The Cadillac Cimarron from the '80s is perhaps the very best (or worst) example of rebranding gone awry. Based on the never-meant-for-a-Caddy J Platform, which underpinned the Pontiac Sunfire through 2005, the Cimarron marked the lowest point in Cadillac's illustrious history. The Caddy-that-wasn't is so bad, in fact, that it's claimed iconic status way earlier than most of Detroit's past iron, as evidenced by our reader-submitted Future Classics post from last year.
Those of you wanting to get in on the Cimarron action before
[Source: Craigslist]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
catgirlshyla @ Aug 20th 2008 9:32AM
JUNK IT!!
LloydChiro @ Aug 20th 2008 9:41AM
Catgirl, that is why you can't have nice things!
Donald @ Aug 20th 2008 9:54AM
That ball just saved your life, lady!
But seriously, these were Pieces of S, and my only fear is that they'll become "beloved" just like the carptastic Gremlin and other unmentionable "cherries" of the horrid 70's.
I think catgirlshyla has the right idea (and the most appropriate movie reference I've seen in a while).
Tim @ Aug 20th 2008 9:40AM
I'd buy them just to have the pleasure of using them for target practice.
LloydChiro @ Aug 20th 2008 9:43AM
A Cavalier with leather interior and Cadillac badges. Are we in Oakland? Brilliant idea.
Jimbo @ Aug 20th 2008 9:45AM
Will it blend?
tanooki2003 @ Aug 20th 2008 9:55AM
Actually Jeremy the Cadillac Cimarron underpins the Chevrolet Cavalier, Pontiac Sunbird, and Buick Skyhawk which is based on the god awful J Body platform.
The Sunfire came out in 1995 and was a much newer and restructured J Body Platform, which I think still sucked.
AZMike @ Aug 20th 2008 10:09AM
one question for all the haters here: how many of you have actually ever owned or driven a 1985-1988 Cimarron?
news flash: they aren't just "rebadged Cavaliers". if you'd ever driven one, you'd know that. GM took the extra money and put it in the suspension, interior, and insulation. they drive nothing like the Cavalier.
the V-6/5 speed manual combination is especially nice.
I know that from driving them: how about you???
...and for those Gremlin haters; which Japanese economy cars of the 70s era are now collector cars? the Toyota Carina? the Datsun Honey Bee? perhaps the Subaru 360 or FF1?
AZMike
tanooki2003 @ Aug 20th 2008 10:40AM
Ummm OK. Moving on
SGV @ Aug 20th 2008 10:41AM
The Gremlins, Vegas and Pintos were such horrible car that they alone open the gates of the Japanese invasion, by giving incentive to the visionary Japanese auto-makers to make better economy cars. They may have had been as bad as the domestic in the early 80s, but unlike the domestic, they did a very innovative thing . . . they improved.
I don't think that these Cimarrons will never reach the iconic status of the AMC Gremlin. For that it would have needed some character, which, among many other good things, the Cimarron lacked of. I guess that the greatest achievement that the Cimarron can claim is being the grandfather of the current CTS . . . Cimarron Touring Sedan, anyone? . . . Oh, sorry, that's right . . . it is Catera Touring Sedan!!! Hello ducky!
Tim @ Aug 20th 2008 11:04AM
How about comparing the cadillac to cars of its own era. was it a competent car? Yes. But compared to the Nissan Maxima's & Toyota cressida's (larger of course) of its time it was found by many consumers to be lacking. That said you still see a lot of iterations of this car in Europe.
Mike @ Aug 20th 2008 11:47AM
If you look at it from a logical standpoint, 3 cars for 2000$ each, with a 4th car for parts, would be a great buy for some crash-prone blonde ditzy daughter :)
Ken Stamper @ Aug 20th 2008 4:36PM
I don't think its the fact that the Cimarron was a terrible car in isolation, but rather that it was Caddy's answer to small euro sport sedans like the the Merc 190 and BMW 3 series. The Cimarron might have been a very good Cavalier, but I mean come on!!! You would have to be an epic GM or American car fanboi to have wanted a Cimarron over one of those.
wumpus @ Aug 20th 2008 9:09PM
Barrett-Jackson auction 2008 in Arizona included a honeybee, when did they last offer a gremlin?
[learned to drive in a honeybee, vastly better than my friend's vega]
Harrison @ Aug 21st 2008 12:26AM
Nissan Skyline GT-R.
ben @ Aug 21st 2008 3:25AM
my dad had one, back in the late 80's, and we were impressed by all the hi-tech stuff they put in: the all-digital dashboard, power-seats driver & passenger, and yes...HEAD-UP DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER on windshield (i am not kidding).
UH2L @ Aug 20th 2008 10:26AM
Besides the fact that this was a branding no-no for Cadillac, I know of one other person who had a Cimarron in her family and they liked it. Some of those old J-cars ran forever and I'm sure there were some differences between a regular J and the Cimarron. I actually liked the looks of the last generation version. I wouldn't mind having one. Too bad it didn't come with the bulletproof 2.5 L 4 cylinder engine that I had on my Olds Calais in college. It had fuel injection, a 3 spd automatic, just enough power, sounded like a diesel at low speed, smoothed out as it got faster and it got me 34-36 mpg on the highway.
UH2L @ Aug 20th 2008 10:29AM
Besides the fact that this was a branding no-no for Cadillac, I know of one other person who had a Cimarron in her family and they liked it. Some of those old J-cars ran forever and I'm sure there were some differences between a regular J and the Cimarron. I actually liked the looks of the last generation version. I wouldn't mind having one. Too bad it didn't come with the bulletproof 2.5 L 4 cylinder engine that I had on my Olds Calais in college. It had fuel injection, a 3 spd automatic, just enough power, sounded like a diesel at low speed, smoothed out as it got faster and it got me 34-36 mpg on the highway.
Kevin @ Aug 20th 2008 10:39AM
It just makes sense that this post comes from North Carolina.
JMC 3 @ Aug 20th 2008 10:52AM
They really need a legitimate 3 series/C class premium compact and /or subcompact and put the Cimarron legacy behind them.
That's the new challenge for luxury makes today with gas prices so high.