For the Cadillac CT6 and the automaker’s renewed and genuine attempt to challenge the German luxury juggernaut, in 2018 Cadillac unveiled the twin-turbocharged 4.2-litre LTA Blackwing V8. in disputed waters. The mill shared its basic small-block architecture with the 5.5-liter LT7 V8 developed for the Chevrolet Corvette C8.R race car, that LT7 clog headed for street work in the 2023 Corvette Z06 with 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The LTA Blackwing that operated the CT6 had two power ratings, one with 550 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque for the CT6-V, a detuned version with 500 hp and 574 lb-ft for the CT6 Platinum. From the engine’s debut through the end of CT6 production in 2020, Cadillac has put the hand-built Blackwing in just 600 sedans. GM said it wanted to find another product for its monstrous luxury engine, but it never happened, and the Blackwing died without an encore.
At least without an official factory encore. The Drive has discovered that you can still buy the motorbike, you’ll just need to find your own car to put it around. The GM Genuine Parts site for Cadillac will sell the Blackwing V8 for $31,200 to anyone who wants to make a few phone calls. When The Drive posted the story two days ago, the retail price was $21,667, which was in line with the suggested retail price. In the 48 hours since then, times have changed – as many have lately. In any case, GM is doing buyers the favor to reveal the 50% premium to be paid, with the suggested retail price of $21,666.67 still below the seller’s price. In addition, the purchase requires a core fee of $3,500, for $34,700 pre-tax.
An automaker’s representative told the outlet that a small number of additional Blackwings were being built for service departments; for example, a CT6-V tried to make a Mustang impression by leaving a car show behind and knocking over a telephone pole instead of spectators. That CT6-V might need a new engine, one like the one for sale at GM Genuine Parts.
Any useful build will likely want the 10-speed GM mated to the Blackwing. That’s also for sale on the site and costs $4,000 (MSRP $3,125) plus a $1,500 core fee, for $5,500 pre-tax. That would give the garage job a little over $40,000 before taxes.
The calls would be to a local dealer who would broker the purchase and, we assume, arrange for the delivery of the 600lb pagan lumps. It could be worth it, as a Cadillac Rewards member buyer can get 105,600 points toward the purchase of the engine and transmission. We have no idea how many parts and accessories you can buy from the Cadillac online store, but it sounds like there are a lot of floor mats and luggage organizers out there.
However, what is the ideal construction? A ’59 Eldorado with tail fins behind and a Blackwing in front? A K-body Sevilla sleeper, the original Cadillac import luxury fighter? A restomod Northstar with the engine that deserved the sedan’s marketing? Or how about this, an unprecedented car for unprecedented times: the Cimarron Blackwing. Someone must have one of those Discovery Channel shows about this, stat.
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