A Cadillac Blackwing you’ve forgotten about

There was a Cadillac Blackwing before the CT5 - in fact, there were many. But with just 875 made, the CT6 the the most rare of all.

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Mrs. Machines is grumpy – nearly 70% of you voted for the M5. Looks like I’ll be sleeping on the couch. Or perhaps I can kick back in the leather throne of a Cadillac Blackwing. Just not the one you’re thinking of…

The 2020 Cadillac CT6-V Blackwing vs the 2013 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan

CT5-V
It would take a bit to make it the best.

See the CT6 listing here

See the CTS listing here

Whenever I do a review with an owner, I inevitably get asked something like “What’s your favorite?”. Technically I have none, but if I had to narrow the list somewhat, no doubt the CT5-V would be near the top.

And when I say that, I usually get the same puzzled look followed by “The Cadillac?”.

Why do we love BMW M so much? I suppose it’s because they got their cars right quickly, along with their identity. The original E28 M5 has gone down as a classic. Meanwhile, in the 80’s Cadillac was making land yachts. Not until around 2003, with the release of the CTS-V, did they finally take driving performance seriously.

But it would take 20 years for them to perfect the recipe. The CTS was small. Then it was large, like a 5 Series. Then it became a CT6. Finally, the CT5, which is the same size as the CT6. Sigh.

Engines too – all over the place. V-6s, V-8s, turbochargers, superchargers. For now, let’s focus on two Cadillac Blackwings you may have forgotten about.

The 2020 Cadillac CT6-V Blackwing

ct6-v
The CT6-V. Photo: Cars & Bids

They made just 875 of these, so if you don’t remember it, blame Cadillac.

  • 23,400 miles
  • Bid to $52,000 so far
  • Red Horizon Tintcoat over Black leather
  • A ten-speed automatic (no one needs that many)
  • Fully loaded, and I do mean fully. The list is long and includes night vision, wireless charging, Brembo brakes, HUD, and more
  • Sustained “minor damage” to its front in April 2021. You know my rules – a PPI is a must
  • No mods
  • All-wheel drive
  • 4.2-liter twin-turbocharged Blackwing V-8, with 550 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque.

What’s missing? How about a manual – not available on the CT6. Supercharger? Nope. What’s also missing is a good deal – these go for M5 money, some over $80k! They sold for just over $90k new. Does being rare make it desirable?

Before we go, note that this was a new V-8 at the time with a hot-vee design (turbos in the valley of the engine), and it wasn’t exactly S63 smooth.

What else is there?

2013 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan

cts-v
The CTS-V. Photo: Bring a Tralier

The predecessor to the CT6, the CTS listed here was more like a four-door Corvette:

  • 43,000 miles
  • Clean title and CarFax
  • Six-speed automatic
  • Supercharged 6.2-Liter LSA V8 – 556 horsepower, 551 lb-ft of torque
  • Some mods: long-tube headers, a cold air intake, a Moroso oil catch can, an ECU tune, exhaust…
  • Black Diamond Tricoat over Ebony leather
  • Gray-Finished 19″ Y-Spoke Alloy Wheels with Brembo brakes
  • Bid to $14,000 so far

556 horsies was pretty good for a car that’s over a decade old. Bu remember the farther back you go, the more “GM-plastic” the interior gets.

A Cadillac Blackwing was never as good as the Germans, until now

Cadillac V

I’ve never driven either one of these cars, but I can guess that they were never as good as their German contemporaries. Too brutish, unsophisticated, and lacking in proper image.

But the performance is undeniable, and if you don’t want to spend on a Chevy SS, the CTS might be cheaper for the same speed. Hell, it even came in a wagon. As for the CT6 – it’s newer, it’s faster, and it’s better. Is it worth nearly triple the CTS?

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