Here’s one we hardly ever cover, a Cadillac Allante such as this 1988 example. As a matter of fact, we’ve only covered two and the last review was over six years ago – time to rectify that situation with this fine-looking North Pheonix, Arizona example, courtesy of T.J. This oh-so-right two-seater is available, here on craigslist for $7,950.
Offered between 1987 and 1993, Cadillac assembled about 21K of these Pininfarina sculpted roadsters. The bodies were produced in Italy and then flown to Detroit (Hamtramck) for the merger with the V-body GM platform. The single-body style featured a folding fabric top and a removable aluminum hardtop (just 58 lbs.) The seller tells us that an ’88 Allante retailed for $42K but my research kicks it up quite a bit higher with a retail buy-in of $56K. The ’88 sales brochure indicates only one available option: a built-in cell phone.
The seller tells us, “Just had major service included is new, water pump, belt, cooling flush, new full A/C compressor and components with AC line and condenser. Also various maintenance service I have receipts over $3100. This car is in exceptional condition for the year and drives amazing.” That “drives amazing” comment is courtesy of a 170 net HP, 4.1 liter V8 Cadillac engine, which sits sideways, driving the front wheels via a four-speed automatic transaxle. Cadillac’s 4.1 powerplant was not one of its major hits and its issues are well documented. Still, this 75K mile example would seem to be unhampered by that questionable engine – good to know.
I gotta tell ya, I’m not much on the wooly bully seat covers – they always look like they need a trim. Anyway, under that western motif, or cold weather look, (or heck, protection from searing hot, sunbaked seats) is tan leather upholstery and I have no reason to suspect a problem but it’s probably worth lifting the skirt, as so to speak, and seeing what’s going on underneath. Keeping tabs on all things mechanical is a digital dash display and hopefully, it’s trouble-free – GM did have its problems with some of them and I’d bet finding a replacement for an Allante is a kin to the hunt for Red October.
Where this Allante really shines is its exterior, its red finish (one of six shades available, the others being gold, silver, gray, black, and pearlescent white) does show like new. The seller claims only two elderly owners since new and adds, “The top fabric is like new condition, also comes with the top stand and nice car cover that goes with it.” The car cover is helpful but I imagine garage storage has been the order of the day for this Caddy.
Like it? Yes, I truly do, but I’m wary of that maligned engine and its reputation. If I were in the market for an Allante, I might look for a later edition with the vastly improved 4.5 liter V8. Still, there’s no denying this example’s superb condition, wouldn’t you agree?
The listing does show one image where the ‘skirt has been lifted’, and the leather looks good.
What I would like to see (other than a N* badge) is an image or three without the hardtop. It is a convertible, after all…
That cassette player is a first for me. Never seen one in car that loads like a home stereo tape deck or boom box.
The ’84-86 Camaro in “Berlinetta” trim had a distinctive dashboard with one of those pop-out tape doors, even more oddly mounted (along with the rest of the stereo controls) as a freestanding module on a sort of stalk at the front of the center console.
@Subgothious
I had a brand new ’84 Camaro Berlinetta. It was called a “lollipop” radio. Everything on the dash was digital. Not good to have in ’84 as it was new tech & not very reliable.
My Camaro was in the shop more than it was on the road mainly for the digital dash.
The 4.5 would be the best engine in one of these as both the 4.1 and Northstar engines (used in the last Allante) were persnickety. And on all Allantes, all the gadgets and geegaws had better work and the electrics will have to be up to snuff, or else you’ll be welcomed to a world of headaches of finding replacements or repairs. For starters, these were among the first cars to have full onboard diagnostics, all run from the center console.
And pay special attention to the Anti-lock brakes. This was the first use of this latest generation of the Bosch anti-lock brakes, and there is one valve that is corrosion prone, if the brake fluid has not been changed regularly.
yep the Bosch brakes were electric motor driven, if a hose goes the system will empty. ….the motor pressurized a canister and the valving allowed for release. I had one and they are great cars
A money pit from the online repair shops views. Forget this dog.
Compared to any R107, they are cheap to repair.
It has been said before, but it needs repeating……..If only Kelly Bundy came with this! What would it be worth then? I can put up with fussy reliability if I had Kelly there to keep me calm.
The feds of the ’70s would never approve of the tailight lenses or even the headlights on this car.
Also, IMO, there’s nothing more tacky on some other “modern” vehicles where lenses are clear & you can see the ugly bulbs through them.
That’s totally incorrect. My 65 Cadillac had clear lenses which were factory and legal. You could not see the bulbs.
