Autoblog

ASC recreates Trans-Am with 2010 Chevrolet Camaro

John Neff — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Pontiac

ASC Pontiac Trans-Am - Click above for high-res image gallery

Pontiac is on its way out just as the new 2010 Chevy Camaro has arrived. Had this been a decade or two earlier, the Camaro would most certainly be accompanied by an equally sick Pontiac version, namely the Trans-Am. But even before it was decided to put the final nail in Pontiac's coffin, General Motors had no intention of developing a new Trans-Am based off the Camaro. Well, someone should, and someone did. Enter ASC, otherwise known as American Specialty Cars, the sub-contractor responsible for building many of the convertibles you see on the road today like the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder and Toyota Camry Solara Convertible. ASC also has experience building whole specialty cars for manufacturers, having been the building force behind such machines as the Chevy SSR, GMC Syclone/Typhoon and even the unforgettable Buick GNX.

Now, according to DUB, ASC will take your 2010 Camaro and transform it into a modern-day Trans-Am. We don't have too many details except for these few renderings, but the Pontiac-ification of the Camaro looks great from the front and we dig the duck tail spoiler. The air inlets behind the doors are a little much and for all we know are non-functional, but the overall treatment evokes Pontiac's past in much the same way that Chevy's new muscle car draws inspiration from past Camaros without copying them outright. We've got a request in to ASC for more information, so we'll wait and see if the Trans-Cam is the real deal.

Gallery: ASC Pontiac Trans-Am

[Source: DUB]

ASC recreates Trans-Am with 2010 Chevrolet Camaro originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 May 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Period Awesome: 1978 Cadillac Eldorado with power T-tops on eBay

Alex Nunez — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Auctions, Technology, Cadillac

Click above for a gallery of the '78 Eldorado with power T-tops

Sometimes, you just have to stop, tip your cap, and accept what is awesome. This is one of those times. Better still, you can buy this example of awesomeness and put it in your garage. "It" is a 1978 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz. And it has power T-Tops. Let's repeat that, for those of you who weren't paying attention: POWER T-TOPS. And they work. Picked your jaw off the floor yet? Good. Apparently, only seven prototype cars were built with the ultra-rare, ASC-developed feature. Finished in Colonial Yellow with plush pillow-topped seating, this particular example has 66,775 miles on the clock and a top bid of $5,600 (reserve has not yet been met) as of this writing.

Frankly, the only way this car could be any better is if it were brown, and the stereo exclusively played theme music by Lalo Schifrin. Short of that, it'll do just fine. Now please excuse us, as we've got to see if we can dig several thousand dollars in loose change out of the couch so that we might have a shot at experiencing this (not so) little piece of period awesome. Or maybe it's just awesome. Period.

Gallery: 1978 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz with power T-Tops

[Source: eBay]

Period Awesome: 1978 Cadillac Eldorado with power T-tops on eBay originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Snake for Sale: ASC-McLaren Dodge Viper NAIAS showcar

Noah Joseph — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Supercars, Dodge

Click above for a gallery of the ASC Diamondback Viper Concept

A McLaren-tuned Dodge Viper? That's some synergy, and it's also what everyone was asking when American Specialty Cars (ASC) unveiled their reworked asp at the Detroit Auto Show back in 2006. But there was a logic to it all: At the time, Chrysler was still in bed with Daimler, which owns Mercedes-Benz, which was tied in with McLaren and produced the SLR supercar. The Diamondback Viper Concept boasted a McLaren-tuned V10, but while the F1 team was running Mercedes mils around the grand prix circuit, this super-snake was created by an entirely different McLaren.

The Diamondback concept featured a host of carbon fiber body panels and an "OmniCarbon" hood to show off the car's 615-horsepower V10 tuned by McLaren Performance Technologies. The American outfit based near Indianapolis was started by the same Bruce McLaren behind the F1 team, but with a focus on preparing his Can-Am racers for competition in North America. Whatever the association with the legendary Kiwi, the Diamondback was a real show-stopper. Unfortunately, only the one example was made, but that show car is now available for a lucky buyer to take home. It cost ASC about $750,000 to build the Viper back in 2006, but only 55 miles later, it's up for grabs for $295k. Follow the link for more details, and be sure to check out the images in the gallery below.

Gallery: ASC Diamondback Viper Concept

[Source: DodgeVipersForSale.com]

Super Snake for Sale: ASC-McLaren Dodge Viper NAIAS showcar originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saleen names Paul Wilbur new President & CEO

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Saleen

Hancock Park Associates, the parent company of Saleen, recently wrapped up its purchase of American Specialty Cars Incorporated (ASC), the specialty roof and body maker based in Southgate, Michigan. As part of the deal, Hancock also got Paul Wilbur, the current President and CEO of ASC.

