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{{Short description|Company}} {{Short description|Company}}
{{Multiple issues| {{Multiple issues|
{{refimprove|date=May 2008}} {{more citations needed|date=May 2008}}
{{no footnotes|date=April 2009}} {{more footnotes|date=April 2009}}
}}{{Infobox company
| former_name = American Sunroof Company
| founded = 1965
| defunct = 2017
| hq_location_city = ]
| products = Sunroofs, convertible tops
}} }}

'''American Specialty Cars''' (commonly known as '''ASC''' or '''American Sunroof Company''') was an ] supplier of highly engineered and designed roof systems, body systems and other specialty-vehicle systems for the world’s automakers. The company was headquartered in ], in the ] and was one of several coach convertible builders. ASC sold assets to its Creative Services division in late 2016 to Roush Industries. In late June 2017, ASC effectively ceased operations, laying off all staff and had tooling and production equipment removed from the manufacturing plant in Lexington, Kentucky. '''American Specialty Cars''' (commonly known as '''ASC''' or '''American Sunroof Company''') was an ] supplier of highly engineered and designed roof systems, body systems and other specialty-vehicle systems for the world’s automakers. The company was headquartered in ], in the ] and was one of several coach convertible builders. ASC sold assets to its Creative Services division in late 2016 to Roush Industries. In late June 2017, ASC effectively ceased operations, laying off all staff and had tooling and production equipment removed from the manufacturing plant in Lexington, Kentucky.


==Founding== ==Founding==
The company was founded by ] in ] as the '''American Sunroof Company''' in 1965. In 2004, the aftermarket sunroof business was sold to Inalfa, and the company changed its name from American Sunroof Company to American Specialty Cars, with a "new emphasis on handling design, engineering and manufacturing of low-volume niche vehicles".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wardsauto.com/industry/asc-new-name-is-american-specialty-cars |publisher=] |accessdate=December 2, 2024 |date=January 4, 2004 |first=Tom |last=Murphy |title=ASC New Name is American Specialty Cars}}</ref> The company was founded by ] in ] as the '''American Sunroof Company''' in 1965. In 2004, the aftermarket sunroof business was sold to ], and the company changed its name from American Sunroof Company to American Specialty Cars, with a "new emphasis on handling design, engineering and manufacturing of low-volume niche vehicles".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wardsauto.com/industry/asc-new-name-is-american-specialty-cars |publisher=] |accessdate=December 2, 2024 |date=January 4, 2004 |first=Tom |last=Murphy |title=ASC New Name is American Specialty Cars}}</ref>


All employees were terminated June 27, 2017 and ASC ceased operations. Major manufacturing operations were sourced to other suppliers, mainly Toyota and FCA, effectively shutting down production operations. All employees were terminated June 27, 2017 and ASC ceased operations. Major manufacturing operations were sourced to other suppliers, mainly Toyota and FCA, effectively shutting down production operations.

== Products ==
]
In 1983 the Ford Flair ASC Concept was presented, built by AMC.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Magazines |first=Hearst |url=https://books.google.nl/books?id=-9kDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA50&dq=American+Sunroof+Company+concept+car&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwif0aWzxbmKAxXpgv0HHWvmIWQQ6AF6BAgFEAI#v=onepage&q=American%20Sunroof%20Company%20concept%20car&f=false |title=Popular Mechanics |date=December 1982 |publisher=Hearst Magazines |language=en}}</ref>

The first generation ] cabriolet was developed by ASC and first unveiled as a 1983 concept car.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aničić |first=Goran |date=2021-06-29 |title=How The Cult Convertible 900 Was Born |url=https://www.saabplanet.com/how-the-cult-convertible-900-was-born/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Matt |date=2019-04-30 |title=CLASSIC ROAD TEST – SAAB 900 TURBO |url=https://classicsworld.co.uk/cars/classic-road-test-saab-900-turbo/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=Classics World |language=en}}</ref>

In 1984 ASC built and marketed the ASC McLaren, a convertible version of the ], licensing the ] brand. This was followed by an ASC/McLaren Mustang convertible. and an ASC/McLaren ]<ref>{{Cite web |title=De Vluchtstrook: het Amerikaanse uitstapje van McLaren |url=https://www.autoweek.nl/autonieuws/artikel/de-vluchtstrook-het-amerikaanse-uitstapje-van-mclaren/}}</ref>

From 1989, ASC manufactured the ] at its factory in ], Germany.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Long |first=Brian |url=https://www.google.nl/books/edition/Porsche_944/H9QjEQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=American+Sunroof+Company+porsche&pg=PT175&printsec=frontcover |title=Porsche 944 |date=2011-11-18 |publisher=David and Charles |isbn=978-1-84584-476-9 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1986, ASC build prototypes of a ] convertible.

