A perfect Texas setting for a perfect Texas car, this 1989 Cadillac Allante has been in the same family since new and has only traveled 20,336 miles over the last 36 years. Even more unusual, this one is reported to have never had the factory hardtop removed. The seller has it listed here on eBay in Springtown, Texas. There is no reserve, and the current bid price is $7,877.
The only thing I notice about the exterior is that the right front fender appears a shade darker than the adjacent passenger door. The seller says it has a perfect CarFax report, so I’m not sure what the story is on that, and there’s no mention of paintwork. What a beautiful design, though. It’s hard to believe the Allante came out in 1986 for the 1987 model year, the design looks fresh even today. They were offered until 1993 and we’ve seen quite a few here on Barn Finds.
I’m all for the trend against “murdered out” vehicles, all black with black lenses, pitch black windows, black wheels, zzzzzzzz… TV reality shows have had such a crazy influence on vehicles in this country. Make my tail light lenses jewel white like these instead. The seller has uploaded at least 100 photos, so please click on the eBay link to see all of them inside and out.
There are no underside photos that I saw, but otherwise, the seller has spent the time to take some fantastic photos showing everything else, from many exterior details to full and detailed interior photos. The trunk looks like new, as does the entire interior from what I can see. The headliner appears new, and it’s hard to believe this top has never been removed, so the biggest feature could be enjoyed: a Cadillac convertible. As a two-seater, here’s the space behind the two front seats. Even the passenger gets an array of power seat controls, nice.
The engine is Cadillac’s 4.5-liter HT (High Technology) OHV V8 with 200 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque when new. It’s backed by a THM-F7 four-speed automatic sending power to the front wheels. The seller says it drives “excellent”, and the AC has been converted to R-134, including a new compressor and dryer. Hagerty is at $14,300 for a #2 excellent-condition car, just for a general reference. Have any of you owned an Allante?
If I recall the engines had issues the first couple of years. I think they fixed the issues by the 90s models. Maybe someone else knows better but always heard to stay from 80s Allantes.
Your recollection is not correct.
While the HT4100 engine introduced in 1982 did have issues, especially in the full-sized Cadillacs, by 1987, when the Allanté was introduced, GM had managed to solve them by 1985, when the 4.5 liter motor was introduced. The Allanté 4.5 is a very smooth, reliable engine.
I wonder what it was like within Cadillac as to this car’s design, manufacturing, marketing, etc. There must have been some, let’s say, interesting discussions. As for the styling, I suppose some might think it looks boring, but I’ve always liked the clean, straightforward look. This looks like a well-kept example.
Good job Scotty.
And you’re exactly right.
General Motors’ and decision to have the car styled and built by Pininfarina went over like a lead balloon at Cadillac, where they felt it was a slap in the face.
Bill Kady, chief designer, actually drew up a Cadillac in house proposal, but the board wouldn’t hear of it
It was the age of designer branding, and management wanted that Pininfarina name on their car
Delays in the development of the 1985 Deville had infuriated management and there was a war between them.
I have owned a ’93 for the last 12 years, 140,000 miles, original engine, never rebuilt, replacement transmission but because stupid shop replaced it rather than the ECM, still available rebuilt from RockAuto, a weak part on the ’93’s. The low milage is typically because no one in the family wanted to drive it. Lots of wind noise, even with hardtop on at 75 mph, more with soft top, and tops off, even worse. Great around town with top down, getting groceries. Great suspension. GM wanted something to compete with Mercedes and Porsche, these at the beginning were too slow, and too soft. By ’93 problem solved, so GM stopped making them. This one is a great way into the hobby, there are three good places to get advice and parts, one in Southern CA, one in NJ near Philadelphia, one in Florida. Mechanically it is an Eldorado, shortened 18″, body and interior (except dash and instruments) it is Pininfarina made in Italy. Price is low.
There is an active Cadillac Allante club.
The description of the engine is just wrong.
From 1990 to 1992, the correct name is the Allanté 4.5. While derrived from the HT program, it is a very different engine, even from the Cadillac 4.5.
The Allanté 4.5 block is the same as the regular Cadillac 4.5, but almost everthing else is different including the heads, manifolds, and fuel injection systems. Also important is that the engine had profited from 7-8 years of development from the 4100 block since its introduction in 1982.
The Allanté 4.5 is a smooth solid motor, as was the closely related Allanté 4.1.
GeorgeB, is this engine information not correct?
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1989/60470/cadillac_allante.html#gsc.tab=0
Or here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_Allant%C3%A9
Or, here:
https://www.ultimatespecs.com/car-specs/Cadillac/16453/Cadillac-Allante-45L.html
That description is entirely incorrect, and it is incorrect information that is repeated often.
The official designation of the engine is the Allante 4.1 through 87 through 89 and the Allante 4.5 from 89 to 1992
It was certainly derived from the HT engine program, but it was never designated at it and the wording in the original description implies that it is the same 4.5 that was used in the Cadillac line. That is simply not true.
The Allante 4.1 motor shares only the cylinder liners that give it its displacement and the block is derived from the Cadillac 4.5.
The Allanté 4.5 does share the block with the Cadillac 4.5 but everything else hung onto the motor is entirely different.
No Allante has ever been equipped with an HT4100 or Cadillac’s 4.5 engine. That is simply not correct and the motors were much better and much more powerful.
Wikipedia is not a good reference for many subjects and this clearly is one. The entries are entirely wrong.
Thanks very much for the information, sir. That’s good to know.
George: In your opinion, was the Northstar that they put into the Allante starting in ’93 (I Think) a step up or a step back.
I have heard some bad things about them, but not sure what to believe.
One other thing, the Allante doesn’t simply have a “small space behind the seats, it has a large pass-through which incorporates the entire trunk huge because of front wheel drive.
Unlike an R107, you can carry anything you need for a vacation for two including skis and a bicycle if need be
The author may not mention paint work, but this car has had some paint revision. On a stock 1989, the lower bumper and rocker panels would be matte black.
Nice enough car, but if I’m buying a Caddie it had best have a big bench seat, but that’s just me.😃
You are not alone. One of the problems marketing the car was that it looked like a Lancia, which is a very good thing to me, but for many Cadillac buyers, it was off-putting. No fake wood, no fake wires, and no vinyl top. Caddy buyers want a certain type of car.
A Cadillac designer of the time once told me that GM Management was so enthralled with Pininfarina and its reputation, that they did not listen to inputs from Cadillac’s own designers when they told them that it simply was not a car that would appeal to traditional Cadillac buyers
Current reported bid too high for realistic market. Shill? Ya think?? On Ebay, oh, never, no . . .
So then they made the XLR, a 2 seater, on the Corvette platform, but with luxury and a softer suspension, which had the convertible hardtop, like Mercedes of the day, these did not sell well either. Also a bargain in the collector car world right now, and, in my opinion, a considerably better car.
The XLR was much sportier, and sold at half the volume of the Allanté. Half
Just Allanté sales were kneecapped by the collapse of dollar in the mid eighties, and the stock market crash of October 1987, the XLR was canceled because of GM’s perilous finances after the crash of September 2008
I really think externalities determined the fate of both products, rather than the pluses and minuses of the cars themselves
SOLD for $9,451.
Thank you, sir!