When did you buy

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 6:09 am

Interiors for 1987, 1988 & 1989 were:
Regatta Blue
Sand Beige
Scarlet (Red)
Medium Grey

For 1990 the Sand Beige was deleted.

1990:
Crystal Blue
Scarlet
Opal Grey
Ebony Black
Oxford White
The Oxford White was 2-Toned with Opal Grey.
White was the seat covers, the door panel ascMcLaren appliques, the Head Rests.
Opal Grey for the carpeting, the major part of the door panels,
the Dash Pad and the sun visors.

hopkins1104 · Post by **hopkins1104** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 11:21 am

Right again Sandy...just spoke to someone who was with me when we saw the White McLaren -- and she said she thought the interior was Red .... I thought I would have remembered that ..oh well... still, haven't seen it on the road for at least 7 years

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 5:37 pm

They had begun a program to cut costs in 1989/1990. The intended program for 1991 was for just 3 interior colors & 3 roof colors. The interiors for '91 were to be the new-for-'90 Ebony Black, Oxford White and the popular Crystal Blue. Phased out was to be the Scarlet and the Opal Grey. The only roof colors were to be black, white or blue.
I have the final listing of the approved color schemes for the 1991 model. The new paint color was called "Cinnamon". It replaced Royal Gold, that did not sell even 1 unit in 1990. Almost all combos for '91 were to have either black interior & top -or- white interior & top.

The '91 program was in place and finalized & ready to go, when the plug was pulled. There were new wheels (I never saw them) as Ford moved to 16" tires/wheels for 1991 and ascMcLaren had to respond likewise. Otherwise there was a new style pedistal-type spoiler on the deck lid, small and not overbearing, with a looooong skinney built in brake light, set into the leading edge.

75coug · Post by **75coug** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 9:47 pm

Being a newbie, I have had my car for only a few months. I love it already, though.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:36 pm

There are no newbies here, Robert, only people who were a little late to the party and are catching up at the desert table

75coug · Post by **75coug** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 1:27 am

Thanks, Sandy. I appreciate it. Since I am new to the table, I should at least explain how I became aware of the existence of these cars.

Back in 1990, I owned a 1986 Capri 5.0. I loved the car, but only had it for a year and a half, because it was truly a lemon. It broke and broke and broke and broke, despite having only around 50,000 miles on it. Being a poor college student, I couldn't afford to keep fixing it.

Anyway, I was summer clerking in Kansas City in the summer of 1990, and while parked at a 7-11, some guy came up to me and was very impressed with my Capri. He commented favorably, and asked whether it was a McLaren. I had no idea what a McLaren was, and just answered "no."

I always remembered that brief conversation, and some time later came across some information on our cars. I remained interested ever since, and it only took me another decade or so to finally get one.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 1:51 am

Most of the dealers that signed on to handle the car were the big boys, usually out on the highways, and most took a mere 1 or 2 cars, back in 1985/86. Your smaller Mom & Pop family in-town dealerships needed to stick with the fast movers of the day, the bread & butter cars. Therefore initially speaking, with 482 units made for 1984 & 1985 you are looking at like 10 cars per state. Hardly something one WOULD become aware of ! Since there was NO corporate advertising on a national scale from ascMcLaren ~OR~ Ford Division, there's little chance most people ever would have heard of it. They did display them at Michigan/Ohio/Minnisota car shows, but again ... only those attending would have seen them. Car magazines did small spots on them, usually in back & white under the "What's New" columns. Since they were not financially backed to go racing (as in Saleen) they made no name for themselves at the drag strips either. To this day, they are still a well guarded secret !

Kyle · Post by **Kyle** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 3:20 am

I know this is an old thread but I'll still post how I got my 86 Coupe. My friend's dad owned a 1986 5.0L since 88 and I always wanted it, it was like a mustang but better. In 01 I finally got my wish and was able to purchase it from him. It replaced my 67 390 LTD which had blown its engine. It made a much better commuting car for college. After joining the Air Force in 03 I needed a more reliable car so I sold it. I instantly realized I had made a mistake, my wife missed it even more then I did. Anyway, later that year we saw it for sale at a dealership for less then we traded it in for so we bought it. After moving (again) the transmission (AOD) went out and we were forced to sell it once again for a more relaible car (another stupid mistake). Now we see it driving around the area with a really crappy paint job and other mods (No bubble hatch!!!).
Sorry this is going so long but I'm reaching my point. My wife was looking for Capris on a whim on ebay and stumbled across a charcoal grey ascMclaren. After some research we decided to bid on it. We are now the owners of a 1 of 1 color combo coupe that is in better shape the the previous capri and has lower miles then either of our daily drivers.

75coug · Post by **75coug** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 3:32 am

I just love how the faithful keep returning to the flock. Welcome to the site. Be sure to provide us with plenty of photos of your car.

Kyle · Post by **Kyle** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 3:36 am

will do once our inspection is over at the base and I can get my digital camera figured out

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:35 am

Kyle, I see you have #105. Mine's # 109. What color is yours ?
White, Black, Navy,Grey or SILVER ?

Post by **negusm** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:10 pm

Sandy wrote:Kyle, I see you have #105. Mine's # 109. What color is yours ?
White, Black, Navy,Grey or SILVER ?

Sandy you're a hoot. He bought that grey 86 asc that is 1 of 1 with the black stripes. (he also states it explicitly towards the end of his post)

BTW, why are you asking him? YOU have all the info, don't you?

-Mike

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:03 pm

It was a "Senior Moment"

Hoot !

deggy67 · Post by **deggy67** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 7:43 am

Hello I am new to the forum But I have owned my car for about 6 years. I was stationed at Langley AFB and was visiting a friend in Luray VA. We were driving around in his truck I was riding in the bed and noticed a capri for sale in someone's yard and said we would have to stop and look at it. I thought it was a GS or a Turbo or something. Turns out it was an 1985 Mclaren coupe (vin 610028) with 36,000 miles.

When we stopped and looked at it I saw what it was and told the wife I was getting it and came back the following weekend to pick it up. The car is now sitting at my parents in PA in storage while I finish my tour in Italy (8 mos) Also When I get home it will be getting a disc rear out of a turbo coupe and the motor is getting freshened as we speak. 331, ported twisted wedge heads and edelbrock intake and etc...

So I will have a lot of fun when I get home.

Post by **negusm** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:13 pm

deggy67 wrote:Hello I am new to the forum But I have owned my car for about 6 years. I was stationed at Langley AFB and was visiting a friend in Luray VA. We were driving around in his truck I was riding in the bed and noticed a capri for sale in someone's yard and said we would have to stop and look at it. I thought it was a GS or a Turbo or something. Turns out it was an 1985 Mclaren coupe (vin 610028) with 36,000 miles. When we stopped and looked at it I saw what it was and told the wife I was getting it and came back the following weekend to pick it up. The car is now sitting at my parents in PA in storage while I finish my tour in Italy (8 mos) Also When I get home it will be getting a disc rear out of a turbo coupe and the motor is getting freshened as we speak. 331, ported twisted wedge heads and edelbrock intake and etc... So I will have a lot of fun when I get home.

When you had the motor apart, did you find any odd parts? Like parts marked with a "P" or parts that were just odd for that engine? Did you have the B303 cam?

-Mike