Description
The LaSalle 37-50 Sodomka was an extraordinary one-off creation, a custom-bodied automobile that blended American engineering excellence with the artistic craftsmanship of one of Europe’s finest coachbuilders. Built on the 1937 LaSalle Series 50 chassis and bodied by the renowned Czech firm J. Sodomka of Vysoké Mýto, it represented a rare fusion of Cadillac mechanical refinement and continental design sophistication. The result was a car of breathtaking elegance and individuality—one that stood apart even among the most distinguished luxury automobiles of its time.
By 1937, LaSalle had firmly established itself as General Motors’ “junior Cadillac,” offering the prestige and quality of its parent brand in a more agile and affordable package. The Series 50 models of that year were powered by Cadillac’s smooth and dependable 322 cubic inch (5.3-litre) flathead V8, delivering around 125 horsepower through a three-speed manual transmission. Built on a 124-inch wheelbase and featuring independent front suspension, hydraulic brakes, and a robust X-braced frame, the 1937 LaSalle offered a combination of refinement, comfort, and performance that rivaled Europe’s finest marques.
The mechanical excellence of the chassis made it an ideal foundation for bespoke coachwork, and it was not uncommon for wealthy European clients to import American rolling chassis for custom bodies by European craftsmen. The LaSalle 37-50 bodied by J. Sodomka was among the most striking examples of this practice. Sodomka, founded in 1895, had by the 1930s earned an international reputation for building some of the most beautifully detailed and artistically daring bodies on luxury chassis from marques such as Mercedes-Benz, Tatra, and Hispano-Suiza. The firm’s designs were characterized by exquisite proportions, sculpted curves, and intricate detailing that reflected the Art Deco and early Streamline Moderne aesthetics of the period.
The LaSalle 37-50 Sodomka took these principles to heart. The car’s bodywork displayed a perfect balance between American robustness and European grace. The front end retained LaSalle’s narrow, finely slatted grille, but it was framed by a completely reimagined set of flowing fenders and a delicately sculpted hood that descended smoothly toward the bumper. The headlights were partially faired into the fenders—a forward-thinking detail that gave the car a sleek, aerodynamic appearance. The long bonnet, low beltline, and gently tapered rear gave it an impression of continuous motion, a hallmark of Sodomka’s fluid design language.
Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the LaSalle Sodomka was its tail treatment. Unlike the upright, formal rears of most American sedans of the time, this car’s rear deck flowed in a teardrop form, with subtle fin-like creases that hinted at the emerging aerodynamic fascination of late-1930s Europe. Chrome trim was applied sparingly but with precision, accentuating the contours of the body rather than distracting from them. The sweeping, two-tone paintwork—often in soft metallic hues—enhanced the sense of length and lightness, while the Sodomka nameplate, discreetly placed, confirmed its exclusivity.
The interior was executed to the same standard of artistry. Sodomka was known for its exceptional craftsmanship in wood, leather, and metal, and the LaSalle 37-50 was no exception. The cabin featured hand-stitched upholstery, polished wooden inlays, and delicately sculpted door panels. The dashboard retained its LaSalle mechanical layout but was re-trimmed and detailed in the European style, with elegant, round-faced gauges and nickel-plated controls. The seats were deeply cushioned, and every surface conveyed a sense of bespoke luxury.
Performance was both smooth and commanding. The Cadillac-built flathead V8 provided effortless power, and the car’s long wheelbase and well-tuned suspension gave it a composed, comfortable ride, whether on city boulevards or open roads. Its steering was light and precise, and the hydraulic brakes provided sure-footed stopping power. While it was not built for competition, its blend of power, poise, and grace made it one of the most capable grand touring automobiles of its time.
The LaSalle 37-50 Sodomka was likely built to special order for a prominent European client—possibly a member of the Czech elite or a foreign dignitary—seeking an automobile that combined American mechanical dependability with the artistry of European custom design. Its existence underscores the global prestige that Cadillac and LaSalle enjoyed during the prewar years, when their engineering was admired and emulated far beyond the United States.
Only one example of the LaSalle 37-50 Sodomka is known to have been built, making it an exceptionally rare and valuable artifact of automotive history. Surviving photographs and restored examples of Sodomka’s work reveal a level of design sophistication that rivaled the great French coachbuilders such as Figoni et Falaschi and Saoutchik. The LaSalle’s American chassis gave the car a reliability that many European exotics lacked, while Sodomka’s craftsmanship elevated it to a work of art on wheels.
Today, the LaSalle 37-50 Sodomka is remembered as one of the most beautiful transatlantic collaborations of the prewar period. It stands as a testament to a time when automobile design was as much about artistry as engineering—when wealthy patrons could commission a car that was truly their own, crafted by the finest artisans on both sides of the Atlantic.
The LaSalle 37-50 Sodomka remains a masterpiece of creative collaboration: American precision beneath, European elegance above. It was a car that united two worlds—Detroit’s engineering prowess and Prague’s artistic imagination—into one seamless, breathtaking expression of motion and beauty.