Cadillac Allante - 91

The Allanté is a two-door, two-seater roadster

manufactured and marketed by Cadillac from 1986 until

1993, with roughly 21,000 units built over a seven-year

production run.

Originally   designed   to   compete   with   the   Mercedes-Benz   SL   and   Jaguar   XJS,   the Allanté   featured a slightly modified variant of the 4.1 liter V8 used across Cadillac's model line. The   Allanté    is    noted    for    an    unusual    production    arrangement,    where    completed    bodies    — designed   and   manufactured   in   Italy   by   Pininfarina   —   were   shipped   4,600   mi   (7,400   km)   from Italy   in   specially   equipped   Boeing   747s,   56   at   a   time,   to   Cadillac's   Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly plant where they were mated with domestically manufactured chassis and engine assemblies.

1987

The 1987 Allanté featured a removable aluminum hardtop, the industry's first power retractable

AM/FM/Cellular Telephone antenna and a multi-port fuel injected variant of GM's aluminum 4.1

L (250 cu in) HT-Cadillac 4100 V8, along with roller valve lifters, high-flow cylinder heads, and a

tuned intake manifold. The roadster featured an independent strut-based suspension system

front and rear, Bosch ABS III four-wheel disc brakes and a complex lamp-out module that

substituted a burned-out bulb in the exterior lighting system with an adjacent lamp until

correction of the problem. The Delco-GM/Bose Symphony Sound System – a $905 option on other

Cadillacs – was standard on Allanté. The only option was a cellular telephone, installed in a

lockable center console.

1988

For   1988,   the   Allanté   featured   revised   front   seat   headrests,   and   a   power   decklid   pulldown   as standard   equipment. Analog   instruments,   in   place   of   the   standard   digital   dash   cluster,   were   also now   available   as   a   no-charge   option.   The   base   price   was   raised   to   $56,533,   with   the   cellular telephone still being the only extra-cost option.

1989

In   1989,   the   price   rose   to   $57,183.   Allanté's   engine,   the   new   212.0   in   (5,385   mm)   4.5   L   V8, produced   200   horsepower,   and   with   270   lb·ft   (366   N·m),   it   provided   the   most   torque   from   any front-wheel-drive   automobile   in   the   world.   Unlocking   the   trunk   also   unlocked   the   side   doors   – similar   to   Mercedes-Benz   and   BMW.   As   a   theft-deterrent,   Allanté   added   GM's   Pass   Key   (Personal Automotive   Security   System),   utilizing   a   resistor   pellet   within   the   ignition   key   that   has   the ability   to   render   the   fuel   system   and   starter   inoperative   if   an   incorrect   ignition   key   is   used. Allanté   also   received   a   new   speed-sensitive   damper   system   called   Speed   Dependent   Damping Control,   or   SD²C.   This   system   firmed   up   the   suspension   at   25   mph   (40   km/h)   and   again   at   60 mph   (97   km/h).   The   firmest   setting   was   also   used   when   starting   from   a   standstill   until   5   mph (8.0 km/h). Another change was a variable-assist steering system.

1990

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   $650   Gas   Guzzler   Tax   along   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   100,000   mi   (160,000   km),   was   three   years   longer   than   other   Cadillacs,   and   an additional   50,000   mi   (80,000   km)   of   coverage.   Allanté   owners   also   received   a   special   toll-free number   to   call   for   service   or   concerns.   Headlamp   washers   and   dual   10-way   Recaro   seating 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.   Technological   news   was   the   addition   of   traction   control   –   the first   front-wheel   drive   automobile   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.   The electronically   controlled   shock   absorbers   were   retuned   to   remain   in   "soft"   mode   for   up   to   40 mph   (64   km/h).   Previously,   they   entered   "normal"   mode   after   just   25   mph   (40   km/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   to   Canada   and   one   to Germany.   Allanté   was   available   in   eight   colors   this   year,   the   most   popular   was   Euro   Red,   found on   1,012   cars,   while   the   least   chosen   was   Gray   Metallic,   with   only   28   made.   Interior   color choices   (and   production   figures)   were   Charcoal   Gray   (1,343),   Natural   Beige   (767),   and   Maroon (413).

1991

In   1991,   Cadillac   added   a   power-latching   mechanism   for   the   convertible   top,   and   the   digital instrument   cluster,   featured   in   all   but   275   Allanté   models   this   year,   was   repriced   (it   was   now   a $495   option   for   the   convertible   model).   Prices   began   at   $57,260,   although   a   midyear   price-drop brought   the Allanté   convertible   down   to   $55,900,   and   the   hardtop/convertible   down   to   $61,450 (from   $62,810).   Allanté   still   boasted   the   most   luggage   room   in   its   class;   an   astonishing   16.3 cubic   feet   of   storage   (when   utilizing   the   pass-through   compartment   into   the   cabin   area),   more than   twice   the   7.9   cu   ft   (220   L)   trunk   of   a   Mercedes   SL.   Of   the   1,928   models   produced   for   1991, only   seven   were   manufactured   for   export   –   five   to   Canada,   one   to   Italy,   and   another   to   Puerto Rico.   Canadian   models   offered   a   kilometer-based   instrument   cluster,   daytime   running   lamps, and   an   engine   block   heater   as   standard   equipment,   while   the   Italian   model   featured   a   list   of European-mandated     modifications,     including     breakaway     side     mirrors,     specific     European headlamps   and   turn   signals,   a   front   tow   hook,   rear   fog   lamps,   deletion   of   the   deck-lid   mounted center   brake   light,   a   wet-arm   windshield   washer   system,   coolers   for   the   power   steering   and automatic   transmission   fluids,   and   a   revised   steering   column   to   compensate   for   the   removal   of the   driver's   airbag.   The   rarest   factory   color   was   49U   –   Light   Blue   Metallic,   of   which   20   were made,   while   the   most   popular   color   (with   569   manufactured)   was   47U   –   Euro   Red.   The   most popular   interior   color,   171   –   Charcoal   Gray   leather,   was   featured   in   over   half   (1,009)   of   the   1991 models.

1991

Engine 4.5 litres 8 cylinders Power 200 HP Lenght 4,5 m Widht 1,8 m The collections Allante has been driven only ~34 000 kilometres. BK- Group is the first owner of this unique piece. It has also the original optional hard top roof.