1 of 1 Pearl Flax: 1992 Cadillac Allante
How do you make a car special? Well, you make only one of them. I like owning cars made in small batches, ideally with 3,000 or fewer examples made, but this Cadillac Allante takes it to a whole ‘nother level, with the seller claiming it’s a one-of-one owing to its novel paint scheme. The Cadillac is supposedly the only car painted in a shade known as “Pearl Flax” (in 1992), and it appears that the seller has the receipts to back it up. Find it here on Facebook Marketplace for $8,500.
That’s not a lot of coin for a modestly collectible model. The Allante has always been a bit of a question mark in the enthusiast marketplace, but that’s not necessarily its fault. As a cruiser, it’s hard to beat, and I still think it’s a very pretty design that has aged well. Of course, the best year to buy is the 1993 example, as the final year model got a healthy bump in horsepower courtesy of the Northstar V8 under the hood. The 1992 model year production was still quite limited, however, with just 1,931 units rolling off the assembly line. Mileage is safely under 100,000, so the cosmetics appear to be tidy as well.
The Allante was a luxury cruiser, first and foremost, so you didn’t have to look too hard to find high-end touches throughout. Of course, given the astronomical costs to produce the Allante, one would hope that the cockpit would at least feel high-end. Cadillac lost a ridiculous amount of money on every Allante it sold, so it doesn’t surprise me there was a bean counter eager to pull the plug on the multi-continent experiment. The 1992 models were the last year to get the supportive Recaro seats shown here, which appear to be in excellent condition with only modest signs of aging.
Here’s the data provided by the seller as to why this Allante is so special. While Pearl Flax became an option in 1993, it was a true one-off in 1992. Now, I suspect the novelty is diluted a bit by the fact that it became a paint code anyone could order the following year, but I still understand why the seller calls it out as a significant feature for a car from the 1992 model year. The seller notes that this car has had just 3 owners from new and benefits from recent maintenance including new injectors, but that the price reflects the need for new tires. What say you – does this one-of-one history make this Allante a serious collector’s item or just a curiosity?
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Comments
I don’t know anything about these, and frankly haven’t seen one (or even had one cross my mind) in years. I always thought they were kind of plain-looking, not really in-character for a Cadillac. But now, I think I better appreciate the clean styling. The soft yellow actually looks pretty good to me. Not expensive. Might be a good opportunity to have a modern-ish, rarely seen cruiser.
Thanks Jeff.
“Documented in “All Allante Colors” by Robert Casey as the only 1992 Allante in Pearl Flax.”
There’s an unusual amount of detail in the paragraph about the seller’s car. Mr. Casey has written several books on GM color stats from this period. He must have access to some fascinating data.
As for this car, the unique color makes it more interesting, but I doubt it’s any more valuable, especially since it was a regular-order color for 1993. That pilot production of 1993s started the day this car was scheduled to be built takes away even more.
The fact that this color was an option in 1993 means nothing to the fact that it is a 1-of-1 for 1992. There will never be another one. An interview with the original owner would be quite interesting.
Once popular w the Country Club crowd. ⛳️ 🏌️♂️
That color looks like a once whiteish beige PC now stained with age and sun to… this yellowish color. Appropriate to the era.
The color is not stained yellow from age or sun, you’re just seeing some photos were taken in different light. The pearl white on these cars does not turn yellow with age, in fact it gets more white and faded losing it’s pearl highlights. Very familiar with these cars and that paint code
That is not what he said
Although the Northstar might be a desirable power plant for performance, it sure wasn’t for reliability. I would buy this car and cruise it on the weekends are an occasional long trip.
You can call old man tan anything you like, its still old man tan.
It’s not as tan as it looks in the pictures; it just didn’t photograph well in the available light. I assure you, it’s a pale yellow (used for quite a few years by Cadillac without the pearlcoat), which the pearl mid-coat sets off very nicely.
The color was most likely “created” — or at least first imagined — by Oldsmobile. Early in the 1990 model year they built a four door W-body Cutlass Supreme for the show car circuit to foreshadow the upcoming, new for 1991 Cutlass Supreme four door models and finished it in what became Pearl Flax — Cadillac’s regular Flax basecoat, which was then turned into a tricoat finish with the application of the pearl mid-coat used on Diamond White Pearl vehicles, followed by the clearcoat outer coat.
That same process, by the way, is how, after forty years or so of being just a pastel, non-metallic pink, Mary Kay Pink became Mary Kay Pink Pearl on the GM vehicles that they supplied to their top producers.
I have a ’93, with the Northstar, and 135,000 miles, some dings, not a museum piece, so I drive it. Very fast, very comfortable, very noisy with top down, soft top up, or hardtop on. Major transmission issues turned out to be the main computer, about $180. Driver’s airbag only. But wife does not like the noise, so, usually just me anyway. Remote oil level sensor gasket leaks, repaired twice in my ownership, part is about $15. These are very underpriced as a way into the hobby of old car ownership. I have only seen one other in the remote part of CA where I live, and, only this one and one other when I lived in southern NH.
Did Cadillac ever fix the power pull-down on the convertible top? I remember many waiting to be repaired at the Caddy dealer.
This is not a Northstar, it is the 4.5.
I believe it was mentioned that it wasn’t the troublesome Northstar V8.
However, the 4.5 wasn’t very good either. What were they thinking?
I noticed 2 different steering wheels; 1 new with wood trim, the other well-worn grey. Which one is on the car now? Ad doesn’t say.
The fake wood trimmed one is a steering wheel cover
Wife had an ’89 Allante. I was always afraid of the digital dash failing – you know, typical GM electrics. Isn’t the Northstar engine known for major failings, head gasket or something? As nice as an Allante is, and I drove hers for several thousand miles, I prefer my 1991 Toyota Celica convertible – more roomy, much better top and it is absolutely dead quiet with the top and windows down at 75+mph so long as there are no side winds plus that vaunted Toyota quality!
Had one that color, but one year newer. The color is pearl white on these, not tan or yellow as some are commenting. It’s just the sun light reflections making the car seem some other color.
unfortunately (to me) stuff like the final piece in the write up seem to matter (sale price, importance, etc). To me it’s a bit like provenance. I dont care who owned it even if they ran for or were elected president, etc. I care abt the basic item itself, any way I’ve already spent too much energy on just what I said is less significant.
I like how all the manufacturer copy one another. World cars too (when they get together). Over view and ‘study’ of the industry is a fascination 4 me beyond the daily wrenchin (corporate head personality, community policy, market movement). Now this car brings up my Q: “Is this caddy’s MB copy?” (SLK? SE? 300CE?) Example the fairlady is a direct MG copy, hilman & duette wagon isa plymouth suburban etc. Fun to look at engineering too, beyond ‘look’/style/design. W engine with the ve dub, 3 cyl, V4 & other engineering design.
If the MB ‘alternative’ I’d say “Good on ya mate” OK car (tou,gh motor to wrk on in this location) fine item to copy. I’d rather C it like the vette (more american style – truck motor & rear end in light format) but good on ya for multi approaches asa company. Might B comfortable AND fun both…
Another front wheel mistake that to some of the most promising cars out of GM. Do I have to name them? I feel cars like the Allante, Riviera, Tornado, and others of this vintage would have been better with rear wheel drive and don’t forget the Buick Reatta. When I look at what these gorgeous cars are going for today it makes me angry. What wasted promise. I don’t care about the reasons why but that’s just my preference.