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{{Short description|Company}}
'''American Specialty Cars''' (commonly known as '''ASC''') is a ] supplier of highly engineered and designed roof systems, body systems and other specialty-vehicle systems for the world’s automakers. Headquartered in ], in the ].
{{Multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=May 2008}}
{{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.

==Founding== ==Founding==
The company was founded by ] in ] as the '''American Sunroof Company''' in ]. Born in 1942 in Kleinhöbing, Germany, Mr. Prechter began his automotive career at the age of 13 as an apprentice in automotive trim, tool and die making, and coach and body building. After completing his studies at Berufs-Oberschule in Nuremberg, Mr. Prechter furthered his education at Nuremberg's OHM Polytechnic Engineering School. 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.
During his studies, Mr. Prechter gained a wide range of practical experience working for a number of German companies, including Faunwerke (a truck and military equipment supplier), Siemens (an electronics firm), and Deutz (a diesel engine manufacturer).


⚫ == Products ==
In 1963, he came to the U.S. as an exchange student. While studying Business Administration and English at San Francisco State College, he began installing sunroofs – a virtually unknown product on this side of the Atlantic.
]
In 1983 the Ford Flair ASC Concept was presented, built by AMC.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Magazines |first=Hearst |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-9kDAAAAMBAJ&dq=American+Sunroof+Company+concept+car&pg=PA50 |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>
Fifteen months later, in 1965, Mr. Prechter founded the American Sunroof Company (now ASC Incorporated) in Los Angeles. He spent $764 on tools, a workbench from an old door covered with aluminum and a sewing machine from a junkyard. This one-man enterprise soon became well-known for its "custom" sunroofs as well as its creative approach to supporting the development of specialty vehicles for the film industry.


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>
The company soon expanded its operations into Detroit by ]. The company first supplied ] services to the ] ].


From 1989, ASC manufactured the ] at its factory in ], Germany.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Long |first=Brian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H9QjEQAAQBAJ&dq=American+Sunroof+Company+porsche&pg=PT175 |title=Porsche 944 |date=2011-11-18 |publisher=David and Charles |isbn=978-1-84584-476-9 |language=en}}</ref>
==Innovations==
ASC invented the glass-panel "]", both the inward- and outward-folding soft convertible tops, and modern retractable hardtops. In the industry, ASC became well known for converting standard ] automobiles into ]s on an OEM basis. The company also engineers convertible tops for automakers to build themselves. Other original-equipment firsts for ASC include the mobile video system (on the ]) and the powered sunroof.


In 1986, ASC build prototypes of a ] convertible.
==Currently==
The company has since changed its name in ] to highlight its new corporate focus on being a complete specialty-vehicle development partner for the world’s automakers.


In 1993 ASC created a ] Coupe concept car.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Magazines |first=Hearst |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=auQDAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22ASC%22+concept+car&pg=PA27 |title=Popular Mechanics |date=May 1993 |publisher=Hearst Magazines |language=en}}</ref>
⚫ ==Products==
]
Recent ASC concepts:


In 1994 ASC and ] built a prototype for a ] convertible.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cole |first=Lance |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YIJ8AwAAQBAJ&dq=American+Sunroof+Company+production&pg=PT408 |title=Citroen: The Complete Story |date=2014-03-31 |publisher=Crowood |isbn=978-1-84797-660-4 |language=en}}</ref>
* ASC Cosmos – The Cosmos features an InfiniVu™ Fabric roof system, which transforms a ] into an SUV ready to take on ] as well as ]. Bi-directional, the between-the-roof-rails top slides either rearward toward the D-pillar or forward toward the A-pillar, or to any point in between, offering an infinite number of open-air iterations—for those in the rear of the vehicle as well as the front. And, at the D-pillar the system features a moving horizontal header, which moves out of the way as the roof slides forward, providing the added benefit of pickup-truck-like utility.
*ASC TriLite – A ] on wheels, the TriLite enhances a ] minivan, with a unique moving-panel roof system. Its InfiniVu™ system features not one, not two, but three moving panels. And, in an industry first, all are made of ]® GLX resin with ]®, a polycarbonate window-glazing solution that can potentially be up to half the weight of glass—an important benefit in roof-mounted systems. In addition, glazing applications made with GE’s Lexan® GLX resin offers shatter-resistance, and presents automotive designers with more styling freedom compared with glass.
*ASC Diamondback ], Powered by ] – A “snake” with an all-new skin—and ultimate display of the production merits of ASC’s patent-pending OmniCarbon™ process--the Diamondback ] is super-light and super-fast. It’s fitting that ASC, which helped the ] bring the new ] ] coupe to life, would, with the aid of ], show how the Viper coupe might be taken to an all-new level of “extreme.” The 615 hp Diamondback ] features a carbon fiber roof, deck lid, rockers, fascia inserts, body trim and a massive OmniCarbon™ hood that shows off ten unique trumpeted air intakes, with individual port throttles, peeking through—a ] feature reminiscent of ] Can-Am engines of the past. The hood also shows off ASC’s expertise in compression-molded carbon fiber, both painted and woven. It’s displayed beautifully, with a broad, clear-coated racing stripe down the Artic ]-painted expanse, subtly outlined by “Viper ]” and “McLaren ]” pinstripes. In all, ASC removed about 85 lb. of weight from the vehicle—including cutting the weight of the hood by nearly half versus the production model. Taken together with the powertrain modifications by ], the power-to-weight ratio was increased, resulting in an estimated increase in 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. And, importantly, ASC’s OmniCarbon™ isn’t just light and nice to look at: ASC has reduced cycle times in the process by 80% versus conventional molding methods, and is confident its process meets OEM production specifications.
*ASC-] Wave – Inventing an all-new segment, the UTV (“ultimate tailgate vehicle”) the Wave concept property was completely designed, developed and fabricated in ASC’s California studio for ] ]. LIFE VEHICLE Concept Series (LIVE). It’s one of two such vehicles designed by ASC (the other, the Dune, also being displayed at NAIAS, in ]’s booth). The Wave’s entire rear section behind the second row of seats pulls out to reveal your own barbeque grille and cooler deck. Other unique ASC enhancements to the ]-based four-door roadster include new front and rear fascias, modified doors with new top caps integrating a water-sports theme, and a custom two-tone paint scheme.


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==
Current ASC products:
{{reflist}}
* ] ''Helios'' (prototype convertible conversion)
* ] ''Spyder'' (convertible conversion)
* ] ''Convertible'' (convertible conversion)


⚫ ==External links==
* (archived website)


⚫ ]
Past ASC products:
⚫ ]
* ] (high-performance ])
⚫ ]
* ] (convertible conversion)
* ] ''Spyder'' (convertible conversion)
* ] (convertible conversion)
* ] (convertible conversion)
* ] ''Turbo Grand Prix'' (high-performance ], body kit)
* ] ''Convertible'' (convertible conversion)
* ] convertible prototype
* ] (OEM convertible hardware with ])
* ] (convertible hardtop engineering
* ] (external modifications)
* ] ''SC/T'' (external modifications)

⚫ ==External link==
*

⚫ ]
⚫ ]
⚫ ]
] ]
]

] ]
]

{{auto-company-stub}}

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Company
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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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