Harley Earle’s first styling job for GM, the ’27 LaSalle, showcases the LeMay, America’s Car Museum at the 2011 Mille Miglia.
A ‘27 LaSalle 303 Roadster, above, is running in the Mille Miglia (1,000 miles) vintage car road rally that winds from Brescia, Italy to Rome and back. The LaSalle is part of the permanent collection (since 2005) of the 165,000-square-foot, four-story auto museum in Tacoma, WA, scheduled to open to the public in May 2012.
“It’s one of a handful of American cars that are Mille-eligible, so it’s quite an honor and privilege to participate in this historic event. This reinforces what we’re trying to do as a museum – to be deeply involved in the enthusiast community,” said LeMay Museum’s Scot Keller.
The two-toned blue LaSalle is a veteran of two Pebble Beach Motoring Classics and has been displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the New York International Auto Show. It’s been prepared for the grueling event by Precision Motor Cars, Allentown, PA. Precision’s Keith Flickinger, who restores cars for Nicola Bulgari and manages his car collection, will be one of the drivers of the LaSalle. American car enthusiast/collector Nicola Bulgari sits on LeMay’s board and has been involved in the rally prepping of the LaSalle roadster.
Powered by a prepared original V8 engine, the LaSalle will cross seven regions – Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, the Marches, Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany - on its 1,000-mile Italian adventure. Flickinger will be one of the drivers.
LeMay’s ’27 LaSalle shares a history with the Mille Miglia, which originally began as an endurance race in 1927. It’s fitting that the LaSalle was selected to be in the event that attracts some of the world’s most magnificent cars.
For more information about The LeMay, America’s Car Museum, please visit,
www.lemaymuseum.org