Started restoration of my newly acquired 1937 2 door convertible coupe

[RentedDreams]

After searching all over the country for a 37 or 37 LaSalle 2 door convertible coupe, I found one less than 50 miles away. The previous owner had paperwork on it going back to the 2nd owner (1951). It has always been a southern car either in Georgia or Alabama, so no northern rust issues. He did a partial restoration in 2010. According to the invoices, he bought just about everything Steele Rubber products made for it, and repainted it the original metallic San Taupe. Unfortunately, he passed away before the car was completed, so it sat in a heated garage for 12 years until I found it.

The car is in fairly good condition, except the overhauled carburetor is still in the box from the rebuilder and for the paintwork. The paint is falling off in huge chunks. It looks like the body wasn't properly prepped prior to painting. There is no bondo or rust underneath the missing paint, just bare metal. I don't see any sign of a sealer or primer.

So my plan is to carefully take it apart, hoping to reuse most of the "new" Steele weatherstripping. Take it down to bare metal, self etching primer, a good 2K primer and then block sand until its ready, then a good sealer and finally quality paint. Hopefully, I'll be around to see the final product.

I'll post a few pictures along the way. We are a small community working on cars built many years before we were born, and sometimes answers are hard to get. If anyone has any question I might be able to answer while the car is apart, just ask.

[James Landi]

Looks to be a terrific project... please keep us in the loop. Lots of pictures and narratives are much appreciated.  Happy holidays, James

[Lexi]

Yes, a terrific project indeed and a great find. Keep us posted. Clay/Lexi

[dennisspeaks]

Wow, you are going to have fun with that baby.  Congrats!