Once positioned as the entry-level sedan for General Motors’ luxury marque, the Cadillac Cimarron is typically known for its very quick 10-month development window. As such, the Caddy sedan boasted only minor changes as compared to its platform-mates, which included the Chevy Cavalier, Pontiac J2000, Oldsmobile Firenza, and Buick Skyhawk. With this in mind, today we’re taking a peek at this well-kept 1986 Cadillac Cimarron that’s recently been listed for sale online.
Posted for auction on Bring a Trailer, this 1986 Cimarron was purchased brand new from a dealership in Oregon, and then spent some time in Washington State and California. The ad notes that this luxury sedan currently boasts a clean California title in the seller’s name, and includes the manufacturer’s literature, service records, two sets of keys, and a clean Carfax report.
The exterior styling is very 1980s, which translates to a boxy design with gray lower cladding and orange pinstripes over a white paint job. This Cimarron also features an aftermarket power-operated sunroof, as well as fog lights and a bright luggage rack and trim.
Notably, the seller notes that the vehicle isn’t perfect. The power antenna and electric mirrors don’t work, while the front grille cap, lower cladding, and part of the left-front fender and driver’s door were repainted due to chips and scratches.
On the inside, we find power-adjustable front bucket seats and a rear bench, both of which are upholstered in tan leather. Creature comforts include air conditioning, power windows and locks, cruise control, and a Delco stereo with Bose Symphony Sound.
Service records show that the air conditioning compressor, condenser, and accumulator were replaced in 2020.
In regard to powertrain, this Cimarron is powered by a transverse-mounted 2.8L V6 LB6 gasoline engine, which was rated at 130 horsepower when it rolled off the assembly line. Output is sent to the front wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission.
With the odometer showing roughly 73,000 miles, this 1986 Cadillac Cimarron certainly appears to be in good shape considering its age. That being said, we want to know, what do you think of this ’80s luxury sedan? Is it just another badge-engineered GM product? Or is it more than that? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!
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Comments
Basically, Cadillac did the “Versailles” treatment to the Cavalier. It didn’t work for Lincoln so Why would Cadillac even consider the same concept? It would have been better to spend the extra dollars to first give it a 3-4 inch wheelbase increase, wrap it in a more individual body style then give it that Cadillac interior to justify the extra cost in price. It worked for the Seville so why wasn’t the same concept applied to the Cimarron? Also, there should have been a v-6 right out of the box. Could this style hold a small V-8? that would have been so wow.
I always thought that they should have just used the A-body (Century, Ciera) instead of the J-body
According to Rare Classic Cars on YouTube, that is what was supposed to happen and then management changed from “A” body to “j” body at the last minute leaving the Cadillac designers very little time to do a proper design. This was why it looked so much like the Cavalier it was based on….Indeed he Said GM had only 10 years to redesign every car across 5 divisions in order to meet the new EPA fuel Standards passed in the mid ’70s by the mid ’80s. This is why so many GM Cars look alike during that time and Quality suffered because everything was rushed.
Really terrible times for the entire automotive industry. Ugly, “forgettable” cars that had very poor
quality control….
Love the one picture, looking thru the front window of the Cimmeron , you see a 1975 blue Fleetwood there. now that’s a CADILLAC.
I saw this just last night on BAT. Having a 1988 myself in as good or better condition, and loving (I have no idea why) the Cimarron, this caught my eye and I’ll be eagerly waiting to see what it sells for. Over the years I’ve done so much research on these and I actually started selling Cadillac in 1988 (last year for the Cimmy). A couple of things to point out on this car:
1. That power sunroof was not an option in 1985. It was installed just last year by the owner (2022) according to the ad.
2. It has the Cadillac Symphony Sound stereo, not the Bose. Finding a Cimarron with a Bose would be like finding your lost goldfish in the Pacific ocean. The Bose stereo would have a silver faceplate and say Bose on it.
Anyhow, this is a really nice example and hope they get good money for it. But better yet, I hope the person getting it keeps it looking like this and preserves it. If I had the room, I’d try to buy this and park it next to my 88 Cimarron and my 86 Seville. Sadly, I’m out of space and my little Bolt needs to have room as well.
GM was very Cavalier to think that this car would be a hit.
The Cimmaron was Cadillac’s New Coke. The Brass at Cadillac did not know their customers. Just like when they shrunk the Eldo in 1986. Cadillac has never recovered from its wandering through the image jungle after being Standard of the World.
Rick: As I stated above, I’ve done a lot of homework and research on the Cimarron over the years. It took me over 20 years to find the “right one” for me and I purchased a red/silver one out of Palm Springs late in 2021. So in my research, I found that the customers were pushing hard on the dealers for a smaller and more efficient car. Remember, this was in the late 70’s with the oil embargo and gas shortages. Pressure on the dealers was intense and that same pressure was placed on Cadillac Motor Car division. This pushed uphill to the brass. In the mid to late 70’s, they were already planning on a smaller Cadillac (originally planned for the X-car platform). With sales so strong and demand outpacing the inventory on the X-cars, GM brass made the last minute decision to ditch the X-car for Cadillac and utilize the all new J-car platform. That’s a very abbreviated version of things. Either way, the Cimarron was born.
I’ve often said and still feel this is true. The mistake wasn’t bringing the Cimarron out. Cadillac needed (badly) a smaller and more efficient car. The mistake was bringing it out in 1982 as they did. The amount of changes and upgrades made to the 1983 are mind blowing, but they didn’t address the proper styling changes needed. The 1984 was basically just the 1983 in a new year. The 1985 is when they made the styling revisions and you could get the 2.0L 4 cyl and later in the year the 2.8L V6. They SHOULD have waited and introduced the Cimarron in 1984 with the upgrades and offered the choice of either engine AND with the styling changes from the 1985. Had they done that, the history books would probably have been written much differently.
I do not agree. Cadillac WAS a premium car and that is what their customers wanted. The Cimmy never appealed to these customers or conquest customers. Other Cadillac misteps, the 86 Eldo, the Allante, the 350 diesel engine, the 8-6-4 engine, the 4.1 engine (my neighbor owned an independent repair shop and refused to work on these because of the many problems that defied repairs) and front wheel drive. Cadillac got destroyed by Consumer Reports and JD Power quality rankings. I did own a 1973 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible it was a classic Caddy.
Not sure what it is that you are not agreeing with. I’m not saying the Cimarron was (as it was brought to market) the right car. I said that the consumers were looking for a smaller and more efficient car.
But no matter, I’m not going to argue with someone who probably knows little about this exact subject. Instead, I would refer you to watch some of the interviews from the designers, etc who actually worked on this car. On top of that, many of the Cimarron’s were in fact sold to current Cadillac owners as a car for the wife or a second car in some way.
Built for 7 years Cimmaron averaged less than 20K sales per year. Some went to rental car firms, so far from successful. How many went to Cadiilac owners is unknown. Designers seldom admit their failures. They don’t count success by sales numbers.
BTW I was not arguing just expressing my opinion. Glad you enjoy your Cimmy.
The original “POS”
We have an ’86 Cimmaron Cream Puff. 26k miles, it’s really a great little car. The only REAL mistake was the price. Cimmaron should have been a glorified Cavalier, but they put a Cadillac sticker price on it. Cavaliers were high-selling cars, just wasn’t worth $17,000. But it’s a nice little car and fun to drive! If you want to see our gem, Google this: Vern Parker Cimmaron, and it will come up. This guy did a write-up on our little car.