Remember when I said the ASC McLaren Fox bodies seemingly all come out of the woodwork at once? I wasn’t kidding! Here’s another one, this time the earlier Mercury Capri-based model. This one is a bit of a project but it looks light-years better thanks to the seller opting to throw on a set of later five-spoke alloys from an early 90s Mustang. The seller has performed a bunch of maintenance which should make it a fairly easy project to button up. This example also sports the desirable Recaro interior, so it has a few things going for it. Check it out here on Facebook Marketplace for $6,500.
Here is the ASC McLaren in its more conventional form, with the gold basketweave-style wheels that were all the rage at one point in time. This look was certainly appropriate for the era in which it was made, but I never felt this European-influence was particularly well-suited for a muscle car, no matter how refined ASC attempted to make it. The color scheme is attractive, however, as black with gold wheels and a tan leather interior is never a turn-off. The Capri is located in Florida, which has helped it remain in rust-free condition, even if there’s evidence of sun damage in the interior.
The seats alone represent about $2,000 in value, in my opinion, based on how desirable vintage sports seats have become. These are also routinely pillaged from these ASC conversions and replaced with standard Fox body buckets, so it’s nice to find a car that still has them installed. Obviously, some restoration work will be needed to return them to their full glory, and the next owner will have to decide if this car is worth that level of effort. The seller apparently thinks so, as he has lavished this ASC with lots of new parts, including a fuel tank, fuel pumps and filter, upper radiator hose, front calipers, pads and rotors, and a wheel bearing. He also has the water pump but hasn’t replaced it yet.
The top is new, but that was done by a previous owner. The fact that he went though the fuel system so extensively suggests this ASC McLaren Capri sat for a while before he got his hands on it, and he believes that based on the condition, it has lower miles than suggested by the notoriously wonky odometers. As a 1984 model, this Capri makes around 175 b.h.p. as performance upgrades were limited and not as extensive as the later Mustang-based conversions. The suspension did get firmed up, however, and the vast Fox body aftermarket means you can easily take performance tuning into your own hands. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Bruce M. for the find.
The side view with the gold rims looks very Chrysler Lebaronesque. Lots of those Chryslers wore burgundy back then.
When the Fox body Mustang and Capri came out my uncle was outraged at the black plastic moldings down the side. He didn’t get how a car could come with almost no chrome.
& even earlier, late ’70s mustangs & F-bodies whose bright steel window moldings were painted over with flat black by the factory – that peeled off later on. Not to mention the later-to-fade cheap plastic panels at the base of windshields & plastic trim around side glass – to this day – even on cars with frameless side glass.
Better 4 eye front end than the Mustang.
For the Fox fan who wants something different. At Cars & Coffee: “no it’s not a Mustang,” and “no it’s not factory trim, it’s an aftermarket package.” Appears used but maybe not abused. The Pony wheels do make for a different look.
Sporty and sharp look Bob. They appear right at home here. 😎
I like the look of this one better than the red Ford version featured earlier. I have a soft spot for the Capri fox body, all the fun of the fox body mustangs but just a little different !
Yes, it does have the Recaro seats, but they are pretty rough? they will need some expensive repairs/recovering, more than just a good clean up.
I actually have an 1984 Mercury Capri, 5.0 complete car but it a hard top, not convertible. About ready to list
Send it in so we can auction it for ya!
The different fenders did it for me. My brother bought a black magic back in 81 very KOOL car was even better when I put a full KONI suspension on it. Only bad thing was the worthless 6cyl and single rail overdrive transmission but man did it handle good just couldn’t get self out of it’s own way
This is my car lol . its the second asc to be shown here my other was a mirror image 86 from when I lived in NH. anyway its a great driver I drive it 40 miles a day to work and back in Florida. and yes definitely needs some(not me) to clean up the paint. new water pump was installed and also replaced the front tires. I’ve driven it from Tampa to Jacksonville a few times. no issues. the hvac control head stopped working as did the speedometer a few weeks ago and haven’t looked into it. will need exhaust soon as the cat was rusted so i installed strait pipe for now. air pump still worked just got a shorter belt on it for now. i drive everyday and its a blast . thanks again for showing my car.
It says it is SOLD. Did you just buy it or just sell it? Judging by the name of the seller and your name here, you must have been the seller.
Anyway, when you owned one in NH, did you drive it in Salem? I remember seeing one parked all the time over near the old depot. IIRC it was a dark blue.
a guy made an offer the other day but no cash yet . The one I had in nh was a black one I think you commented on that one too. lol. I like getting them going driving them for a while then moving on. i usually don’t profit just push it along till something else catches my eye. if someone is local and interested reach out. thanks