American Specialty Cars
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American Specialty Cars (commonly known as ASC) is an automobile supplier of highly engineered and designed roof systems, body systems and other specialty-vehicle systems for the world’s automakers. The company is headquartered in Southgate, Michigan, in the United States.
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[edit] Founding
The company was founded by Heinz Prechter in Los Angeles, California as the American Sunroof Company in 1965.[citation needed] The company soon expanded its operations into Detroit by 1967. The company first supplied OEM services to the Ford 1968 Cougar XR-7.
[edit] Innovations
ASC invented the glass-panel "moonroof", both the inward- and outward-folding soft convertible tops, and modern retractable hardtops.[citations needed] In the industry, ASC became well known for converting standard coupe automobiles into convertibles on an OEM basis.[citation needed] The company also engineers convertible tops for automakers to build themselves. Other original-equipment firsts for ASC include the mobile video system (on the Chevrolet Venture) and the powered sunroof.
[edit] Currently
The company has since changed its name in 2004 to highlight its new corporate focus on being a complete specialty-vehicle development partner for the world’s automakers.
[edit] Products
[edit] Recent ASC concepts
- ASC Cosmos
- ASC TriLite
- ASC Diamondback
- ASC-Suzuki Wave
[edit] Current ASC products
- Chrysler 300C Helios (prototype convertible conversion)
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder (convertible conversion)
- Toyota Camry Solara Convertible (convertible conversion)
[edit] Past ASC products
- ASC McLaren Capri (coupe and two-seat convertible)
- ASC McLaren Mustang two-seater
- Buick GNX (high-performance turbocharger)
- Chevrolet Camaro (convertible conversion)
- Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 (convertible version)
- Mitsubishi 3000GT Spyder (convertible conversion)
- Nissan 240SX (convertible conversion)
- Pontiac Firebird (convertible conversion)
- Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo Grand Prix (high-performance turbocharger, body kit)
- Porsche 968 Convertible (convertible conversion)
- Saab 900 convertible prototype
- BMW Z4 (OEM convertible hardware with Edscha Cabrio-Verdecksysteme)
- Chevrolet SSR (convertible hardtop engineering
- Dodge SRT-4 (external modifications)
- Pontiac Grand Am SC/T (external modifications)
- Dodge Shadow Convertible
- GMC Syclone/Typhoon (high-performance turbocharger, body kit, AWD)
- GM J platform - (Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunbird/Sunfire convertible conversion)
