I like how Tom Soloman handled the emissions issue and performance. He was the one who originated the very rare Predator Mustang of '83-86. He had added the performance enhancements after the owner purchased the cars to get around the red tape.
Nick
ASC McLaren Onwers Group?
The Cam-birds where only ASC not ASC McLaren henceforth no expectation of added performance. The '87 GNX is already a super investment because of the added performance. To bad the GP wasn't rwd I bet it would have done far better itself too. Just seeing the name McLaren makes people think performance, IMO the Mustang version would be an Icon today if it took that further step and people would be saying who is Saleen today.Sandy wrote:Whoa, wait -up...
Correct me if I am wrong, but of the aforementioned, I do believe that the "Cam-Birds" convertibles didn't have any under hood trweeking nor exhaust mods. After the intitial SPLASH of the ascMcLaren Turbo Grand Prix, the engine (supplied by GM) trickled down to lesser G.P.s and to Buicks, as well.
Remember, the goal for the project was 500 units per model-year, after 1986. The project was earmarked for 1984 thru 1993, the end of the body style. However, with the project ended (aborted, a better choice of words, here) in 1990, the "correct total" would have been 2,500 in total. Okay, so they did 2,358, so they did in fact achieve their goals.
ASC is not really involved in tuning engines, and they wanted a connection to offer such. Thusly the "marriage" to McLaren Engineering was born. Our cars were the 1st children of that marriage. Really the only thing that McLaren contributed were the SPRINGS that went into the 1984, 1985 & 1986 cars. But, most important was the link of the two names; ascMcLaren, in the minds of Ford. The advertising proclaimed that asc could do body and interior mods, while partner McLaren Engineering would handle the performance end. They needed & wanted to get that name "out there".
To do so would contradict what Ford was trying to accomplish in the first place. Remember all Ford and its affiliate emblems such as SVO, Mustang, even 5.0 etc... were banned from these cars in the first place. SVO failed cause it was just an overpriced Ford even though it was a great idea. This ASC McLaren however would have been just the pony to do the tricks too I agree with you. CAFE standards imo really put a damper on engine performance but imagine if they used the leftover SVO 4 wheel disc or 5 lug it would have been a great idea. Ford always lets the bean counters get in the way of a truly nice car. Much like the alluminum engines or IRS of present day.negusm wrote:Now see...if they were only badged "ascMcLaren SVO" cars back in the day...Sandy wrote:True, but the funny part is that FORD, did most of the custom tuning, with the B-303 Cam installed! Then the McLaren Springs, to lower it.
-Mike