19k Original Miles: 1993 Cadillac Allanté

Cadillac enjoys a strong reputation for providing a luxurious wind-in-the-hair motoring experience. However, it broke new ground in the 1980s by releasing the two-seat Allanté. It remained in production for seven years, with our feature car rolling off the line in 1993. It is an exceptionally tidy survivor, and with a genuine 19,000 miles on the clock, it should offer years of luxurious motoring pleasure to its new owner. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting the Allanté listed here on Craigslist in Yakima, Washington. The seller set their price at $17,995 for a car that appears to need nothing.

Cadillac launched the Allanté for the 1987 model year. It followed an unusual production path, with the bodies manufactured in Italy by Pininfarina. Cadillac shipped completed bodies, fifty-six at a time, to its Hamtramck Assembly Plant in a modified Boeing 747 cargo jet. Once unloaded, final assembly occurred, with the body receiving its North American components. This Allanté is 1-of-4,670 produced in 1993, and while it was the end of the line for the Allanté, it also proved to be its most successful year. Finished in White, it presents extremely well. There are no significant cosmetic shortcomings, with the paint shining nicely, and the panels as straight as an arrow. The Black power top shows no evidence of problems, and the 16″ chrome wheels appear perfect. Rust doesn’t appear to be a problem, and the trim and glass have no significant issues.

Unfortunately, the seller supplies no engine bay shots. This is disappointing, because it is fair to say that the Allanté “came of age” in 1993. Previously powered by two versions of the “High Technology” V8, Cadillac introduced the 4.6-liter Northstar V8 for the final production year. It produces 295hp and 290 ft/lbs of torque, delivering significant performance gains while providing a more refined motoring experience. The power feeds to the road via a four-speed automatic transmission, with power assistance for the steering and anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes as standard fare. Although not stated specifically, I would expect any Allanté within this price range to be a turnkey proposition. The seller doesn’t mention verifying evidence for their mileage claim, but the car’s condition makes it plausible.

Although Cadillac focused on cost reduction strategies for the final production year, the Allanté came with enough creature comforts to justify its sticker price. Buyers received leather trim, climate-controlled air conditioning, power operation for the windows, locks, mirrors, seats, and antenna, a tilt wheel, cruise control, and the “Premium Symphony Sound System.” This included not only an AM/FM radio, but also a CD and cassette player. This car’s first owner spent a few extra dollars on the digital gauge cluster, providing an almost sci-fi motoring experience. The interior’s condition is impressive, further supporting the mileage claim. There is no evidence of abuse or significant wear, and no signs of deterioration due to age or UV exposure. It looks like a supremely comfortable place to spend hours with the wind in your hair and the miles rolling effortlessly beneath the tires.

This 1993 Cadillac Allanté is a wonderful, low-mile survivor, and with only 21,430 of these classics rolling off the line during a seven-year production run, it is also relatively rare. The seller’s price is above the market average, but the figure isn’t unprecedented. However, this Allanté demonstrates why it is worth researching a classic before committing funds to a purchase. I located another listing for this Caddy, indicating that it sold less than a month ago for $10,000. That figure is relatively low by market standards, but it is still a worthwhile piece of information. The seller doesn’t indicate a willingness to negotiate, but if they are flipping this Allanté, that knowledge could give you room to move. Do you agree?