Cadillac Allante (1989)

Cadillac Allante (1989) 1

Manufacturer : Cadillac
Productions : 1989
Engine : V8, 4.5 L HT-4500, 200 hp (149 kW) at 4300 rpm and 270 ft·lbf (366 N·m) at 3200 rpm
Transmission : 4 speed automatic transmission
Source : netcarshow.com

Originally designed under the code name “Callisto”, the Allanté was intended to restore Cadillac to its position as a credible competitor to the Mercedes-Benz 560SL. Its chassis and engine were originally taken from the Cadillac Eldorado, though it also shared components with the Buick Reatta, Riviera and the Oldsmobile Toronado.

The chassis of the Allanté was made in Detroit, then was loaded onto specially equipped jets and shipped to Italy where the body (which was designed by Pininfarina of Ferrari fame) was mounted to the chassis. Afterwards, the cars were loaded back on the jetliners and shipped back to the Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly plant in Michigan for completion. This led to a few interesting nicknames, such as “The Flying Italian Cadillac” and “the world’s longest assembly line.”

The Allanté was initially priced at US$54,000, far above the price of any other contemporary Cadillac. Today’s Cadillac XLR, also a convertible roadster, at roughly $70,000 is similarly priced at the top of the Cadillac range. Only 21,000 were built.

The car has appeared in the movies Tango & Cash, Cadillac Man, Terminal Velocity, Lethal Weapon 3 and “Rocky V’, and was the pace car at the 1992 Indianapolis 500. JR Ewing also sometimes drove an Allante in Dallas.