The Cadillac brand was losing its “Standard of the World” status by the beginning of the early eighties. Luxury car buyers were looking to Europe for impressive, fast vehicles, and Cadillac was working on a new reputation as a ride for the elderly. There is nothing wrong with that, except for the fact that the elderly eventually stop buying cars. The solution to Cadillac’s ills? A halo car with bodies built in Italy by the famed design house Pininfarina. This dusty 1991 Cadillac Allante for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Sterling Heights, Michigan is an 88,000-mile example of that failed experiment. Do you think this long-neglected Allante is worth the $5,000 asking price? Thanks to Jim A. for the tip!
When Cadillac started the Allante project, the brand was dealing with an ever-increasing lack of respect in the marketplace. Badge engineering, diminishing quality, and GM’s obsessive desire to save money at the expense of the brand’s reputation had knocked Cadillac from the top tier of automakers. The solution was to build a world-class convertible as a halo car with help from Pininfarina. The Italian company had worked with Cadillac in the past and was eager to forge a new relationship with the world’s largest automobile manufacturer. A relatively unknown drawback of this is that going outside for a design greatly angered GM’s in-house design team. They felt it an affront that after toiling away with the rest of the maker’s designs, the fun project was sent overseas without even a chance to submit a design.
Another interesting aspect of these cars is how the bodies were built and transported. GM had just shut down Fisher Body Plant #18, which had produced bodies for Cadillac since 1921. So, the decision was made that a body plant was built in Italy to produce this portion of the car. These bodies were then transported across the Atlantic to Detroit in modified 747 cargo aircraft. From there they were taken to Cadillac’s Hamtramck assembly plant for completion. The first Allante stickered for a bit over $54,000, and the price slowly climbed from then on. Options were few and sales never really met expectations. After 7 model years and a little over 21,000 examples built, it was all over but the finger-pointing.
The Allante you see here has obviously been left in what looks like an abandoned garage for more than a few years. It is hard to determine if renovations are going on around it, or this is what was left after vandals left when they decided the structure wasn’t worth the price of the gasoline to burn it down. This whole deal has the look of someone inheriting a property and finding a car inside. This is just a wild guess, but the seller gives us very little information on this situation. The ad simply states that it is a barn find and will need a bit of TLC. We are also told that it could be easily rehabbed.
It is hard to tell the car’s true condition by using the pictures alone. The paint could be faded and unpresentable or might be near perfect. The interior looks very good except for some mold attacking the leather on the shifter handle and on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. There are a few wear marks here and there, but my guess is the car would clean up well with some effort and a lot of leather conditioner. As for the mechanical bits and pieces, the Allante didn’t get the Northstar engine until its last year. So, this one should be powered by Cadillac’s 4.5-liter V-8 engine. Parts are still available for these, and nearly all of the mechanical bits and pieces are off the shelf or in the junkyard components.
Body panels are the biggest hurdle in returning one of these cars to the road. Since these were limited production vehicles, finding a new fender or quarter panel could be difficult. The good news is that this car looks to be fine. The other hurdle would be Allante-specific electronic parts, such as the digital instrument cluster and wiring harness. A careful inspection would be in order to make sure rodents haven’t turned this upscale Cadillac’s wiring into a multi-colored spaghetti all-you-can-eat feast. Another area of caution would be the fuel tank. If another is needed, it may be an unobtainable Allante-specific part. You would have to be blind to not see Allante’s future potential as a collectible. It is one of the cars you have to talk about if you discuss Cadillac’s modern era. Is this example worth $5,000? Maybe. Perhaps the owner will bless us with some updated pictures in a more scenic area of a clean car. Barn dust only works on prewar vehicles. Have you ever owned an Allante or any Cadillac from the modern era? What was the experience like? Please share your experiences in the comments.
Body panels, of German steel or Swiss aluminum, are the least of the “hurdles” of an Allanté owner. There are plenty available.
A much bigger concern are parts for the Bosch antilock braking system, unique to the Allanté, and if not properly maintained, subject to failure.
No engine that’s been sitting for many years is going to avoid issues, and although an excellent engine, the Allante 4.5 in this car is no exception.
you can purchase an excellent 1991 car with everything working and ready to go for not much more than this.
This Allante could pose a huge challenge in the electronics that probably have gone wrong, and fully agreeing with the writers comment of mice and varmint stepping up to the buffet.
I had experience with a Cadillac Northstar that had the issue of head bolts letting go, and coolant mixing with the oil, but as the writer stated, only the last year of the Allante had the north star, and I think by that time, that engines problems were sorted out.
What I wouldn’t give to take a power washer to this car, surely for the joy of removing all that dirt and crud build up!
👍🤓
If it was closer I would make a offer only because I would try to flip it for a profit as I have stated before I haven’t had good luck with GM vehicles but I’m always looking for a flip
I’d throw a g ball tops at it and roll the dice. Cool summer cruiser .If I lose …part it then scrap the rest.
After whining to the seller that since parts are so scarce, you can’t offer em more than $4,000, take it home and part it out. Should be able to triple your money in a weekend. Now, I couldn’t do that. An Alante is on the 2nd tier of my bucket list, so from body to wiring, I’d HAVE to find or fabricate pieces.
And paint it RED!
I want a young Kelly Bundy to be on the seat next to me describing all the cars features.
Good one!! The Bundy Bounce.
The Bundy Bounce FTW!
Well since you brought it up, I couldn’t resist:
https://youtu.be/aGvGr98TwTo
I’ll take the old worn out Kelly Bundy thank you very much…
Like four kids through the pipe well used
Well it went down to $4000 as I see the ad now. Someone go get this.
