American Specialty Cars

American Specialty Cars
FormerlyAmerican Sunroof Company
Founded1965
Defunct2017
Headquarters
Warren, 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.

History

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".[1]

The company sold off much of its specialty equipment in 2014, when they experienced financial difficulties.[2]

All employees were terminated in 2017, its remaining assets having been sold to Roush Industries, and ASC ceased operations.[3]

Products

ASC Vision concept at the LA Auto Show

In 1983 the Ford Flair ASC Concept was presented, built by ASC.[4]

The first generation Saab 900 cabriolet was developed by ASC and first unveiled as a 1983 concept car.[5][6]

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[7]

In 1984, ASC built a concept car called the Vision, featuring a glass roof with a semi circular sunroof that dropped down and rotated to sit below the roof glass.[8]

Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet (1991)

From 1989, ASC manufactured the Porsche 944 Cabriolet at its factory in Weinsberg, Germany.[9]

In 1993 ASC created a Cadillac Seville coupe concept car.[10]

In 1994 ASC and Heuliez built a prototype for a Citroen ZX convertible.[11]

In 2004 ASC unveiled the Helios concept, a four-door convertible version of the Chrysler 300C.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Murphy, Tom (2004-01-04). "ASC New Name is American Specialty Cars". Ward's. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  2. ↑ Sherefkin, Robert. "ASC sells off specialty car equipment". Auto News. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
  3. ↑ "American Speciality Cars". Retrieved 2026-05-27.
  4. ↑ Magazines, Hearst (December 1982). Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines.
  5. ↑ Aničić, Goran (2021-06-29). "How The Cult Convertible 900 Was Born". Retrieved 2024-12-21.
  6. ↑ Bell, Matt (2019-04-30). "CLASSIC ROAD TEST – SAAB 900 TURBO". Classics World. Retrieved 2024-12-21.
  7. ↑ "De Vluchtstrook: het Amerikaanse uitstapje van McLaren".
  8. ↑ "ASC Vision | Special Projects". sp.trxn.co. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  9. ↑ Long, Brian (2011-11-18). Porsche 944. David and Charles. ISBN 978-1-84584-476-9.
  10. ↑ Magazines, Hearst (May 1993). Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines.
  11. ↑ Cole, Lance (2014-03-31). Citroen: The Complete Story. Crowood. ISBN 978-1-84797-660-4.
  12. ↑ "ASC Helios 4-door Convertible". MotorTrend. 2005-01-10. Archived from the original on 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-12-21.
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