The Cadillac Allante is an interesting case study: where else are you going to get an aluminum 2-seat convertible with a V8 engine leather-lined interior independent suspension 4-wheel disc brakes and Italian styling all for under $10000? This has to be the greatest automotive bargain in the world. The Allante is a noble automobile and should probably get credit for being the first sign that Cadillac was legitimately trying to rebuild their image. It's far far more than just a redesigned Cadillac and if you've ever driven one you already know that they're competent and fun to drive and the styling has aged quite well. Hard to believe that this car is almost 30 years old but the lovely pearl white finish looks great and given that the same color can still be found on 2014 Cadillacs it's definitely not dated. The bodywork underneath is in excellent order and thanks to the generally high build quality afforded by the artisans at Pininfarina it's held up better than most of its siblings from the era. The Allante was ahead of the curve with its white taillight lenses and it's always cool to see that little Cadillac badge in the center of the deck lid light up with the brakes. The taut-looking bumpers have just a little strip of chrome in them to remind you this is an upscale car and they haven't started to crack or delaminate due to age another sign of careful ownership. Yes the years have definitely been kind to this Allante. The burgundy leather interior was one of GM's better efforts of the period and thanks to durable materials and a sheltered life the leather hides remain in good condition. The most notable feature of the Allante's interior is probably the digital instrument panel which provides both graphical and numerical readings to monitor the engine's status and combined with a button-laden center stack it has a certain '80s future look to it. Perhaps more remarkably the gauges are fully functional and the original radio has been upgraded with a satellite radio interface to make it feel quite contemporary today. Everything was standard on the Allante including power windows and locks A/c cruise control a tilt column and a trip computer. The Allante's black canvas convertible top takes a bit of familiarization to operate properly but once you know what you're doing it stows easily and actually fits rather well. And there's a good-sized trunk that's fully upholstered in matching burgundy carpet. Cadillac's 4.1 liter V8 was the only powerplant available but it has great low-end torque and a throaty exhaust note that makes this 2-seat Italian-American hybrid feel more like a muscle car. It's also durable and reliable today and with obvious signs of maintenance you should be able to enjoy this one for years to come. The 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission gives it great off-the-line response and pleasant highway manners and even today the Allante is a great long-distance tourer. Add in a suspension that's supple yet athletic and 4-wheel disc brakes you get a competent car that doesn't trip over itself when the road starts to twist and turn. Handsome alloy wheels are a pretty obvious copy of the infamous Mercedes-Benz wheels but who can fault Cadillac for aiming high? Recent 225/60/15 radials look right and still have lots of tread left. No it won't make you rich overnight but if you're looking for an affordable 2-seat convertible that still turns heads the Allante is a very appealing choice. Call today! This vehicle is located in our Charlotte showroom. For more information please call or toll free . Price: $8,995
