The combination of Harley J. Earl and Cadillac just seemed so natural. In 1918, Earl was designing custom bodywork for the Hollywood elite when the family business was sold to Don Lee, the West Coast Cadillac distributor. Earl found himself designing dozens of bodies for what was called the Don Lee Coach and Bodyworks. This led to a meeting with Cadillac President Lawrence P. Fisher, and in 1926 Earl was hired as a designer for the new LaSalle. Leaving California in 1927, Earl was on his way to Detroit where he would soon head the new GM "Art and Colour" division, later simply called the "Styling Section". Earl quickly climbed the corporate ladder. He stood 6'4, had a West Coast flair, and knew how to get his way. He integrated engineers into the Styling Department and filled his staff with talented people. Earl's designs and influences were felt throughout General Motors but most elegantly at Cadillac.

The 341 Series of 1928 were the first to be designed by Earl, which also usher