The Cadillac Catera nameplate was short-lived, with production lasting just five years between 1996 and 2001. However, that relative anonymity makes the Catera a great candidate for a sleeper build, as evidenced by this particular example from the 2001 model year fitted with an LS7 V8 engine.
This Cadillac Catera was originally leased new from Rinke Cadillac in Warren, Michigan, but was promptly delivered to Lingenfelter Performance Engineering for a long list of go-fast goodies. One of the first things Lingenfelter did was yank out the factory 3.0L V6 L81 engine and four-speed 4L30-E automatic transmission, replacing it with the 5.7L LS6 V8 and Tremec T56 six-speed manual transmission. The setup connects to an LPE custom two-piece driveshaft and 3.46:1 limited-slip differential from a fifth-gen Pontiac GTO.
Later, the build ditched the LS6 in favor of a custom 7.0L LS7 V8, which sports a Corvette C5R-based block, ported LS6 heads, LS6 intake, custom airbox, custom headers, and custom 2.5-inch exhaust.
The suspension was also upgraded with Eibach lowering springs and Steinmetz sway bars, plus a front strut tower brace. Disc brakes from an Opel shed the speed.
Inside, there’s charcoal leather upholstery, heated front seats and wood trim, while a power sunroof is up top. Automatic climate control helps to keep it comfy, and a Bose stereo provides the soundtrack. There’s also a custom Momo steering wheel.
Granted, this Cadillac Catera isn’t a total sleeper, as there are a few outward indications of its performance intentions, including custom 17-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin rubber, a bright mesh grille insert, and some V-Spec badging as well. Still, it’s not too often you see a Cadillac Catera with an LS7 on board, and we think any casual observer would be surprised to learn about this four-door’s massive performance upgrade.
Now, this Cadillac Catera is up for grabs on Bring A Trailer with 42,000 miles shown. As of this writing (07/21/20), the sedan’s current bid is set at $5,700, with six days left in the auction before the auction ends Monday, July 27th.
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Source: Bring A Trailer
Comments
Since this article didn’t mention the platform, it’s crucial to note that the Pontiac GTO uses a platform derived from the Catera. The GTO is technically a platform revision above the Catera, but the important bits all link up just like W-Body, Zeta, etc.
So, this isn’t as stupendous as it might read. It’s fairly bolt-on.
Main reason you don’t do this (money-wise) is safety. A Zeta car is worlds safer in a high speed collision. Even a GTO has considerable safety structure improvements.
Both the GTO and the Catera were based on the Opel Omega. No car was ever derived from the Catera. The car originated as the Opel. The GTO was a rebadged Holden Monoro, a 2 door version of the basic Opel, and built in Australia alongside the Monoro. The Catera was built at the Opel plant in Germany alongside Omegas. Holden also based its Statesman and Caprice Sedans on the same basic Opel.
Oh, the Catera. Takes me back a few years! I leased a brand new 1998 and loved the car. Unfortunately, I decided to total out a Buick Skylark by rear ending it on a very bright sunny day. Didn’t see her blinker and brake lights till it was too late and the rest was history. Ended up the insurance company wouldn’t total the Catera and it took the dealership over 3 months to fix it. When it was all done, they went to start it and found that the timing belt had “jumped” and the engine was now trash. 3 months more……finally got the car back and was just not happy with driving a nearly brand new Cadillac that was rebuilt but should have been totaled. Sold the car and paid off the lease early, but probably should have just kept the car. It was a great driving vehicle. Now fast forward about 10 years and I was back working for the Buick and Cadillac store. Sure enough, they traded in a dark polo green with tan leather, very low miles Catera. Clean carfax and very clean car, so I was able to pick it up for $2200! This was my way to redeem myself after the first one.
Overall, there are just two things that I would say about the two Catera’s that I had: First, they were not very powerful. I would love to have driven one with a big old V8 under the hood. Second, the sunroof’s in those car suck.
I leased a new 1997. I loved it. The interior was one of the best of any car I’ve had.
My sunroof was no trouble.
Agree, the interiors were really good. I actually liked the 2001 interior better (looks wise), but the 1998 was actually the higher quality of the two. Funny, because if I could have taken the outside of the 2001 (yes, I actually liked the slightly more squared off design) with the interior of the 1998, dropped about 50 more ponies under the hood and without a sunroof, that would be as close to my perfect car I could want. Talk about a solid ride. But both gave me sunroof issues.
I had thoughts of buying one in the late 90’s but never did. Could have use a bit more power but for it’s time it was a great car.
Drove a 1998 Catera at test drive with 4 foreign cars. Catera did well. A year later bought a loaded 1999 Olds Intrigue GLS. Slightly bigger $5000 less but you heard the bumps. Catera absorbed them.
‘Sleeper’ is a colossal understatement; in a straight line at least, that car would be the equal to—or better than—most other cars on the street providing the rear tires didn’t immediately go up in smoke. Leave it to LPE to complete a very difficult swap and make it look like it came off the Cadillac assembly line.
I only remember the Catera because of the quirky TV ads for it at the time that featured a cartoon bird, “Ziggy,” and the slogan, “The Caddy that zigs.” Cadillac was floundering back then, trying to find it’s identity among the Beemers and Benzes that dominated the luxury market.
Ziggy didn’t help much.