I saw them being made in Michgan

merk23literturbo · Post by **merk23literturbo** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:46 am

I used to work for a company that supplied Ford and got a chance to go through the small plant in Michigan while they were making ASC McLaren convertibles. Interesting to see how much they cut the structure to make a convertible. They actually cut the windshield frame and dropped it back ~20 degrees(?). The car was gutted and the chassis was sprung upwards at the B-pillar while being held down. Then they welded in reinforcing brackets in the rear seat area. When the chassis was released the door had a nice straight gap unlike some other convertibles that ASC made during the 80's. I think these brackets were a modification that was made during the production run to fix some dropping door problems.
Also interesting to see them cut the quarter panels for the convertible top. We walked through a storage area that had all the OEM interiors stacked up.
Really interesting was seeing the painter re-spray the shells by hand with Sikkens Urethane paint. The paint jobs should last quite a while since they were done correctly with Urethane paint and undercoats.

Just found your site and thought I'd share some tidbits with you.

Post by **negusm** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 3:05 am

Sweet! Any more info is GREATLY APPRECIATED!

Did you see the CAPRIS or MUSTANGS being converted?

-Mike

75coug · Post by **75coug** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 3:09 am

Great stuff. Keep it coming. Tidbits like those that you provided are gold on this site.

merk23literturbo · Post by **merk23literturbo** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:06 am

The day I was there I only remember Capri's being cut open. They gave us a lot of literature, I'll see if I can find any of it. There was some guy named Roush that I talked to for a while, he seemed to know a lot about the engines, but he wouldn't let me take one for a test drive. I guess he must have been an accountant or something.
If I remember correctly they blended the color into the doors on the metallic cars. So if you have a Mil gauge the solid color cars should have less paint on the doors and front than they have on the rear panels. But the metallic cars should have more paint on the front doors and rear panels than they have on the front end. They painted the A-pillars on all the convertibles since they cut them open.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:14 am

more more more more more more PLEEZZZE

We are ALL ears and hushed

Post by **negusm** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 12:39 pm

What date were you there?

merk23literturbo · Post by **merk23literturbo** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:19 pm

I was there in winter 85-86.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:30 pm

So you saw the 1986 Mercury Capris being made. I have one of the ascMcLaren Capri COUPES. # 109 of 115 with 646 miles on it. It's Charcoal Grey with the orange rims & decals. I show it in shows where it's always a huge hit.

Post by **negusm** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:00 am

merk23literturbo wrote:I was there in winter 85-86.

Did you just see verts? Or did you see any of the coupes?

merk23literturbo · Post by **merk23literturbo** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:30 am

Did you just see verts? Or did you see any of the coupes?
>>>

I think I remember seeing both being made on this assembly line. It was somewhere near Flint Michigan, and it was COLD.

merk23literturbo · Post by **merk23literturbo** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:45 am

I just remembered something. ALL of the cars came in as hard tops. They cut off the roofs of the cars at this mini-plant to make them convertibles. During this time all convertibles were made by after market companies so that the manufacturer would not have to worry about being sued if someone got injured in a convertible.
(Lawyers enter the scene again.)

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 3:06 am

You mean Hatchback coupes, right? With that big back bubble glass window ?? Yes?

merk23literturbo · Post by **merk23literturbo** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 12:40 am

Sandy writes:

You mean Hatchback coupes, right? With that big back bubble glass window ?? Yes?

Sandy,
I wish I could remember but I would just be guessing on which cars they were cutting open. It was 20 years ago, sorry.

merk23literturbo · Post by **merk23literturbo** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 2:39 am

OK, I finally found the brochure from the factory. It appears that we were at the plant that was making the SC convertible model. I can scan the brochure but you probably already have this one on somebody's web site. If someone can give me an Email address I will scan all 4 sides and send them to you.

(They list Air Horns as one of the options? That must be fun at a crosswalk.)
(Maybe I watched someone's bright red convertible being painted that day.)

merk23literturbo · Post by **merk23literturbo** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:53 am

I posted all four sides of the brochure that I have. If someone has Photoshop you should be able to make it one or two good pics. Let me know if you need the raw files.

Edit: Go to my personal album to view the pics.