1990 Cadillac Allante convertible 112K miles fantastic condition

Description

Originally designed to compete with theMercedes-Benz SLandJaguar XJS, the Allanté featured a slightly modified variant of the 4.1literV8used across Cadillac's model line.

The Allanté is noted for an unusual production arrangement, where completed bodies — designed and manufactured in Italy byPininfarina—[1]were shipped 4,600mi (7,400km) fromItalyin specially equippedBoeing 747s, 56 at a time,[1]to Cadillac'sDetroit/Hamtramck Assemblyplant where they were mated with domestically manufactured chassis and engine assemblies.[1]Bodies had to be flown from theTurin International Airportin Italy to Detroit'sColeman A. Young International Airport, about 3 miles northeast of the new Hamtramck factory, known as the "Allante Air Bridge".[2][3]The expensive shipping process was implemented because GM had recently closed theFisher Body Plant #18which traditionally supplied Cadillac bodies since 1921. This was not the first time that Cadillac turned to Pininfarina for body work, they previously farmed out body production to the Turin-based coachbuilder for the1959 Eldorado Brougham, as well as that forseveral one-offs, customs, and concept cars.

In 1990, Cadillac offered a lower-priced ($53,050) companion model with a cloth convertible roof and without the removable aluminum hardtop, and a model including the hardtop at $58,638. By midyear, prices were dropped to $57,813 for the hardtop/convertible and $51,500 for the convertible, which included a $650Gas Guzzler Taxalong with $550 destination charge. The fully integrated cellular telephone, which was equipped from the factory on just 36 cars this year, was available for an additional $1,195. Allanté's bumper-to-bumper new car warranty, seven years and 100,000mi (160,000km), was three years longer than other Cadillacs, and an additional 50,000mi (80,000km) of coverage. Allanté owners also received a special toll-free number to call for service or concerns. Headlamp washers and dual 10-wayRecaroseating remained standard, among other niceties. A driver's side airbag was added to the leather-wrapped steering wheel, eliminating the telescoping steering wheel — which retained its tilt feature. The analog instrument cluster – introduced the previous year – was standard on the convertible (available at no extra cost on the hardtop/convertible), however, only 358 cars were equipped with the analog cluster. The power mirror control moved from the right of the steering column on the instrument panel to a new location on the upper end of the driver's door armrest, while the power seat switches (previously mounted on the face of the seat base) were relocated to the lower side trim of the seat base facing the door panels. The 3-channel garage door opener base mounted on the header panel above the windshield was eliminated when a revamped sun visor design was introduced this year. Technological news was the addition of traction control – the first front-wheel drive automobile with a V8 in the world to be equipped as such. The elaborate system was able to cut fuel to up to four cylinders to reduce power and optimize traction. Theelectronically controlled shock absorberswere retuned to remain in "soft" mode for up to 40mph (64km/h). Previously, they entered "normal" mode after just 25mph (40km/h). A revised audio system allowed a CD player to be added as standard equipment, along with the cassette player. Of the 2,523 built for 1990, only five were exported – four toCanadaand one to Germany. Allanté was available in eight colors this year, the most popular wasEuro Red, found on 1,012 cars, while the least chosen wasGray Metallic, with only 28 made. Interior color choices (and production figures) wereCharcoal Gray(1,343),Natural Beige(767), andMaroon(413).