Perhaps our most unusual project?

Famous dream car restorer Joe Bortz, recently asked up to add electric propulsion to the 1955 LaSalle II that General Motors used in 1955 to display possible upcoming features. On the car were several features that were way ahead of any GM production plans, including a dual over head cam, V-6 aluminum block, fuel injected engine. The car had external, finned aluminum brake drums for better cooling (long before GM perfected disc brakes, and a body mounted center differential with half shafts to the rear wheels. It looked like a torque tube drive shaft was planned. The car was cut into at least three major pieces, and taken to a junkyard in 1956. Joe Bortz rescued it, along with several other GM show and dream cars several years ago, and the early stages of reassembly have been completed. Initially, GM had some discussions about using an electric power train, and Joe wanted the car to run on it's own power. Unfortunately the aluminum V-6 was just a rough casting, with absolutely no internal bosses for crankshafts or camshafts. We were asked to arrange an electric motor to drive the car and do so in a hidden way that would be all but noticeable. We spend several months creating a drive system where none had existed, and this was followed in our shop by several professionals, including photographers and videographers. The pictures below and the videos on YouTube are the creative work of "Rides With Chuck" and used with permission. Chuck Derer is a talented videographer with a wonderful enthusiasm for cars of all kinds. Normally his 'vignettes' are an edited ride with an interesting or unusual car. He has started to make an interesting series of the LaSalle II, and here are the first episodes. Keep posted for more.

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