Okay, pop quiz. What do New Coke, the Kodak Disc 4000 Camera, the Sinclair C5, and the Cadillac Allanté have in common? Actually, there are no prizes for guessing the correct answer. All were products from the 1980s that promised so much, but proved to be sales disasters that cost their creators a small (or large) fortune. The hurdle faced by the Allanté was that its sticker price was extraordinarily high due to the complex manufacturing process. It severely impacted sales, with our feature Allanté one of only 2,559 to emerge in 1988. However, it is a beauty that falls comfortably within the affordable category. The seller has listed the Caddy here on eBay in Appleton, Wisconsin. They set their BIN at $5,500 with the option to make an offer.
Anyone who believes that lightning doesn’t strike twice needs to examine the American automotive landscape in the late 1980s. Cadillac collaborated with Pininfarina to introduce the Allanté to the market in 1987, utilizing a complex manufacturing process that ensured a high sticker price. It was a two-seat luxury convertible designed to increase the brand’s market appeal, especially among younger and more affluent potential buyers. If that sounds familiar, you may recall Chrysler’s TC by Maserati, which debuted on showroom floors for the 1989 model year. It shared many of the same attributes with the Allanté, but that isn’t where the similarities ended, because neither achieved the sales volumes projected by their creators, and both proved to be financial black holes. This 1988 Allanté is 1-of-873 ordered in Red, featuring a color-matched hardtop and a power top in contrasting Black. Its presentation is hard to fault, with no major cosmetic imperfections or shortcomings. The power top fits as tight as a drum, and I can’t spot any evidence of rust. The trim is in good order, and the glass is clear.
Allanté buyers in 1988 didn’t receive any choices when the subject turned to mechanical specifications. For their money, they received a 4.1-liter V8 engine, a four-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and four-wheel power anti-lock disc brakes. The V8 generated 170hp and 235 ft/lbs of torque, and with the Allanté tipping the scales at almost 3,500 lbs, it was definitely more of a Grand Tourer than a sports car. However, pegging the needle at 70 on the open road won’t cause any stress, and this classic should also cope well in city traffic or would feel at home cruising along a beachside boulevard. The seller doesn’t mention verifying evidence for their claimed odometer reading of 79,500 genuine miles. They do confirm that this Caddy runs and drives extremely well, making it a turnkey proposition for its new owner.
Considering the stratospheric sticker price, it is unsurprising that Cadillac raided its toy box when equipping the Allanté’s interior. Buyers received climate-control air conditioning, power assistance for the windows, locks, and the 10-way seat adjustment. Throw in cruise control, a tilt wheel, funky digital gauges, and a Delco/Bose Symphony Sound System with an AM/FM radio, a cassette player with Dolby Noise Reduction, and a power antenna, and life aboard this Caddy would be pretty pleasant. Of course, it goes without saying that there were also acres of supple leather, with this car combining its Red exterior with Tan interior trim. I consider this the most impressive aspect of this classic because there is no evidence of wear or other problems. The Allanté is prone to trim deterioration, and many now look pretty tired. However, this one is far better than average, which is another factor to consider when contemplating the seller’s BIN figure.
Some classics become sound financial investments, but the 1988 Cadillac Allanté failed dismally on that front. The sticker price for this car in 1988 was $56,533, which equates to approximately $154,000 today. You could become the new owner of this Allanté for $5,500, although the final figure may be lower if you possess good negotiating skills. It has no apparent needs, and while it isn’t the most desirable classic on the planet, being able to tell people that you are about to hit the road behind the wheel of your classic Cadillac Convertible has a nice ring to it. That alone almost justifies splashing the cash. Do you agree?
Looks like a nice Sunday cruiser for the money.
Less expensive than a Mustang in similar condition, mechanically parts are GM and available, body, trim parts available from 3 guys, one each in NJ, FL, and CA, some OEM, some used, some reproduction. NOT a power top, only the fasteners at the top of the windshield and the back of the back, human muscle to get into position, but not hard to do. An inexpensive way into the hobby, I have a ’93, with about 140,000 miles, will go all day at 75 mph, but, wind noise at that speed, hard top, soft top, or no top, is a lot. Big trunk.
I might go for the MB of this ilk for
same offering (but more durable, better
styling, i6, more): “SL” or R129, ie SL 280
& SL 320, even 300SL 3L – 3.2L, but not in bent6)
Although I was too young at the time to drive a car, I remember cars like this Cadillac Allante. What I don’t understand is why it was such a sales failure. What the hell was it that made it sales disaster?
That 4.1 isn’t a hold over from the ’81-’85 Seville” is it? I had an ’85 that flat cammed at 120K not to mention a dropping headliner, something GM failed to address for 30 years. I bought a 1929 Pontiac June 4, 1960 with rotten wood everywhere and guess what? The headliner still hung well even with the doors falling off!
Cost too much, twice the cost of the next most pricey Caddy of the time, ended at $64,000 when the next most costly was about $35,000.
Quality control sucked in the beginning – soft top leaked badly in the rain – GM rushed production before PininFarina got it right.
V8 although tried and true was not as powerful as a Mercedes 2 seater, let alone a Porsche, and all Allantes were automatic transmissions.
Digital dash was problematic, mine, at the end of production is fine, 32 years, and 140,000 miles.
Local dealer sold one (or kept as a demonstrator, his wife drove it, much like this red and chrome wheels), and a green one, which I, third owner, now have. I never saw any others in the area, and now in the Sierra, have only seen one other in 10 years.
Red one ended up back at dealership as a consignment, I looked at it, but the ’93 was a much better car.
Even though I never owned one, I always thought these were very stylish looking cars. GM sure took a bath on them though. My former boss who was a old ex navy pilot used to have a pearl white one. He used to fly down the highway in that thing lol.