Hmmh. Very odd red & white lenses on that year Caddy – mayb the feds thought only the red lens lit up when parkin or brake lites came on? Still tryin to figure out how i see all red when u hit the brakes. lol
I know for sure i seen some ugly bulbs through some modern vehicle lenses.
Joe, the red center lens of ’65 Caddy taillight lenses is the main tail light combined with the legally-required reflector. The clear lenses are the brake lights, which light up red because they use a red-tinted bulb or have a red-tinted dome that the bulb fits into, tucked up near the top so you don’t really see them from eye level.
As for the Allante tails, those aren’t fully transparent. The middle sections are a chrome-pinstriped clear lens covering red-tinted lenses behind them, or no tint for the backup lights, of course.
@JoeNYWF64
Are you referring to the white taillight lenses? FedDMV approved white TL lens’ back in 1965 as long as there was a red reflector somewhere on the rear.
1965 Cadillac did it as did the 1965 Chrysler.
Mercury did it in 1967 and again in the early 2000s.
Transparent lenses where you can see the bulb was a short fade. Wirh LED & the new plastic to make it look like neon is all the rage now.
Woolley Bully, some of the writers comments are so funny.
I had a 93 and that NStar was a rocket but the FE would dance sideways if you floored it from a low speed. But $$$$ repair headaches keep values low. Was as happy the day I sold it as when I bought it.
PS: NStar is 4.6L, not 4.5.
What kind of repairs did you have to make?
I like the looks of these cars, we have a local place Atomic Motors that has 3 or 4 of them. They are all going for 20K+ albeit they all have much lower mileage. I did sit in one this last weekend with the seat all the way back it is a little tight and I am only 5’10”
This is a very common misperception, but the Allanté 4100 is simply not the same engine as the Cadillac HT4100. Entirely different block, heads, fuel injection system, etc. They probably share only the cylinder liners, hence, the same displacement.
The engine is smooth and reliable. The 4.5 does offer a few more ponies. Both engines require the magic sealant pills.
These are great touring cars, and far more practical and liveable that any R107 Benz. The trunk is huge, and you can not only go out on the town, but to home depot.
Bucket list
All Cadillacs deserve whitewalls. Period
I still believe all Cadillacs and Mercedes deserve hood ornaments.
Looks like a neat car at a fair price to me, but I sure understand the concern about the reliability of the electronics. You just don’t know how much longer that stuff will work, and you probably can’t fix it yourself. You might not even be able to find a pro to screw with it.
This is a repetitive coment, but the author is simply completely wrong about the engine.
The Allanté 4.1 is NOT the same as the Cadillac HT4100. The HT was introduced in 1982, and even it was improved by 1987.
The displacement is the same between the two motors because they do share the same cast iron cylinder liners. And that is about it.
On the other hand, the Allante 4.1 and Allante 4.5 are essentially identical, the only real difference is…..the cylinder liners!
@GaGPguy
I agree. I miss the stand up hood ornament & the opera lights.
And chrome!
Cadillac hired Pininfarina EXPLICITY to get rid of the baroque stying that appealed to its dying clientele.
This is part of the problem the Allanté had breaking into the market. Many traditional Cadillac buyers wanted the clichés of Detroit baroque styling: White Walls, Plastic wood, and plastichrome elements of yore.
The division was seeking to attract European car buyers with Italian styling, but without offereing the tighter driving dynamics that a Lancia buyer was seeking.
For me, it was perfect.
@GeorgeB
We’re not ALL dead yet!
I’m a Cadillac clientele who still enjoys the classic baroque look of chrome & wood (real wood would be nice ) leather, stand up hood ornaments, opera lights.
NOT a fan of black plastic buttons & everything being black plastic.
Yes I do as well. I did install a standup Cadillac ornament on my Escalade. This summer I’m adding my chrome air horns on the hood as well. Both items are from my 65 Cadillac destroyed in the flood.
I bet that I can accurately guess the condition of the driver seat. These were sexy cars that had reliability issues. The ‘93 was the best year to have.
1962 Cadillacs had clear lenses in the bumper lights that illuminated with red bulbs as well. Red lenses were in the fins.
87/88 T-birds also had clear lenses in back with Red reflectors/lamps underneath.
To SubGothius
You are incorrect about my 65 Cadillac. The clear lenses always lit up red with the tail/brake, and turn lights due to a red cover around the bulb, a clear bulb(1157). The second bulb(1156) was located in the bottom outside of the red cover and thus, the bottom half lit up white when backing.