American Specialty Cars

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American Specialty Cars (commonly known as ASC) is an automobile supplier of highly engineered and designed roof systems, body systems and other specialty-vehicle systems for the world’s automakers. The company is headquartered in Southgate, Michigan, in the United States and was one of several coach convertible builders.

Founding

The company was founded by Heinz Prechter in Los Angeles, California as the American Sunroof Company in 1965.^{[citation needed]} The company soon expanded its operations into Detroit by 1967. The company first supplied OEM services for the Ford Motor Company's 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7.

Innovations

ASC invented the glass-panel "moonroof".^{[citation needed]} In the industry, ASC became well known for converting standard coupe automobiles into convertibles on an OEM basis.^{[citation needed]} The company also engineers convertible tops for automakers to build themselves. Other original-equipment firsts for ASC include the mobile video system (on the Chevrolet Venture) and the powered sunroof.

Currently

The company has since changed its name in 2004 to highlight its new corporate focus on being a complete specialty-vehicle development partner for the world’s automakers.

Products

Recent ASC concepts

• ASC Cosmos
• ASC TriLite
• ASC Diamondback
• ASC-Suzuki Wave

Current ASC products

• Chrysler 300C Helios (prototype convertible conversion)
• Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder (convertible conversion)
• Toyota Camry Solara Convertible (convertible conversion)

Past ASC products

ASC Saab 900 convertible prototype

ASC McLaren Ford Mustang

• ASC McLaren Capri (coupe and two-seat convertible)
• ASC McLaren Mustang two-seater
• BMW Z4 (OEM convertible hardware with Edscha Cabrio-Verdecksysteme)
• Buick GNX (high-performance turbocharger)
• Chevrolet Camaro (convertible conversion)
• Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 (convertible conversion)
• Chevrolet SSR (convertible hardtop engineering)
• Chrysler Cordoba LS (simulated converible conversion)
• Dodge Dakota (convertible conversion)
• Dodge Mirada CMX (simulated convertible conversion)
• Dodge Shadow (convertible conversion)
• GM J platform - (Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunbird/Sunfire convertible conversion)
• Mitsubishi 3000GT Spyder (convertible conversion)
• Nissan 240SX (convertible conversion)
• Infiniti M (convertible conversion)
• Pontiac Firebird (convertible conversion)
• Pontiac Grand Am SC/T (external modifications)
• Pontiac Grand Prix Turbo Grand Prix (high-performance turbocharger, body kit)
• Porsche 968 Convertible (convertible conversion)
• Saab 900 (convertible prototype)
• Toyota Celica (convertible conversion)

References

• Supplier offers some sunny concepts

External links

• ASC Incorporated.
• American Sunroof Corporation (West Coast)