1980 Capri 450SL McClaren Prototype red - William Clay Ford

zzzbusterzzz · Post by **zzzbusterzzz** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 4:01 am

I am having the hardest time finding out about my car. It was built around 1980 - Jack Roush engine - A Capri Front End - 450 Mercedes Back end - Red with black velvet interior - convertible but the rag top is velcro and glue. The title had William Clay Ford, Jr as the first owner. He gave it to a woman in Detroit area and I bot it from her. Said to be a prototype for the McClaren and that it was a pace car (Detroit? Indy?)

It just started out as a capri and was chopped up specially for Bill Ford Jr.

Does anyone know anythings about this car. The engine is chromed up.

ckj · Post by **ckj** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 4:09 am

pictures please!

zzzbusterzzz · Post by **zzzbusterzzz** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 4:41 am

I just put some pictures in...I have a great glamour picture...but these are of the "restoration" of the engine - because it was over 29 years old and pitting and hoses and stuff getting stale. So I have pictures that they gave me but you can't see the car well. Will post other pictures when I find them.

Post by **negusm** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:24 am

Fairly familiar story as I think this car has floated around the message boards.

I hate to burst your bubble a bit...

Its not an asc prototype. Maybe somebody saw it and used it as the "inspiration" asc had for their verts but its not a "prototype". There were other prototypes made that the asc cars were built from.

Here is a car just like yours:

http://static.flickr.com/60/176678230_80902ba39d.jpg

That car also has a Mercedes 450SL rear on it. The owner has told me that the trunk lid is definitely from a Mercedes.

Your car was probably made by a single company but possibly marketed under a few names.

AHA who sold the Pony Convertible (Capri based) and "Classic Group of Companies" who probably resold AHA cars:

Some links:
http://www.ascmclarencoupe.com/Literatu ... %20000.jpg

http://www.ascmclarencoupe.com/Literatu ... ible_1.jpg

http://www.ascmclarencoupe.com/Literatu ... ble_02.jpg

Sandy knows a bit more than I do on the early cars so maybe he can shed some light.

The "William Clay Ford, Jr" on the title is definitely interesting and very cool. How do you still have the original title? Usually when titles change hands, the title is submitted to the DMV and you get one with just your name one it back. Somebody made a copy first?

Never heard the Pace car story. Seems like something new is added to the list every time I hear of this car

. My guess is the "Pace Car" story and the "ascMcLaren prototype" story got added by an "overenthusiastic" owner somewhere down the line.

Also, how do you know it's a "Roush" engine?

The original 3 1979 Indianapolis Pace Cars that actually ran the track at the Indianapolis Speedway were Roush prepped...I wonder if somehow that little bit of lore was transferred in the retelling of this cars "history".

I'm not nocking the car. Its a very rare car. You won't see another anywhere you go that's for sure.

If you have any docs or anything that came with the car, please share, the history and quirks these cars have are a lot of fun.

-Mike

Post by **negusm** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:30 am

I see the Roush on the crank I think. So that is interesting.

The best thing for you to do is to go back to the earliest owner you can and see what the original story of the car is.

Honestly, write a very respectful and well written letter to William Clay Ford, Jr. You might get a response. Include pictures of the car and a copy of his name on the title. Its definitely worth a shot as he is going to know loads more about the car and how/why he got it and what exactly he did with it.

-Mike

RARE-ASC · Post by **RARE-ASC** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:46 am

Thanks for the pm zzzbusterzzz i believe Mike gave you the best advice!

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 1:48 pm

The bodywork could be from any one of about 5 or 6 companies that were messing around with these back in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Roush on the engine is something pretty special, however.

1985 Motorsport Capri · Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:25 am

no way its from any Detroit Grand Prix. first race was in 1982.
the pace car for that race was actually 1 of the 3 mustang pace cars used in 1979 for the indy 500.
it was repainted for the 1st detroit grand prix & is currently owned by Jack Roush.

in 83 it was a renault & in 84 a pontiac trans am.