Respecting his leadership in the few years he has been at the helm of ASC, they just announced that he will take over the same duties at Saleen, as well. There appear to be some significant synergies between these two companies, so it looks like a good move. They are both niche vehicle manufacturers, but in slightly different areas.

Together they can now offer OEMs a fuller range of custom systems and services. For now, ASC and Saleen will remain separate entities, although it's easy to foresee a time in the not-too-distant future where the operations can be streamlined. They are already working together on the 2008 Saleens, Ford Harley-Davidson F-150s, and painting all 2008 Dodge Vipers. The next generation special edition Mustangs and F-150s are also on the drawing boards for the next two years.

There's a full press release after the jump.

[Source: Saleen]

Continue reading Saleen names Paul Wilbur new President & CEO

Saleen names Paul Wilbur new President & CEO originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sad day: ASC files for Chapter 11

John Neff — Fri, 04 May 2007 15:34:00 EST

Filed under: Chevrolet, GM, Earnings/Financials

Anyone who knows even a little bit (like I do) about American Specialty Cars is usually fascinated. After all, this is the company behind the Buick GNX, but it's also the company behind the Chevy SSR. Unfortunately, the latter vehicle was the one that did ASC in. According to Automotive News, ASC invested $250 million in its operation to produce the SSR truck for General Motors in 2001 along with three other unspecifed vehicles. The three unnamed vehicles were cancelled and, as we all know, the SSR didn't fare so well in the marketplace. Its production was continually decreased and was eventually cancelled early, leaving ASC out in the lurch. Couple that fiasco with Dodge putting the Viper, another car that uses parts from ASC, on hiatus for a year around the same time, and the writing on the wall became clear. All of this led to last Wednesday, when ASC officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Detroit.

ASC began looking for a buyer, however, in 2005 when it was just struggling to keep its doors open after closing four plants and reducing its workforce from 1,250 people to just 252. It's found one, fortunately, in Hancock Park Associates, a private equity firm in L.A. Hancock will reportedly take over ASC's sunroof and design businesses, which means that with any luck, this historically significant supplier will still be around in one form or another.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Sad day: ASC files for Chapter 11 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 May 2007 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fabric roof spotted on 2008 Jeep Liberty

John Neff — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:54:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, SUV, Jeep

Leave it to Brenda Priddy and Co. to go one step further than everyone else to get the scoop. After pics of an uncamouflaged 2008 Jeep Liberty were released a couple of days ago, she tapped her sources to discover if there were anything else of note about the new model. They asked her if she remembered the ASC Cosmos HUMMER H3 concept from the last Detroit auto show, which, after further investigation, led her to lift her lens a little higher and discover a large fabric roof system on top of the Liberty. The retractable fabric roof covers nearly the entire top side of the vehicle, and if Priddy's sources are to be trusted, it is likely that ASC is heavily involved in the roof's development.

Automakers certainly seemed focused lately on offering unique and creative interpretations of the traditional sunroof, which is evident not only in the fabric roof on the Liberty, but also on production models like the Vista Roof available for the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX and the SkyView available on the Nissan Maxima, among others.

[Source: Allpar.com]

Fabric roof spotted on 2008 Jeep Liberty originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Dodge Viper Diamondback caught hot weather testing

Erin Mays — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:48:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Spy Photos, Performance, Videos, Dodge

Snakes aren't the onliy diamondbacks in the desert these days. A few Dodge Viper Diamondbacks were caught hot weather testing down in the Southwestern United States, complete with a hood bulge likely hiding the 650-hp engine we got a sneak peek of during the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit (concept pictured). The powerplant, which is a collaboration between McLaren and American Specialty Cars, pushes the Viper to 60 in less than 3.5 seconds. Check out the video link to catch the beast in action.

[Source: Streetfire.net]

VIDEO: Dodge Viper Diamondback caught hot weather testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Spy Shots: 2008 ASC/McLaren Dodge Viper

Erin Mays — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Supercars, Dodge

We ran across some more pics of the 2008 McLaren-ized Dodge Viper and a few extra tidbits of info? Because the current Dodge Viper just isn't fast, light or fabulous enough, American Specialty Cars decided that it would build a concept Diamondback Viper just in time for this past January's North American International Auto Show. With a wink and a smile, ASC officials hinted at the time that building a production version of the car would present some challenges, particularly the ten intakes popping through the hood. Seems they've solved that problem, if these spy shots are any indication. The snake sports some serious poison as far as horsepower goes -- 650 is the number folks are tossing around at the moment -- putting the vehicle at 60 mph in less than 3.5 seconds.

More Spy Shots: 2008 ASC/McLaren Dodge Viper originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jun 2006 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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