ascMcLaren Enthusiasts

[negusm]

From Sandy Block:

Recaro seats were very poor sellers in the 1987 & 1988 ascMcLaren
Mustangs. Out of the 479 ascMcLaren convertibles for 1987, a mere
39 cars were ordered with them. In 1988, of the 1,015 cars made,
just 83 units were so ordered. The reason for this was cost. They were
$1,765.00 optional, and dealers wanting to keep the price as low as
possible, opted for the standard "Sport" seats. The Sport seats were
the standard Mustang GT seats, with Thunderbird Headrests, which is
what we have. I do not know WHY T-Bird headrests were substituted.

Ford then began to have big problems with the McLarens as the Recaros
proved troublesome, and owners took their cars back to the new car
dealer to have them fixed, but because they were not OEM (Original
Equipment Manufacturer) Ford would not honor the warrantee repair,
and turned to ascMcLaren. Owners, believing the their seats were FORD
were angered at the delay, and blamed FORD.

When ascMcLaren turned to RECARO for warrantee coverage, it turned out
that RECARO's warrantee, was not much more than a "paper" (worthless)
warrantee! RECARO's "fix" was to park the car, remove the seat or
seatS, package & ship & insure (dealer's expense !!) no reimbursement
from ascMcLaren and ship them to Texas. Recaro told dealers to look for
a 90 day turn around time. EXCUSE ME, but you are now telling people that
they cannot have their car back, and that it's now living outside
(convertible) for 90 days! People went NUTTS! Therefore, after car #869
of the 1,015 (or 86% of the way thru 1988 production) ascMcLaren had
run out of the seats, and did not order more from RECARO! That would be
Dash Plaque car # 1348, and VIN 266272.

The seats featured stereo speakers in the headrests, seat heaters, and
side bolsters that wrapped around the human torso to a greater degree
than the Sport Seats. The problem with them involved manufacturing costs
on Recaro's end. The seats are basically the "N" seat from RECARO, with
some cost cutting modifications. That being the fact that NORMALLY these
seats had an internal timer to automatically cut off the seat heaters.
RECARO deleted this automatic turn off timer BUT did NOT upgrade the
wiring under the seat to withstand additional heat & current. If not
turned off within 7 minutes time, the wiring toasted itself and took
with it the seat heaters & the stereo speakers!!!! The few that I have
found today with OEMs working are down south (Florida) where the heated
seats saw little use. Most other area cars have long burnt out.

No 1989 nor 1990s were ever equipped with this option.
_________________
1985 ascMcLaren Coupe - Midnight Blue
Under Restoration