Give it to the detail guy in NY and he’ll make a tv mini series about it….
I remember a woman who bought a new Allante back around this time. She hated it, and as a long time Cadillac owner, she took it back to the dealer within a couple of months and had them take it back so she could have her Coupe de Ville. I guess she had a deal with him, if I don’t like it, you take it back and give me credit on the Coupe de Ville.
I had a 93 with the powerful NS engine. It was a fantastic car but the soft-top was its biggest downfall.
Cadillac service was poor as they always had trouble diagnosing the myriad of gremlins these had and often blamed Pininfarina.
The tail lights alone are worth $4,000.
Rather sad about the lack of desirability and respect for these halo cars.
I had one of these. The interior parts were cheap plastic. Otherwise it was a fun car and enjoyable to drive.
Felt like a square-ish Corvette to me. When I test drove one back in the day I was amazed at the power and handling but oh my that digital dash and soft plastic everywhere inside and out.
I own a ’93, going on 7 years. Transmission issue which plagued previous owner, and me, turned out to be a computer issue, replacement from Rock Auto, Fed X, solved the problem. With all the complaints about “entry into the old car hobby” being prohibitively expensive, these are an inexpensive alternative. Fast, comfortable, and parts are very available. Most mechanical parts (and electrical) are off the shelf GM, body and trim parts are available from three entrepreneurs, one in FL, one in NJ, and one in southern CA who buy the hopeless ones, take apart, and sell the pieces as well as run excellent repair garages. There is also a club run by the CA guy.
Mine has about 137,000 miles, not perfect, will never be a museum piece, but I dare to drive it, another ding in the paint, or wear mark in the upholstery, is just a “so what” at this point. You might or might not find one that is better for $5,000, mine was $3,000 7 years ago, nice ones are going for about $10,000 to $12,000, still a real bargain. Mine would only “yard drive”, it needed a radiator, rear brakes, and a throttle body – only that part was unobtainium, not the same as on the Northstars put in other Caddy’s of the time. But the engine sounded “sweet” to me, my mechanix agreed, trailered to his shop, put $2000 into it before I was done, but have been driving it since, only big repair was new (reconditioned) computer that controls shifting of transmission.
Owned an 89, worst car I ever owned. Anti-lock braking system is unique and difficult to get parts for and a challenge to work on. Convertible top mechanism is a joke, never again.
I own a 1991 Cadillac Allante. There is a Allante repair shop in West Palm Beach. All they do is repair and sell parts for Cadillac Allantes. The name of the Company is AllanteSource. Dick is the owner and a really great guy.
When you see Dick please tell him hello for me.
Archie
Nice dustpan in that garage!
Of course I’ve driven and owned Cadillacs from the modern Era. My last Cadillac was a ’92 Eldorado. I wasn’t to crazy about it. But I’ve always wanted to get my hands on an Allante. They rarely come up, and this one has a decent price tag, although I’d try to get it for 2 or $3000.
I don’t recall the post saying where it is and if it runs. But memory has gotten pretty bad.
there must be 10 on Facebook marketplace in South Florida
The ad now says Pending.
I owned a couple of these that I got relatively cheaply in the day. An ’89 and a ’91. Like any convertible the tops were an issue Had a hardtop for both and that made a huge difference. Aluminum and easy to take off with a helper. Fun cars, reasonably peppy. Heavy and rode well. Electronics were troublesome. $3500 would be the most for me were I closer, but I’m not so that’s meaningless.
I got rid of my 93 for a 2002 TBird. You shouldn’t have to get out of your car to put the top up and down in a $64,000 car. I think that was it’s biggest downfall.
My 1987 AlIanté does have a fair share of plastic on the door panels, dash, and console, but it looks good. The leather on the seats is luxurious Poltrona Frau leather, and the carpets are the highest quality I have ever seen on any American automobile.
The Allanté’s Italian design eliminated traditional Detroit detailing in the interior. No wood on the dash, plastic or real. Very few emblems No chrome trim. I don’t think the design was “plasticky,” but it is much less “adorned” than a Cadillac customer was used to seeing
I think my 2005 Cashmere Edition T bird had at least as much plastic, and its leather was some kind of plastic-coated cow parts, impervious to leather conditioners. The body was not very rigid, and San Andreas style reverberations shook through the car when you crossed rail road tracks
But the T bird did have a power top, and Cadillac should have done it from Job !. The Allanté was two years late, and in 1990, the 500SL finally got a power top and Allanté sales declined.
There is an Allante expert with ability to rebuild the electronics on these cars as well as he has about any part needed for them. He is in RivieraBeach/West Palm Beach Florida and is worth connecting with if you own one of these cars.
He is also extremely honest.
@ Kent and all the others who mentioned the convertible top…..
I read somewhere, some time back that the convertible top was half power, half manual. Being that I can see where ya’ll think it’s a joke. But, could one of you explain the operation of the top?
There’s a rear pull-down motorized latch and two motorized header latches. Basically, a manual top as you have to get out of the car to put the top up or down. Big negative for a vehicle of this caliber.
every R107 had a completely manual top
A power top was ready for production in 1994, but the car was canceled before it was produced
every Mercedes-Benz SL roadster had a completely manual top until 1990
from my own experience, I can tell you that they were not simple to raise in lower, but they did keep out the water pretty well
my 87 Allante is very early production and had the original defective seals designed by Pinninfarina. When it rained, the top manage to focus falling water onto key locations, but didn’t keep anything dry. The updated seals solved the problem completely.
Thanks guys!