compared to the origianl photo's. regards Johan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted March 14, 2018 Author Share Posted March 14, 2018 On 3/12/2018 at 9:50 AM, Johan Boltendal said: It kind of hangs at the rear, compared to the origianl photo's. regards Johan Just the way the light hits the car and angle on photography - the entire undercarriage is Burgundy in color and I am thinking the dark paint color reflects in the hubcaps unless the car is sitting in brilliant/bright sunlight. We painted inside of fender skits to original base color (Burgundy), but I have wondered if they overcoated with another color to make hubcaps "pop" - hard to tell as car obviously was repainted several times in its very early life (as well being "restored" in 1954 to be shown at the Sixth Palm Springs Road Race Concour) = it was sort of like the detective work involved in restoring a piece of artwork in a museum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted March 15, 2018 Author Share Posted March 15, 2018 (edited) By the way, the windshield is really interesting as to how the top attaches. Across the top of the windshield is a large bronze bar and it has a groove between its face and the glass. The front top bow has an intricate way of holding the top fabric (it is an all metal header that top is sewn into) and attached to such it has six sets of teeth that lock in the aforementioned "groove" between the face of the windshield header and the windshield glass. After you slide bow over header there there are several snaps you attach to and then you go to the top well and there is a tensioning mechanism that pushes the top bows up to "tighten" the top fabric. When we stared restoration we were quick to notice that the glass was cracked due to design all be it only option is just being careful. Also, you have to be careful not to scratch the windshield frame in process. Car also has really unique windwings that are fitted to the doors. Obviously design was very geared to car being in California/Western states. There were two 1940 Cadillacs done to match (one survives and the other we believe survived up to a time that it should have been saved, but has not been seen in eons). And, there are two Packards of similar concept: One is a 1940 (http://www.maybellinebook.com/2014/05/bohman-and-schartz-created-one-of-kind.html) and the other a 1941. Edited March 15, 2018 by John_Mereness (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
13CADDY Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 John, great car--you used all the correct people in the city, but failed to mention trim work--just wondered if it was also done in Cinti. ? Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted March 17, 2018 Author Share Posted March 17, 2018 (edited) On 3/15/2018 at 12:29 PM, 13CADDY said: John, great car--you used all the correct people in the city, but failed to mention trim work--just wondered if it was also done in Cinti. ? Tom Yes, and a good call - thank you for bringing such to my attention ( I edited above). The interior and top were done by Rick Davin of Vintage Auto Trim in Cincinnati, OH. Rick did the top on my 1930 Franklin Dietrich bodied Speedster 4 door convertible sedan, dad's 1935 Auburn 851 Phaeton, and etc. What I like about Rick is that he is a great project manager who puts a great deal of thought into how things work (and it all does work as to fit and operation). I also like that instead of sewing on waxed panel cardboard he sews on Mylar (really nice if you have to dry a car out after sitting in rain at a show). And, Rick does the straightest seam I have seen (perhaps 10 other upholsterers in the United States are comparable). He also does work on a strict schedule and usually sticks to it within a day or two (he had this car for 23 days). Edited March 17, 2018 by John_Mereness (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
13CADDY Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 John, I agree Rick does excellent work--he did the headliner in my 32 St. Regis Studebaker--got the job in & out --Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacskate Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 I know the man that was the last owner of this car. His name is Bob Casey. He is now 92 yrs old. He was a part of the 1950’s Southern California sports car racing scene. After a bad crash he became a mechanic. He owned this car for sixty years he told me tonight. We attend a local car show in Redondo Beach, CA. I printed the photo’s and put them in a folder and gave it to him tonight. He was choked up as this car was very special to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowriv Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 John, thanks for this thread, stunning car. Although I’m an originality guy and also very mindful of the anti-white whitewall sentiments of some senior forum members/moderators, I can’t help thinking that this is one car that needs either a set of white walls or, to be completely sacriligious and face immediate ban, a set of later wheels and sombrero hubcaps. Seriously though, as we all know, wheels make and break a car and the wheels on this car just don’t do it justice in my view. The tyres look too tall and too black, just as they did when it was new. I’ll see myself out.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Someone call a bouncer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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