Do you know how long it’s been since Cadillac built a convertible? The last one was the XLR more than half a decade ago. Today’s Nice Price or Crack Pipe Cimarron is unexpectedly topless, but will that make it worth its asking price?
We’re saying goodbye today to the week’s seemingly endless parade of German cars, and we do so on a fairly somber note. That’s because yesterday’s really nice 1987 Audi 4000 just couldn’t make the case for its twenty-five grand asking price.
Yeah, it was amazing—probably the nicest 4000 out there—but when you’re up against the kind of competition that sort of price draws, it’s not unexpected that you’ll drop in a 79% Crack Pipe loss, just like our Audi did.
Do you remember when America made really great cars? I mean, the world’s best? No? Well, that’s probably because you’re not over a hundred years old. It’s true, history buffs. At one time American brands like Cadillac were considered among the world’s greatest. The top of the line GM brand was even used as the demarcation of quality in other categories: “The Cadillac of toasters” or “The Cadillac of stool softeners.”
Slowly however, things slid downhill for a number of decades. Then, in the late seventies, the marque introduced the Cimarron, a small four-door car of prosaic origin, and well, Caddy hasn’t quite recovered since.
That of course, is because the Cimarron didn’t offer a natty drop top like today’s custom—and obviously Cavalier-based—1988 convertible.
What’s been done here is the melding of second-gen Cimarron front clip with a Chevy Cavalier convertible body, made possible by their shared J-body underoos. Extra effort has gone into this conversion to Caddy, although the tail lights are from the earlier Cimarron and not the wrap-around units that match the later composite headlights up front.
Caddy wheels, a Caddy grille, hell, even a Caddy steering wheel, badging and seats, it all makes this a pretty convincing switcheroo. Underneath the disguise sits a Chevy LB6 2.8-litre V6 engine and three-speed automatic transaxle. That’s nothing too exciting, but also most likely rock solid and good to go for far more miles than the car’s claimed 44,000.
Above all that is a power convertible top, some decent white paint, and more gold trim than Flavor Fav’s “you-paying-me-for-this?”smile. No description of condition is offered in the ad, but this being a J-car—which are practically indestructible—I’d say it’s probably pretty decent.
Who would do something like build this? Who cares, it’s awesome! Sure, you could drive a similarly sized and aged Chrysler Town and Country K-car, but then so could you neighbor, and you hate him. This looks to be one of a kind and… it’s a Cadillac. The Cadillac of Cimarrons!
Should you want to take a ride in a top-down Cimarron, this one will cost you $5,500 for the pleasure. It’s now necessary that we vote on that price as it is applied to this custom Caddy. Would you pay that much for a Cimarron, even if it were a convertible? Or, is this mix and match J-car just too weird to ask that much?
You decide!
Providence RI Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to Nerd-in-Chief Nathan for the hookup!
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