1989 Cadillac Allante

Beginning in 1987, Allante was a GM computer-generated name for a luxury roadster program coming from the French word allant, which means goer in English. It is also a Spanish word meaning toward the front.
GM Cadillac introduced the Allanté Roadster Program to compete with the Mercedes 560SL 2-seat hardtop / soft top convertible. Allanté bodies and interiors were designed, manufactured, and assembled in Italy by Pininfarina (of Ferrari and Fiat fame) and were shipped 4600 miles in specially equipped Boeing 747s from Turin to Detroit for final assembly on a shortened US Cadillac Eldorado chassis and drive-train. The car does not ride like a typical rough roadster; it floats like an Eldorado.
The program lasted 7 years (87 93) at a total limited production of 21,430 cars with 1989 being the third highest production model year. This car is a 46K-mile 1989 original factory survivor with the reliable Cadillac multi-port fuel injection 4.5L (273ci) V8 of 200 HP and 270 LB-FT of torque coupled with a GM THM-F7 4-speed turbo hydromatic transmission and 3.21:1 FWD transaxle. The 89 base price was $57,183 ($152,062 in 2025) including factory upgrades of theft deterrence (Pass Key System), Speed Dependent Damping Control (SDC) system, and the variable assist steering system. Performance for the 1989 model was a top speed of 134 MPH, 0-60 in 8.5 seconds, ¼-mile time of 16.3 seconds at 85 MPH, and fuel economy of 15/22 on regular unleaded gas.
This model came loaded with every available power and comfort option including Bosch ABS 4-wheel power disk brakes, Bose Sound System, and 10-way power Recaro heated leather seats with console. Owned only 3 years by its first owner, it spent most of its life until 2022 with a rare-car collector that retained multiple cars in Florida and Georgia. It has its original sheet metal with one repaint and shows virtually no defects except a couple of cracks in bumper corners, including being virtually rust-free. It has lived in Lubbock, TX in an arid climate since September 2022.
The hardtop is a removable light aluminum (58 pounds) to be stored in the special included GM roll-around rack when removed. The soft top (replaced by previous owner) is manually operated (no hydraulics maintenance like the expensive Mercedes), and when down is stored under a hard-cover compartment behind the seats. Essentially, the tops operate like the classic 50s Tri-Five 2-seat Ford Thunderbirds. Really handy for all seasons of the year.
Replacements: Radio AMP; rear speakers; rear disk brakes and calipers; R-12 refrigerant, compressor, and accumulator upgraded to R-134A; new Hanscom radial tires; new battery; and one repaint in factory red in base-coat / clear-coat.