The 2nd generation Toyota Celica released in 1985 on an all new transverse front-wheel-drive platform (previous generations dating back to 1970 were rear-wheel-drive). The new Celica was more refined than the previous version and a new 2.0 liter engine promised more performance. Of course the ASC convertible version was still available for the US market […]
The Renault Alliance was the result of an alliance between Renault and AMC, which was less of an alliance and more of a case of AMC borrowing a large sum of cash from Renault. In its day, the Alliance was the French version of the Honda Civic and lived on an Americanized Renault 9 chassis, but was assembled in Kenosha Wisconsin. The ragtop was ‘convertiblized’ by the American Sunroof Company, a custom builder regularly employed on oddball Detroit projects such as the ASC McLaren Grand Prix, Buick GNX, Chrysler Cordoba LS..etc. But, the most striking thing about today’s Alliance is how it managed to survive the last 35 years in such remarkable (and running!!) condition. Find this 1985 Renault Alliance Convertible offered for $4,500 or trade for Prius in Cedarburg, WI via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
The 3rd generation (internally called A60) Celica was the final rear-drive chassis to use Toyota’s Celica name. The next generation used a transverse front-drive setup that has become a de facto standard for economy cars, but up through 1985 you could get a Celica from the factory with a longintudinal engine and right wheel drive. […]
Unfortunately, most cars intended for children these days are pixelated. But back in the 1950’s, there was a firm out of Baltimore that wanted the whole entire family in microcars, so much so that the CSC (Child’s Sports Car) that raced Timmy around the cul-de-sac sat on the same platform as the ASC 54 that […]
The fifth generation Pontiac Grand Prix was available from 1988 through 1996 as Pontiac’s mid-sized personal luxury coupe. The fastest Grand Prix in 1989/1990 was the ASC/McLaren version that added a turbocharger to GM’s 3.1 liter V6 engine for a total output of 205 horsepower — plus ASC added enough plastic glue-on body cladding to […]
Out of all the things to wear a McLaren name, we can’t imagine anything more strange than the Pontiac Grand Prix. Pontiac created a limited run of 2000 special edition of the Grand Prix using the ASC (American Sunroof Corporation) / McLaren (as in famed racing legend turned race-car builder Bruce McLaren). Find this 1990 […]