Something I just found out regarding our cars...

[Sandy]

Not a single ascMcLaren, convertible or coupe, Capri or Mustang was ever ordered by a customer !
New Car dealers recieved a brochure of their brand (Ford or Merc) and read the agreementS and sent in their choice of Coupe or 'Vert and how many of each they wanted, AND THE MONEY, and cars were automatically shipped to them. They were able to put the cars onto their Floor Plan, and pay just interest until the unit was sold at retail.

It you got an Atlantic Blue and a Sterling Silver 1987 Mustang version AND yu had a buyer for a Black car, YOU (the dealer) had to go on a hunt to find one, and/or call ascMcLaren with your zip code and maybe they could find you a black car - but, would the interior and roof colors be to his/her liking ?? No ?? Deal Lost - return deposit. This angered the dealer and the salesperson !!

All in all it was a hokey set up. Is there ANY ONE PERSON, on this site that actually ORDERED a brand new ascMcLaren, and waited thr required 8 weeks to get the car ?
Person I spoke with said if there are any, he would bet they were the 1990s.

[shelbyscarab]

This is news to me.

I could've sworn I heard that you could order a particular color combo. Hence when looking at the actual production numbers/makeups you have quite a few color combos that are 1 of 1 or 2........

I figured that ASC/Ford Dealers just automatically ordered the white, red, silver, black, & blue cars.........

[Sandy]

Yes, I know of the single digit paint jobs, but that might have been made for "special people" ~ more likely dealer that took a whole bunch of cars (like 20 or so) and had been a "gift" to that dealer so that he could show buyer it was the only one like it made. I am thinking Regal Red-Fox. and made a decent profit.
However, overall, 95% were not "1-offs".

[ChuckG]

When my '85 was stolen in May, '86, I went over to Autry and tried to order an '86 Coupe. They looked at me like I was nuts. They told me that all '86 Coupe production was over, but as we now know from build dates, that wasn't the case.

Lucky for me, they were able to locate me a car at Northtowne and agreed to changed the stripes to the Grey/Silver combo I wanted.

[capri50asc]

My '86 vert was ordered by Hines Park Lincoln Mercury for the owner George Klobe. I have all the paper work with his name on it and the shipper to Florida

chris

[Sandy]

Of course! George took a bunch of cars, so, 'ya, they would do him a favor and make a car for him. That is not what I am talking about.

Joe Schmo walks into Friendly Ford and wants to order a 1987 to his specs, his iterior / color and roof color and body pqint color......

That was NOT going to happen ! Sure, if it is Red with grey sport Seats & Black top, it is pretty easy to locate.... or white body, blue intertior & dk. blue roof.....

But they were not taking specific orders for retail buyers, I was told.

[capri50asc]

Yes, that does make sense Sandy. It does have standard White body with the blue interior. But he did order the radar detector, Recaros, upgraded
interior, 140 mph speedo, etc.

Take care!

Chris

[Sandy]

...... "he did order the radar detector, Recaros, upgraded
interior, 140 "

Better....

he did REQUEST the radar detector, Recaros, upgraded
interior....

[capri50asc]

Got It!!!

Thanks Sandy!

Chris

[Sandy]

I was able and lucky to have tracted down both 1990 25th Silver Anniversary Editions, but only 1 would sell.
He did not know that it was a 25th Silver Anniversary Edition.
Well, minus the correct roof, that was never made...

[85McLaren]

How do we explain the one or two sunroof 85s that have surfaced.
I have one. Did they just happen to produce one, or did a customer order one?

Jason

[negusm]

I am sure the end customer didn't order it. No one knew anything about the cars so the 85's were mostly just built and shipped.

The dealer or asc would have ordered it that way, not the customer.

-Mike

[Sandy]

Early 1985s were pulled from dealer's stock, in & around the immediate area of ASC/McLAREN's location in Lavioia. I would say over 90% (including 1986s) were pulled from dealer's stock.
1986 probably had the highest percent of factory orders to become a McLaren, due to the intro of several new paint colors AND the addition of Automatic Transmission as an option, and buyers wanting the then new T-Tops. Medium Grey, Silver and Black were added for 1986.......