What is a 1985 ascMcLaren Coupe?

My car is a 1985 ascMcLaren Coupe in Midnight Blue with Orange striping.  It is, to be more precise, a 1985 Mercury Capri 5.0, rolled off the assembly line from Ford to American Sunroof Corporation for their ascMcLaren conversion package.  While on the assembly line, Ford put in things like quad shocks, a B303 cam, specially tuned exhaust, etc   Quite a list!

One little extra thing added by Ford was an ascMcLaren body buck tag.  To me this little tag is the only thing proving that the car is a true blue (pun intended) ascMcLaren coupe.  The records for the 1985 coupes have been literally shredded and it is unknown what VINs were turned into which ascMcLaren coupes.  (Un?)Fortunately, the only part of my car to never get into an accident is the front end and so my tag is still with me.  If that definitive tag wasn't there, I would have slaughtered this pig looooong ago.

Ford would deliver the Capri Coupes (Hatchbacks actually) to American Sunroof Corporation where they would get a major facelift.  New ground effects, new wheels and tires, new striping kit, new steering wheel, new radio and floor mats and a few engine and suspension modifications.  The results are pretty cool:

 

Further Details about the 1985 ascMcLaren Coupes

The following has been provided by Sandy Block via the ascMcLaren news group on this site!  This information resides in the files section there.  I have copied and reordered only those changes that apply to my 1985 coupe here.  Small variations apply for other years.

How they were ordered:

The coupes had to be special ordered through ford. The reason for this was that Midnight Blue was only available on the GS while the "Capri 5.0" (RS) had the needed foglight harness and the sport (Recaro) seats. So they were ordered from Ford by ascMcLaren as "Capri 5.0" (RS) versions under DSO code 32 with the proper paint code.

Additionally, the order contained a special delete option called "Sports Delete Package". It resulted in a window sticker credit of $317.00 MSRLP & 269.45 invoice. It was ON ALL ascMcLaren coupes! Mandatory, part of the build. Items deleted:

• Front air Dam
• Front Fog Lamps
• Bodyside Lower Flat Charcoal Paint.

Installed was the RS under dash switchgear for the Fog Lamps and all wiring therefore. Only the actual lamps were deleted.

Another rare mandatory option was the "Radio Prep. Group" this was the Dash Speakers, wiring to the rear for the installation of rear speakers at ascMcLaren, the Antenna, and all related antenna wiring & hardware and anti static devices. Only deleted was the actual radio. NO dash plate to cover hole was installed by Ford.

All of these changes were included in the D32 build code in addition to the dark blue (of the year) for cars ordered in dk blue. This was more of an override than an option, allowing the dk. blue in combo with a RS code, to sneak it by the computers.

Interior Changes made by ascMcLaren:

• Genuine Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel - SVO Style
• Genuine Leather Wrapped Transmission Shift Lever
• ascMcLaren Logo Front Floor Mats and rear mats without logo.
• 140 MPH Speedometer Replacing the normal 85 MPH unit
• Built-In Whistler Spectrum-II Superhetrodyne Remote Integral Radar Detector.
• Kenwood Am/Fm Stereo Radio and Cassette Tape Player.  Later in 1985 it was replaced by the Alpine 7272 Am/Fm ETR Stereo Radio with Graphic Equalizer and Cassette Tape Player.
• Special Kenwood Speakers located in the Rear Cargo Area.
• Stebel Junior Custom Air Horns with compressor canister.

Interior Changes made by Ford especially for ascMcLaren:

• Re-Trimmed Interior Seat Material that features Piping that is Color Matched to the Interior, replacing the normal Vermillion-Red Piping with matched Grey Piping, so as NOT to clash with the Popsicle Orange Exterior Decals/Logos & Striping.
• A mandatory option was the "Radio Prep. Group" this included the Dash Speakers, wiring to the rear for the installation of rear speakers at ascMcLaren, the Antenna, and all related antenna wiring & hardware and anti static devices. Only deleted was the actual radio. NO dash plate to cover hole was installed by Ford.

