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Allantes are exceptional cars but there are a few things to consider before buying one. As with all major purchases on eBay, research your seller, ask questions and if there is any doubt, hire a company to evaluate the vehicle for you if it is outside of your area. This is true of all car purchases on eBay. There are several issues unique to Allantes. Allantes were designed and built in Italy by the legendary Pininfarina of Rolls Royce and Ferrari fame, on Cadillac Eldorado chasis.
There were just 21,000 built from 1987 to 1993. Each reportedly cost significantly more to build and ship from Milan to Detroit via 747 jets, yet sold for between $55,000 and $60,000. During that time there were 3 phases with minor differences. Some things may be more important to you than others so the year may be important.
Phase I Allantes were built from '87-89. The '87s and '88s were fine cars, but were known to leak and have some other bugs that were worked out in 1989. Pininfarina begged Cadillac not to release the car until '89, but Mercedes and Jaguar were stealing their customers and they released the car in '87.
In 1989, they got it right. Nearly all of the '87s and '88s were repaired in a recall, but the '89s were right the first time out. The power plant and handling were upgraded. As the car goes faster, the steering and suspension gets tighter and more precise. At slower speeds, the '89 offers a gentler city-smart ride. An express-down window feature was also added. As was a resistor/chip in the ignition key as a security feature.
Phase II Allantes (1990-1992) offer airbags and a CD player making them the best equipped versions. The standard additional removable hardtop becomes an option and may not come with your '90-92. In 1990.5 the manual top got a pair of power latches.
Phase III Allantes (1992.5 -1993) offered some amazing new technology and a couple of compromises. The new technology was the first of the remarkable Northstar engines. They are durable and powerful, making the 1993s a little more valuable in some regards. But Cadillac was losing money on this car and had to cut a few costs. The Phase I and II cars had both soft tops and a removable hard top – which was essentially eliminated in 1993. The faux vent windows which allowed passengers to speak normally with the top down at 55 MPH were also eliminated. So was the exceptional Bose sound system. (although the cheaper sound system has been more reliable.) And the legendary Austrian-made Recaro racing seats were replaced with lest costly Eldorado seats. Finally the advanced technology of the redundant lighting system that was standard from '87-'92 was eliminated. Prior to '93, the onboard computer would activate a back-up light if one of the exterior bulbs blew out. Brake lights, turn signals, headlamps and markers all have back-ups through '92. Yet, for all the cost-cutting, the 1993 Allante weighed an extra 400 lbs. Despite these negatives, the '93 is still the most coveted year because of the Northstar engine.
Make sure the year you buy offers the updates you want.
And make sure you ask these 5 questions before you buy or bid:
(All Phases) Does everything in the DIC work and is there any black creeping into the LCD displays? The DIC is the central Driver Information Center (sometimes called the Tower) housing the computer, temperature controls, radio, everything. If it is bad, a new one can still be purchased from GM, but it will cost you more than $5,000. There are also used ones on eBay for $500.
(All Phases) Does it come with the Owner's Manual? If you do not read the owner's manual in this car before operating it or taking the top up or down, you run a high risk of damaging some little thing that will make you crazy. If it doesn't come with a manual, order one from eBay! It is worth every penny.
(All Phases) Does the pull-down motor and latch work freely and smoothly? If not, it can be frustrating to put the top back up every time. Usually all that is needed is a little alignment, but a car that works as it should is a real pleasure. One that does not is a huge annoyance.
(Phase I & II) When was the last time the Brake Fluid was changed? Unlike other cars, the Allante has a remarkable compressed nitrogen system and the brake fluid should be replaced every 24 months to prevent a failure. If the seller glosses over this, chances are he was not the first owner and he has never even thought of changing the brake fluid.
(Phase I & II) Have the Speakers been rebuilt? Do they squeal? The Bose speakers can not be replaced with normal speakers. The 4 speaker units each have amplifiers built in. And the original resistors were weak and known to fail. Many have already been rebuilt. Many have not. If they squeal or don't work at all, you can have them replaced professionally for about $1,200 or you can remove and repair them yourself with $10 and a little help from Radio Shack. All you really need to do is replace the resistors inside each of the 4 units. It is a pain. And getting a car that doesn't need this attention is a big plus.
Things not to worry about:
Minor leather cracking or missing finish on the Recaro leather seats can be easily retouched with a leather dying kit available on eBay.
Dirty Floor Mats are not typically a concern as they were designed to be reversible and machine washable. Also, really excellent after-market mats are available on eBay.
Insurance is easy and affordable for these cars. If you are insuring it as a "daily driver", the age of the car will keep it affordable, and if you are using it for pleasure only, Allantes are considered early classics and are eligible for classic car insurance for around just $200 annually.
If you think the car you are buying may need parts, literature or service, visit www.allantesource.com and ask them if they have what you need. They are an excellent resource for parts, advice and honest, reliable and passionate service. They have helped make Allante ownership a joy for me.
