Vehicle Description
When Cadillac decided to get serious about being the "Standard of
the World" once again, they called some friends in Italy, shipped
them a chassis with an aluminum V8 in it, and the result was the
Allante. OK, so it wasn't the smash success that Cadillac wanted,
but this 1991 Allante is a wonderful way to get a V8-powered
convertible with the perfect blend of performance and luxury, all
at a bargain price.
Triple black is one of the more unusual colors for the Allante and
it suits the trim 2-seater just fine. The styling was Pininfarina
in Italy, but it captures the essence of what Cadillac was trying
to create and perhaps its only real flaw was that it wasn't quite
flashy enough. The smooth flanks give it a slight wedge shape that
emphasizes the performance aspect of the car, and with
hand-assembly in Italy, this lovely little car does fit together
nicely. Sure, it was a product of its period, with urethane bumpers
and "aero" halogen headlights, but there's a future in collecting
these cars the same way we look at the cars of the '50s today. The
paint remains fairly nice for its age and shows off what you got
for $60,000 and change in 1991 dollars, and the chrome grille still
glitters, evidence that someone has taken very good care of this
one. The Allante also wore special taillights that pre-dated the
clear taillight phenomenon by several years, and you'll note that
the emblem in the center of the deck lid is also the third brake
light, which is a neat detail.
The all-black interior shows off a lot of European sophistication,
starting with those supportive seats that each cost more than a
Yugo. That's real leather that has been exceptionally well
maintained, showing minimal signs of use and no cracking, which is
really remarkable for a convertible. The digital dash is a wonder
of '90s technology, certainly delivering on Cadillac's promise of
art and science, and it offers advanced features such as a trip
computer, automatic climate control, and a great-sounding premium
AM/FM/CD/cassette stereo system, all arrayed in an impressive
display of buttons and digital readouts in the center stack. The
top is a handsome black canvas affair that stows beneath the hard
tonneau cover behind the seats, and the trunk is actually usefully
shaped and big enough to handle real luggage.
Cadillac's only engine in 1991 was an aluminum 4.5 liter V8 with
cast iron heads. Known for its smooth torque, it works well in the
Allante. Thanks to only two dedicated owners in its entire life
that knew about proper maintenance, it has had all necessary
services and boasts just 114,059 miles, so it's still quite fresh
given that it just passed its 28th birthday. It starts right up
with a throaty burble from the exhaust and the 4-speed automatic
overdrive makes short work of rush-hour traffic or a wide-open
freeway, always read to drop down a gear or relax in overdrive. The
all-independent suspension never seems to put a tire wrong, rides
beautifully, and thanks to 4-wheel disc brakes, it's confident
under any conditions. This is a Cadillac that can surprise you with
its moves. 16-inch alloys add some sophistication and wear
235/60/16 Goodyear radials to finish the look.
Documented with its original manual and a reproduction window
sticker, this is a very affordable future collectable with V8
power, a top that goes down, and a lot of charisma. Call today!