Exterior Changes made by ascMcLaren:

• ascMcLaren Specific Lower Front Air Dam with HELLA {brand} Fog Lamps, wired to stock RS under dash mounted switch-gear. 
• ascMclaren Orange Striping kit (for Blue cars) including ascMcLaren logo decal applied to hood bulge, off center to left and matching color rear hatch decal logo on right-side, over tail lamp.
• ascMcLaren specific side lower ground effect skirting.
• ascMcLaren rear under bumper valance panel with exhaust pipe cutouts.
• Color-Keyed finishing moulding at rear, between rear valance & stock bumper.
• Black finishing moulding at front, between air dam and stock bumper
• Mock Air Vent blackened appliques affixed to 3 mock air-vents.
• Side rear quarter air management window appliques in dark lexan plastic set into unique ascMcLaren frame rails. (Side Rear Quarter Appliques omitted when ordered with T-Tops. 3 triangle mock air vent appliques remain with T-Top.
• Light Smoke Lexan Plastic Headlamp & Taillamp Covers with rubber weather-stripping mouldings.
• Rear Deck-Lid "Whale-Tail" spoiler of moulded injection hard rubber.

Exterior Changes made by Ford especially for ascMcLaren:

• 1985 Coupes were ordered from Ford under a D32 build code to accommodate the dark blue cars (Code 3L, Midnight Blue Metallic, Ditzler 3171).  This was more of an override than an option, allowing the dark blue in combo with an RS code, to sneak it by the computers.  The RS or 5.0 Capri was not available in dark blue.
• Coupes were Capri 5.0s (formerly RSs) with a SPECIAL DELETE OPTION, called "Sports Delete Package" ~~ It resulted in a window sticker credit of $317.00 MSRLP & 269.45 invoice. It was ON ALL ascMcLaren COUPES!  Mandatory, part of the build!!
• The front air dam was deleted.
• The fog lights were deleted.
• The lower half charcoal two-tone was deleted.
• RS switch gear and all wiring was installed for the fog lamps.
• The "5.0" badge was deleted.

Chassis Changes made by ascMcLaren:

• Employ MCLAREN Specific Damper Units & Springs to achieve better cornering & a softer ride than the TRX System from Ford.
• Modify Caster/Camber for front of vehicle to maximize performance of upgraded tire & wheel combination. Re-Calibtrate
  Wheel Alignment Settings.
      Settings Min. >>>>>>>> Pref. >>>>>>> Max
      Caster >>>> 1/2 >>>>>>>> 1-1/4 >>>>>> 2
      Camber >>>> - 3/4 >>>>>> - 3/4 >>>>>> -3/4
      Tow In >>>> 1/16 >>>>>> 3/16 >>>>>> 5/16 
      For Racing Use: Camber -3/4
      Total Tow In 3/16
• Increase Suspension Bushing Durometer
• Revise Power Steering to give more feedback & sensitivity by employing Thunderbird Turbo Coupe Tie Rod Tips.
• Install Carrera 50/50 Hi-Po shocks & lower suspension 1.5 inches together with Higher Rate Springs for a lower center of gravity.
• Tires: B.F. Goodrich Comp T/A High Performance Low Profile to maximize the handling & ride quality and add visual impact. P225/50x15 VR-Series.
• Revise Brake System by installing a Ford Motorsport Brake Proportioning Valve.
• Wheels.  Imported from Campagnolo from Italy 15" x 7" Cast Aluminum with rolled rim in BBS-Style waffle-Grid design, enamel-baked on color with clearcoat glaze on Popsicle Orange.  Imported into the USA by the MSW Wheel Corp.
• Scheduled to be done, but killed off in the 11th hour (a few such cars were built) because it violated the SAE guidelines and would have required crash testing was to revise the brake system by changing linings to Sintered Metallic materials
• Also killed off at the 11th hour was a change on 5-Speed cars to a HURST shift linkage to shorten throw & give a tighter feel.

Chassis Changes made by Ford especially for ascMcLaren:

• Body buck tag next to the normal radiator support tag.

Engine Changes made by ascMcLaren:

• None Documented.  Maybe a few cars were discretely "tweaked" with prototype parts before being sent to the dealer.  One person rebuilding their engine had noticed very odd parts (piston rings were a metric size or something).

Engine Changes made by Ford especially for ascMcLaren:

• Air Conditioning made Standard Equipment
• Replace Rocker Arms to Increase Usable Rev Limit to 7000 RPM.  (Power Gain of 5%).
• Upgrade Exhaust Header (Stainless Steel) Internal Mandrel Bent to include Exhaust Port Liners to be tuned with lower restriction exhaust.
• Tuned Muffler to Reduce Back-Pressure & Enhance Exhaust Note.
• Prototype Valve Springs & Prototype Valve Guides
• B-303 Ford Motorsport Hi Po Cam

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