Ok, now this is a new one on us. We knew that ASC McLaren got in on the Fox body convertible game but we had not idea that they basically had their own version of a Saleen Mustang in the form of the 1986 ASC McLaren Mercury Capri. While mostly a handling and appearance package, the cars wee certainly more race than the standard issue 5.0L Capri of the day. Hell, in this test the car runs 14.2 in the quarter which leads us to believe it was packing some 4.10 gears in the rear axle and perhaps a little more aggressive tune on the EFI up front.
One of the things that makes this car distinctive is the headlight and taillight covers on it. we actually think that those covers made the whole rig look like a Dodge Daytona of the same era. A couple of times as the car was whizzing past the camera we thought we were looking at a Dodge.
The BBS style wheels are always a favorite of ours on Foxes of this era and the short throw shifter looked as right as rain in there jutting out of the console.
We have never seen one of these on the road, never knew anyone that has owned one of them, and never heard them referenced before. Did they actually sell these or was the idea clipped at the last second after some press testers were built?
Handling looked snappy and good, 14.2 means plenty of acceleration gusto, and the appearance of the car was really tight for the day. This thing is neat, we just never knew it existed.
Kind of reminds me of a 1963-ish Comet Cyclone.
I wanted one of these BAD! I had a 1980 Capri and wished it could grow up into an ASC version. I kept feeding it money but it never took.
Mr. Lohnes: They did indeed produce a few:)
I have seen an ASC McLaren Capri CONVERTIBLE here……..
http://www.dailyturismo.com/2019/04/asc-mclaren-convertible-1986-mercury.html
Here is one for sale.
One just came up for sale locally cheap.
There is a white ASC McClaren Capri convert in used car lot here in town. It is a time machine with Recaro buckets in blue leather with stereo speakers in the headrests and an Alpine cassette deck in the dash.
Hemming’s Muscle Machines did a feature on an original owner convertible awhile back. I remember when they were introduced.
My Capri ran 15.15 the first lap I ever made with it. 3.27 gear. 86 was the one and only year for fuel injection. 85 was throttle body injected if it was an automatic, or had a holley if it was a 5 speed. 1987 the ASC built them out of Mustang coupes because the roof design made for a nicer 2 seater vert than did the convertible. It was also a manual roof, rather than a power so it didn\’t need the extra space.
I had an 86 coupe. as far as stock a friend got it to 14 flat at the strip.
but no 410 gears had 308. i sold it back to him after a few years. there was something different with the heads they used. had a smaller combustion chamber than your normal 5.0 head. almost heart shaped