The History of the Cadillac Allante

The Cadillac Allanté was General Motor's unsuccessful attempt to restore its name in the ultra-luxury car field by competing against Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar with a roadster. Unstable gasoline prices, an indifferent public and an expensive price tag severely hampered sales and the car folded after a seven-year run.

History

Cadillac in the late 1970s downsized its models in reaction to fuel shortages and experienced an identity crisis as it attempted to reestablish is luxury car footing. It failed with its Seville and with the Cimarron. The Allanté had grand ambitions as a luxury roadster.

Significance

The normally conservative General Motors selected the ultra-luxury automobile Italian stylists Pininfarina to design the Allanté.

Identification

The Allanté is identified with its Cadillac crest on the grille, two-seater roadster configuration, bucket seats and console in the center.

Types

Among the models were the XLR convertible roadster and the XLR-V, a high-performance model that was General Motors' most expensive car with a six-figure price tag.

Features

It came equipped with front-wheel drive, unusual for a luxury roadster, a massive 4.5-liter V-8 engine, a digital dashboard cluster and a "pass key" anti-theft device.

Size

The 1989 Cadillac Allanté sits on a 99.4-inch wheelbase, is 178.6 inches long and is powered by a 4.5-liter V-8 providing 202 horsepower.

Fun Fact

Only 21,000 Allantés were produced, making it a high desirable collector car.

Resources

• More about the Allanté.