1987 Cadillac Allante

Description

You could probably argue that the Allante was Cadillac's turning point, the movement when they finally got serious about returning to "the Standard of the World." This 1987 Allante is now a great starter collectable that's a far better car than most folks give it credit for being. A torquey V8, a chiseled Italian body, and sumptuous leather interior make it one of the biggest bangs for the buck in top-down motoring.

Silver is a great choice on the angular Cadillac bodywork, looking high-tech and elegant, which was exactly the image Cadillac wished to convey with the Allante. It was insanely expensive to build, as they would ship the chassis to Italy to have the bodywork fitted by Pininfarina and then shipped back for finishing, all on specially-built 747s. Crazy, right? But the result is still a very good-looking car that has aged quite well and doesn't look dated today. Fit and finish are very good, particularly considering the time in which it was built, and with just 31,829 original miles, it's obviously been a favorite toy and not a daily driver. The paint is completely original, and aside from some thin spots on the pinstripes where it's just been polished a little too much, it's in good shape. Even the headlight lenses are clear. Red accents look especially good against the silver paint and the third brake light is cleverly integrated into the trunk lock.

The burgundy leather interior is sumptuous and inviting, and those deep bucket seats are every bit as comfortable as they look. The leather is beautifully preserved and shows just a bit of age, which only seems to make it more attractive. The early cars used softer leather than the later cars, and it suits a car that was quite expensive when it was new. The cool electro-luminescent gauges are fully functional, which is a rare find in these cars, and all the various functions on the center stack work like they should. The climate control is cold, the stereo sounds good, and it includes just about every feature Cadillac could imagine in 1987. Heck, it even reminds you to turn on your headlights! You should probably read the manual before attempting to fold the top, but once you master the process it's easy and the black canvas is in very good condition. This car also includes a factory hardtop, which is a fairly valuable piece all by itself, and the trunk is in excellent condition.

Cadillac's reliable, torquey 4.1 liter V8 was the only engine available in 1987, and it moves the roadster with a wonderful sound and an energetic attitude. The engine bay is quite tidy and clean, and Cadillac was obviously showing off a bit with the long-runner intake manifold and flashy valve cover. It's all stock, of course, and thanks to a recent service that included the A/C system, it runs and drives like a Cadillac should. The 4-speed automatic transmission is quick to grab a lower gear when you're running hard and the suspension is supple without being luxury car clumsy. 4-wheel discs with ABS were standard and live behind unscuffed factory alloy wheels which wear 225/60/15 Michelin radials.

Documented with the original window sticker and manuals, this is a great future collectable with a neat place in Cadillac history. The guys who collect these cars are very passionate about them, and you'll find it's a lot of fun to drive. Call today!