Random Car Wednesday: Cadillac Allanté

Sometimes a car with all the right credentials can still manage to be a slow seller. Such was the case with today's RCW, the Cadillac Allanté. The late 1980's were a dark time for Cadillac, as evidenced by the mere existence of the Cimmaron. The manufacturer hoped to enter the premium sports car market and regain some popularity, so they began to develop a vehicle that would compete with the Mercedes-Benz SL and the Jaguar XJS. The ingredients seemed like the perfect storm. The luxurious interior would provide comfort and refinement. Power would be derived from a 4.1-liter V8, which would provide the front wheels with 170 horsepower to work with. On top of all that, the body was designed and built by legendary coachbuilder Pininfarina. The final result was a stylish sports convertible that mixed American power with European looks. However, sales were sluggish. The front wheel drive layout compromised handling, giving an edge to the Allanté's competitors. In the final year of production, the car got Cadillac's 4.6-liter Northstar V8, which upped horsepower to 295, a colossal improvement. This wasn't enough to save the car, though, and production ended after 1993. This particular car is a very pretty Northstar-powered example, and it looks very good. Blue was the most uncommon color choice for the Allanté, with most buyers opting for red or white. The Pininfarina badge is a cool feature, and the car does look fairly good, especially when compared to Cadillac's other models from this time period. It's a shame that this interesting machine never lived up to its potential. Done right, it could've been an extremely good car.

1993 Cadillac Allanté