Weird American car spotted in Melb today - what is it?

[wrongwaynorris]

I thought the CTS was ugly till I scrolled down , quick a hot poker to put out my eyes . What has been seen can not be unseen .

[Moby Vic]

Originally Posted by BLOWN.GTP

It's a Cadillac CTS and they have a vinyl roof option in the States.

I don't think it's a factory option. Dealers still put those abominations on cars for old geezers, especially here in Florida.

[JC]

Originally Posted by gcg2503

You can see the similarities between the two number plates

For such dodgy taste in cars he has one of the nicest houses I have seen ... ever....

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he also has an el camino ute and other much nicer cars

Call me weird, but I like it. A lot! Great colour combo (yes, I'm a supplements fan...oops, bombers fan) and the style kind of looks like the batman car from the Adam West TV series - not really the same, just similar style.

[Rev28K]

I've seen about 6 or 7 of them driving around Melbourne, LHD for evaluation testing. They always look disproportionate and ungainly to my eyes. It's like they deliberately made a decision to make it look ugly. Bob Lutz has said that GM has some weird conventions that affected the styling of some of their cars (new roofs have to fit existing sunroofs, etc) but this ...

The coupe was the meant to be the "looker" of the bunch. http://www.cadillac.com/cts-v-sport-coupe.html
I still don't think that they are attractive. Something as old and conservative as the Commodore Coupe (AKA Monaro) eats it for visual appeal.

[chevypower]

^^^ Because aesthetic values aren't subjective or anything, they must be absolute.

[AG3]

Originally Posted by BLOWN.GTP

It's a Cadillac CTS and they have a vinyl roof option in the States.

It looks like an aftermarket conversion, Cadillac hasn't offered this option in years.

[Thornie]

Sure its not a great wall? it's ugly enough to be.

[Lardman]

I'd still take a CTS-V Wagon. Dat Supercharged LS.

[MY70GT]

You still find the vinyl roof options, all are aftermarket add ons. Mostly old fart cars....Lincolns, Cadillac, etc. They are called carriage roofs, and the height of the popularity they were found on most Luxury cars of the late 70's and into the 80's.

Here is a cool read about them.

http://www.examiner.com/article/viny...history-part-1

[Pedro]

A 2 door prototype was on display at Pebble Beach when I was there 2008 ....

[Moby Vic]

Coupe:
http://www.cadillac.com/cts-luxury-coupe.html

http://www.cadillac.com/cts-v-sport-coupe.html

Sedan:
http://www.cadillac.com/cts-sport-sedan.html

http://www.cadillac.com/cts-v-luxury-sedan.html

[Bossxr8]

The sky high rear end looks terrible. The bootlid is nearly as high as the roof.

[MrZ]

Very common in the US on everything from Sonatas, Camrys, Accords, 300s, even Lexus ES350s and LS460s.

[Moby Vic]

I think it's due to crash standards. It's been that way since the mid-'90s at least.

With all the big trucks and SUVs we have, you need a tall trunk if you don't want to be run over.

[SteveJH]

Originally Posted by Moby Vic

I think it's due to crash standards. It's been that way since the mid-'90s at least.

With all the big trucks and SUVs we have, you need a tall trunk if you don't want to be run over.

Don't think that explains it. Last time I checked we and Europe have been overrun with trucks and SUV's as well.

The backs of cars do tend to be higher now then they used to be, but in the case of the CTS I think its probably more a styling thing.

[Moby Vic]

I'm not fond of current Cadillac styling, but I will grant that it's distinctive. You don't look at it and think it's anything but a Cadillac.

And they've stuck with that design theme ("Art&Science") since they introduced it over a decade ago.

[tweeked]

Originally Posted by Kryton

I believe until the GFC, we were going to get the Cadillac CTS here.

This is spot on, they were actually dropped after few were built, a real 11.58pm decision.

I am know someone who worked for GMH back then, and even had a ride in one he had for the weekend. Only a handful came over in the first shipment.