The largest gathering of Allanté convertibles and their drivers is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 18 in Grand Rapids Michigan at Harvey Cadillac in Grand Rapids. Its younger sibling the XLR will be an integral part of this as well. [1,2,3]
Allanté orbits intersect Saline regularly, in a variety of ways. In 2013, Lafontaine Jeep Chrysler Dodge proudly offered for sale a silver 1991 model appointed similar to what JR Ewing drove in the original Dallas TV series. Last summer, a low mileage red 1993 was available for purchase. Corfman Auto Plus has developed a real expertise in trouble-shooting issues and reliably solving them to keep these cars on the road. [4,5,6,7,8]
If you drive an Allanté, chances are high that Bob Lane drove it first. He worked for General Motors during the seven years that these vehicles came off the line in Hamtramck. Saline Journal is unaware of possible plans to update local history records with aforementioned details. [9,10]
Allanté is significant from a more global perspective as well — particularly in terms of its final year of production where the Northstar engine debuted. A representative example earned a coveted place as one of only 135 cars on permanent display at the GM Heritage Center in Sterling Heights. Another served among a limited number of ceremonial backdrop vehicles during groundbreaking for the Cadillac-LaSalle Club Museum and Research Center, and an Indianapolis 500 event car was subsequently donated to the collection when it opened in 2014. [11,12,13,14]
Approximately three dozen Allantés appeared for its dedication ceremony on the campus of the Gilmore Car Museum. [15]
Although billed as the “Third Annual,” this niche show has actually been around quite a bit longer and evolved from ad hoc venues. It is organized by the Allanté-XLR Chapter of the Cadillac & LaSalle Club, the former of which is based in Chicago and dates its founding to November of 1996 by the late Bob Klopfer. That goes a long way to making this a compelling go-to for owner networking, prospective buyers, and people simply enamored of the Allanté in general. [16,17,18]
More information about the Third Annual Allanté Invitational car show can be found on the Allanté-XLR Chapter website. Harvey Cadillac in Grand Rapids is located 140 miles west-northwest of Saline.
References
- “1987-1993 Cadillac Allante” George Mattar (November 2007) Hemmings.
- Harvey Cadillac (home page).
- “The History and Evolution of the Cadillac XLR” Nat Berman (2018) Money Inc.
- Lafontaine Jeep Chrysler Dodge (home page).
- “Cadillac Allante 1991 with hardtop, at Lafontaine Chrysler Jeep Dodge Auto Dealership (Saline, Michigan)” Dell Deaton (August 4, 2013) SmugMug.
- “A Car For The Rich And Famous” Jim Mateja (September 10, 1986) Chicago Tribune.
- “Low mileage 1993 Cadillac Allanté for sale (currently in for service at Corfman Auto in Saline MI)” Dell Deaton (July 18, 2017) Twitter.
- Corfman Auto Plus (home page).
- “Cadillac’s ‘world-sourcing’ of $54,700 Allante” Jan A Zverina (March 18, 1987) UPI.
- Saline Area Historical Society (home page).
- “By the Light of the North Star: 1993 Cadillac Northstar Series brochure” Mark J McCourt (November 16, 2016) Hemmings Daily.
- GM Heritage Center (home page).
- “Documentary on Cadillac & LaSalle Museum construction” Dell Deaton (September 18, 2014) Vimeo.
- “Allanté Indy 500 Pace Car donation to Cadillac-LaSalle Club Museum” Dell Deaton (September 1, 2014) Vimeo.
- “Cadillac-LaSalle Club Museum and Research Center” Gilmore Car Museum.
- Allanté-XLR Chapter of the Cadillac & LaSalle Club (home page).
- Cadillac & LaSalle Club (home page).
- “Bob Klopfer Allanté Chapter donation at 2013 Cadillac Museum Groundbreaking” Dell Deaton (October 2, 2014) YouTube.
