Rare ASC McLaren Mustang Waiting for New Owner at Auction
Barrett-Jackson is currently scheduled to auction an ASC McLaren convertible Foxbody Mustang, and while it is rare, its name is a bit misleading.
If you read the name “McLaren” and immediately raised your eyebrows, we don’t blame you. Unfortunately, the British super and hypercar manufacturer is not the one we’re discussing today. It is, however, pertinent to Bruce McLaren and the McLaren racing team. Though they share the same name, the McLaren who modified these Mustangs is a separate entity from McLaren Automotive, the manufacturer of the supercars.
Barrett-Jackson has a whole host of awesome cars being sold at their Scottsdale 2020 event, and this is one of them. This convertible Mustang ASC McLaren features the legendary 5.0 HO V8 and a four-speed automatic. It’s in remarkably good shape, too. However, what’s up with the name?
According to an ASC McLaren fansite, this project was born out of the need for a Ford employee to drive a Ford. The story goes that an engineer by the name of Peter Muscat, whose wife worked at Ford and was not allowed to park upfront because she drove a Mercedes SL. Muscat allegedly turned a 1980 Mustang coupe into a convertible in 1982 and took the idea to ford. From there, he was directed to Mercury, due to Ford already having plans for a convertible Mustang in 1983.
All we can confirm, though, is that from 1984 to 1986, the American Sunroof Company (ASC) and McLaren Engines, which had by then merged, built Mercury Capris. Then, from 1987 to 1990, they built these Foxbody convertibles. So, this one is an example from the final year of production.
According to Mustang specialists Late Model Restoration (LMR), there is quite a bit done to these. Though, the average passerby isn’t likely to notice. Perhaps the most pertinent is the fact that the windshield slopes about twenty degrees more than stock. They feature a manual convertible top and an electric metal tonneau cover to tuck it away. As a result, the rear seats are taken out and done away with. They feature mesh wheels (which are not on this one) and directional Goodyear radial tires. They also remove all the external badging. The exterior is not the place changes were made, though.
Inside, these cars feature additional padding in seats and redesigned door panels and armrests. Though these differences may not be obvious, the few who know what to look for recognize these cars immediately.
Unfortunately, the engines and transmission are completely stock. Hank Huisman, a former ASC employee, says they left the engines alone due to emissions standards in an LMR interview. Huisman also claims they only sold 65 examples in 1990. Therefore, while this may not be a hopped-up version of a Mustang performance-wise, they are still quite sought after. The Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale event takes place January 11-19, 2020, and this Mustang will hit the block then. We look forward to seeing the selling price!
Photos: Barrett-Jackson