The Cadillac CTS-V is significant for being the last American wagon—and the last American performance wagon. Some might argue that honor should go to the 2018-20 Buick Regal TourX, but that was a rebranded European-market Opel Insignia, built in Rüsselsheim and federalized for Buick lots.
The Caddy, on the other hand, was Lansing-built with a traditional American V-8. It took the tried and true muscle car formula of stuffing a powerful engine—6.2 supercharged liters, to be exact—into an otherwise normal-looking car.
Cadillac’s One and Only
The irony is that Cadillac never built a wagon during the muscle car heyday. It didn’t build a muscle car, either. While the Plymouth Fury, Dodge Polara, Olds Vista Cruiser, Ford Torino Squire, and other wagons could be optioned with Hi-Po drivetrains, the Cadillac brand was all about luxury.
In fact, it didn’t even offer a manual transmission between 1953 and the 1982 introduction of the Cimarron. (That’s another not-really-a-Cadillac exercise in badge engineering.) However, the CTS-V Wagon was blessed with a six-speed Tremec stick.
With conventional station wagons unlikely to reclaim the market share taken by crossovers, the Cadillac CTS-V holds a special place in America’s motoring history. But the CTS-V is more than just 556 horses and a deep, rumbly exhaust.
The “V” performance subbrand was meant to go head-to-head with BMW’s M division. As such, it came with big brakes and GM’s innovative MagneRide shocks with variable damping. Unlike the muscle cars of the 1960s and the boaty Cadillacs of forever, the CTS-V could handle. A sedan version even broke the Nürburgring record for a production sedan on street tires.
Yep, It’s Rare
According to Hagerty, only 514 Cadillac CTS-V Wagons were sold with a manual transmission during the model’s four-year production run from 2011 to 2014. That makes this last-of-its-kind wagon extremely rare, hence its $85,000 price tag.
Its 68,565 miles are pretty good for its age, but the car received modifications. The seller describes an airbag suspension, Magnaflow exhaust, and cold-air intake. Cosmetically, it’s been customized with a satin matte wrap on the roof, as well as de-chroming and de-badging throughout. That makes for a mean-looking wagon, but purists may wish for more originality.
Regardless, this 2014 Cadillac CTS-V wagon is a rare beast. It’s not too far gone or too old to be restored to its original state. Given its rarity and special place in automotive history, it’s well worth the attempt.
These days, not only are station wagons and manual transmissions going the way of the dodo, but V-8s as well. The CTS-V is a homage to all three and sends them off with a bang.
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