Catera potential?

I saw one of these unicorns out in the wild the other day. I got to thinking that they were based off a Holden, probably the Monaro, and those could be had with V8s. I think that's what the GTO was, too. 
Was it ever a popular option to engine swap these?? Midsize RWD was virtually nonexistent at the time and for most of the decade before and after. Some euro brands and then the upscale Japanese, but other than Cadillac, it's just not a thing domestically

I thought it was Opel based. 

I had forgotten how the side and rear greenhouse is very 1st gen Neon on these. 

Slippery said:

I thought it was Opel based. 

Yep. Opel Omega.

I worked on a couple of these about 10 years ago, back then it was already hard to get parts for them.

The existence of the GTO, means there is no point to go catera. Its the same platform, just better and with a V8. Plus the GTO platform actually has a following so although it had some problems sourcing parts, its not as bad as a catera.

I was going to say the same thing. Pretty sure it's the same platform as the Opel Omega (Vauxhall Carlton). I don't know much at all about Australian cars, but I guess it makes sense that there would be Holdens built on the same platform as well.

There was a Lotus variant of the Omega/Carlton that was the fastest sedan in the world for a while with a twin-turbo, 24-valve, inline-six engine. I guess the potential is there. Not sure if there were any V8s.

I am aware of someone who 1JZ swapped one here in Michigan..

Ooh a twin turbo would go nicely for the Caddy that zigs.

I think a LFX and a 6 speed would make for a nice highway cruiser.

Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) said:

I think a LFX and a 6 speed would make for a nice highway cruiser.

Just start with a v6 5th gen camaro

The worst of many bad things about a Catera is the remarkable need to remove the wiper mechanism for every job on the car.

Coil Pack and plug wires from GM, which I think were the only source, were about $1200cdn.

Useless, stupid car good only for dropping in the lake to anchor your dock.

Opti said:

I worked on a couple of these about 10 years ago, back then it was already hard to get parts for them.

The existence of the GTO, means there is no point to go catera. Its the same platform, just better and with a V8. Plus the GTO platform actually has a following so although it had some problems sourcing parts, its not as bad as a catera.

They are similar but different.  The Catera feels smaller and seems to have much better space allocation.  There are places in a GTO where you can pull an interior panel up and find a square foot or more of empty space.

And the Catera doesn't have its fuel tank in the trunk.

I like Cateras.  They are like Merkur Scorpios that you can theoretically find parts for.

Slippery said:

I thought it was Opel based. 

pretty sure, Caddy that zigs, not US chassis

In reply to Toebra :

An amazing number of GM cars started design life in Germany.  I think the only ones since the 70s that didn't were the F (third and fourth gen), Y, X and derivatives, and B bodies.  And the B bodies could trace their roots to the sixties...

Opti said:

Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) said:

I think a LFX and a 6 speed would make for a nice highway cruiser.

Just start with a v6 5th gen camaro

I would start with a sixth gen Camaro.  Better V6 (or could even go with the 2.0T) and a Tremec 6 spd.

racerfink said:

Opti said:

Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) said:

I think a LFX and a 6 speed would make for a nice highway cruiser.

Just start with a v6 5th gen camaro

I would start with a sixth gen Camaro.  Better V6 (or could even go with the 2.0T) and a Tremec 6 spd.

Plus like 400 pounds lighter. Looks like both the Caddy and the 5th gen camaros are pushing 3800 pounds and the 6th gen Camaro is more like 3400.

In reply to dculberson :

I think buying an ATS would be the more direct way to get that powertrain into a RWD Caddy sedan.

Yeah I should probably set it straight that there are better alternatives out there right now. I was more pondering the idea that someone at the time had realized the potential there. Apparently it was the same as a Holden Commodore (also from the Opel) and in 1999 it got an LS1. How about a RWD LS1 Lumina running around in 99?? Wouldn't that have been something to see??

Opti said:

Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) said:

I think a LFX and a 6 speed would make for a nice highway cruiser.

Just start with a v6 5th gen camaro

Easy button if you don't like seding out of windows

A 350Z is much worse.

In reply to P3PPY :

I had an option o buy a 98 quite a few years ago. Back then you could still import the LS1 subframe in from germany. A lot of the parts were parts bin engineered. I was going for a 4.8/4L65 for a fun but economical cruiser. I ended up walking away from that one as i didn't have the funds to do it. 

How hard to get things like glass and even door handles these days? 

Starting with a Cop Car Caprice would probably get you to your goal quicker and easier but maybe still with some parts problems.  The non parts bin parts. 

The catera is based on the Opel omega and the Holden commodore is based on the omega aswell.

Best thing about a Catera is it lead to the CTS, and CTS-V.  Got nothing other than that.