Autoblog

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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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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