In 1993 ASC created a ] Coupe concept car.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Magazines |first=Hearst |url=https://books.google.nl/books?id=auQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27&dq=%22ASC%22+concept+car&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjj67vQx7mKAxVKhv0HHX20DgUQ6AF6BAgIEAI#v=onepage&q=%22ASC%22%20concept%20car&f=false |title=Popular Mechanics |date=May 1993 |publisher=Hearst Magazines |language=en}}</ref>

In 1994 ASC and ] built a prototype for a ] convertible.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cole |first=Lance |url=https://www.google.nl/books/edition/Citroen/YIJ8AwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=American+Sunroof+Company+production&pg=PT408&printsec=frontcover |title=Citroen: The Complete Story |date=2014-03-31 |publisher=Crowood |isbn=978-1-84797-660-4 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2004 ASC unveiled the Helios concept, a four-door convertible version of the ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-01-10 |title=ASC Helios 4-door Convertible |url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/asc-helios/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240325040630/https://www.motortrend.com/news/asc-helios/ |archive-date=2024-03-25 |access-date=2024-12-21 |work=MotorTrend |language=en-US}}</ref>


==References== ==References==

Revision as of 15:56, 22 December 2024

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American Specialty Cars
FormerlyAmerican Sunroof Company
Founded1965
Defunct2017
HeadquartersWarren, Michigan
ProductsSunroofs, convertible tops

American Specialty Cars (commonly known as ASC or American Sunroof Company) was an automobile supplier of highly engineered and designed roof systems, body systems and other specialty-vehicle systems for the world’s automakers. The company was headquartered in Warren, Michigan, in the United States and was one of several coach convertible builders. ASC sold assets to its Creative Services division in late 2016 to Roush Industries. In late June 2017, ASC effectively ceased operations, laying off all staff and had tooling and production equipment removed from the manufacturing plant in Lexington, Kentucky.

Founding

The company was founded by Heinz Prechter in Los Angeles, California as the American Sunroof Company in 1965. In 2004, the aftermarket sunroof business was sold to Inalfa, and the company changed its name from American Sunroof Company to American Specialty Cars, with a "new emphasis on handling design, engineering and manufacturing of low-volume niche vehicles".

All employees were terminated June 27, 2017 and ASC ceased operations. Major manufacturing operations were sourced to other suppliers, mainly Toyota and FCA, effectively shutting down production operations.

Products

Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet (1991)

In 1983 the Ford Flair ASC Concept was presented, built by AMC.

The first generation Saab 900 cabriolet was developed by ASC and first unveiled as a 1983 concept car.

In 1984 ASC built and marketed the ASC McLaren, a convertible version of the Mercury Capri, licensing the McLaren brand. This was followed by an ASC/McLaren Mustang convertible. and an ASC/McLaren Pontiac Turbo Grand Prix

From 1989, ASC manufactured the Porsche 944 Cabriolet at its factory in Weinsberg, Germany.

In 1986, ASC build prototypes of a Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 convertible.

In 1993 ASC created a Cadillac Seville Coupe concept car.

In 1994 ASC and Heuliez built a prototype for a Citroen ZX convertible.

In 2004 ASC unveiled the Helios concept, a four-door convertible version of the Chrysler 300C.

References

  1. Murphy, Tom (January 4, 2004). "ASC New Name is American Specialty Cars". Ward's. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  2. Magazines, Hearst (December 1982). Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines.
  3. Aničić, Goran (2021-06-29). "How The Cult Convertible 900 Was Born". Retrieved 2024-12-21.
  4. Bell, Matt (2019-04-30). "CLASSIC ROAD TEST – SAAB 900 TURBO". Classics World. Retrieved 2024-12-21.
  5. "De Vluchtstrook: het Amerikaanse uitstapje van McLaren".
  6. Long, Brian (2011-11-18). Porsche 944. David and Charles. ISBN 978-1-84584-476-9.
  7. Magazines, Hearst (May 1993). Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines.
  8. Cole, Lance (2014-03-31). Citroen: The Complete Story. Crowood. ISBN 978-1-84797-660-4.
  9. "ASC Helios 4-door Convertible". MotorTrend. 2005-01-10. Archived from the original on 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-12-21.

External links

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