An Allante is a fine Italian roadster filled with American luxuries that make a very exciting driving experience. Figure out what you want out of it, ask a few questions and you'll have yourself an amazing vehicle at a tiny fraction of the original cost. Happy shopping!
There were just 21,000 built from 1987 to 1993. Each reportedly cost significantly more to build and ship from Milan to Detroit via 747 jets, yet sold for between $55,000 and $60,000. During that time there were 3 phases with minor differences. Some things may be more important to you than others so the year may be important.
Phase I Allantes were built from '87-89. The '87s and '88s were fine cars, but were known to leak and have some other bugs that were worked out in 1989. Pininfarina begged Cadillac not to release the car until '89, but Mercedes and Jaguar were stealing their customers and they released the car in '87.
In 1989, they got it right. Nearly all of the '87s and '88s were repaired in a recall, but the '89s were right the first time out. The power plant and handling were upgraded. As the car goes faster, the steering and suspension gets tighter and more precise. At slower speeds, the '89 offers a gentler city-smart ride. An express-down window feature was also added. As was a resistor/chip in the ignition key as a security feature.
Phase II Allantes (1990-1992) offer airbags and a CD player making them the best equipped versions. The standard additional removable hardtop becomes an option and may not come with your '90-92. In 1990.5 the manual top got a pair of power latches.
Phase III Allantes (1992.5 -1993) offered some amazing new technology and a couple of compromises. The new technology was the first of the remarkable Northstar engines. They are durable and powerful, making the 1993s a little more valuable in some regards. But Cadillac was losing money on this car and had to cut a few costs. The Phase I and II cars had both soft tops and a removable hard top – which was essentially eliminated in 1993. The faux vent windows which allowed passengers to speak normally with the top down at 55 MPH were also eliminated. So was the exceptional Bose sound system. (although the cheaper sound system has been more reliable.) And the legendary Austrian-made Recaro racing seats were replaced with lest costly Eldorado seats. Finally the advanced technology of the redundant lighting system that was standard from '87-'92 was eliminated. Prior to '93, the onboard computer would activate a back-up light if one of the exterior bulbs blew out. Brake lights, turn signals, headlamps and markers all have back-ups through '92. Yet, for all the cost-cutting, the 1993 Allante weighed an extra 400 lbs. Despite these negatives, the '93 is still the most coveted year because of the Northstar engine.
Make sure the year you buy offers the updates you want.
And make sure you ask these 5 questions before you buy or bid:
(All Phases) Does everything in the DIC work and is there any black creeping into the LCD displays? The DIC is the central Driver Information Center (sometimes called the Tower) housing the computer, temperature controls, radio, everything. If it is bad, a new one can still be purchased from GM, but it will cost you more than $5,000. There are also used ones on eBay for $500.
(All Phases) Does it come with the Owner's Manual? If you do not read the owner's manual in this car before operating it or taking the top up or down, you run a high risk of damaging some little thing that will make you crazy. If it doesn't come with a manual, order one from eBay! It is worth every penny.
(All Phases) Does the pull-down motor and latch work freely and smoothly? If not, it can be frustrating to put the top back up every time. Usually all that is needed is a little alignment, but a car that works as it should is a real pleasure. One that does not is a huge annoyance.
(Phase I & II) When was the last time the Brake Fluid was changed? Unlike other cars, the Allante has a remarkable compressed nitrogen system and the brake fluid should be replaced every 24 months to prevent a failure. If the seller glosses over this, chances are he was not the first owner and he has never even thought of changing the brake fluid.
(Phase I & II) Have the Speakers been rebuilt? Do they squeal? The Bose speakers can not be replaced with normal speakers. The 4 speaker units each have amplifiers built in. And the original resistors were weak and known to fail. Many have already been rebuilt. Many have not. If they squeal or don't work at all, you can have them replaced professionally for about $1,200 or you can remove and repair them yourself with $10 and a little help from Radio Shack. All you really need to do is replace the resistors inside each of the 4 units. It is a pain. And getting a car that doesn't need this attention is a big plus.
Things not to worry about:
Minor leather cracking or missing finish on the Recaro leather seats can be easily retouched with a leather dying kit available on eBay.
Dirty Floor Mats are not typically a concern as they were designed to be reversible and machine washable. Also, really excellent after-market mats are available on eBay.
Insurance is easy and affordable for these cars. If you are insuring it as a "daily driver", the age of the car will keep it affordable, and if you are using it for pleasure only, Allantes are considered early classics and are eligible for classic car insurance for around just $200 annually.
If you think the car you are buying may need parts, literature or service, visit www.allantesource.com and ask them if they have what you need. They are an excellent resource for parts, advice and honest, reliable and passionate service. They have helped make Allante ownership a joy for me.
An Allante is a fine Italian roadster filled with American luxuries that make a very exciting driving experience. Figure out what you want out of it, ask a few questions and you'll have yourself an amazing vehicle at a tiny fraction of the original cost. Happy shopping!
Guide created: 05/23/08 (updated 06/26/09)
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