1987 MUSTANG ASC McLAREN MUSTANG-VERY RARE-ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND ORIGINAL

This is a rare and unique car. Ifyou'relooking for an original car (other than the decal on the bottom of the doors & the engine modifications for more power) thatwill make you feel unique, his is the one. It drives as good as it looks and you will get many compliments from other drivers. Almost everything has been replaced or inspected and found to be in great working condition. According to what records I can find there were only 479 of these made and this was number 247 of 479. If you have any questions please call me at 803-600-7526 or geralds.digital.camera.repair(at sign)gmail.com.
ENGINE
The ASC/McLaren Mustangs were equipped with the 5.0-liter (302-cu.in.) V-8, nd timing could not have been better. Ford, ecognizing increased competition from Chevy's Camaro, ade adjustments to the existing electrically fuel-injected engine that boosted output from the previous year's 200 hp to 225. This was achieved by installing a larger intake plenum and a 60-mm throttle body, evised Ford truck cylinder heads and 9.0:1 compression forged pistons. For all intents and purposes, he engine, nstalled standard in every Mustang GT, hanged very little during this four-year span.

TRANSMISSION
As with the Mustang GT, he ASC/McLarens were offered with a Borg Warner T-5 five-speed manual transmission as standard equipment. It was a unit that had been introduced to the Mustang in 1983 and was further upgraded in subsequent years; the '87-'90 versions are of the "World Class" variety. The four-speed automatic overdrive (AOD) transmission was offered as an option. Both are reliable units that last for many miles of standard driving, nd both can be upgraded for more severe duty if necessary.

CHASSIS
Starting in 1979, he Mustang had been constructed on the unit-body Fox platform featuring - with minute variations - a 100.5-inch wheelbase. Supporting the McLaren version was a stock Mustang GT independent front suspension system consisting of struts, erformance springs and a 1.3-inch anti-roll bar. At the opposite end was the Mustang's Quadra-Shock system, omprised of two vertically installed gas shocks working in unison with two conventional gas shocks horizontally mounted to the differential--the durable 8.8-inch Traction-Lok--to prevent unwanted twisting and wheel hop; an 0.83-inch anti-roll bar was also included. The Mustang GT's power front disc/rear drum brake system was standard equipment.

Significant deviations from the factory GT chassis began with the elimination of the stock Mustang wheels. ASC/McLaren carried over its use of the honeycombed mesh, ast-aluminum, 5-inch wheels from the earlier Capri program, hich were supplied by Italy's Motorsport Wheel Company. They were shod with directional Goodyear VR radials.

The other significant change has to do with the unit-body structure. With the removal of the Mustang LX's fixed top, tructural rigidity was compromised, condition that was rectified with the installation of reinforced rocker panels. This was a deviation from practices employed during the Capri program, hich added bracing below the rear cowl.

What to watch for:The 1987 and up Mustangs featured revised front-end geometry with new strut housings. Strut travel was also increased. Combined, t provided the Fox platform with greater cornering stability. Additionally, he aftermarket industry has been providing suspension and brake upgrades for many years. Although owners of truly rare cars tend to maintain stock characteristics, t's still possible to find an example with such upgrades installed.

BODY & INTERIOR
Contrary to what one may think, ord did not send incomplete, ody-in-white LX coupes to ASC/McLaren. Each was complete, ncluding the aforementioned 5.0 engine and GT underpinnings. Henry Huisman, ho worked at ASC and is now the owner of Paradise Automotive--supplier of NOS, econditioned and used ASC/McLaren parts in Odessa, lorida (www.ascmclaren.com)--tellsus they were also fitted with the GT front fascia from the factory.

"Once they took delivery of the car, hey cut the top off and removed the interior in order to fit their own manually-folded top and power metal tonneau cover. Like the Capri, hey pulled the windshield back about 20 degrees, hich necessitated the installation of side windows unique to these cars. They also added side skirts, aillamp covers and a rear spoiler, nd removed the stock emblems," explains Henry.

Once the exterior modifications were completed, he cars were then painted a variety of special colors, hich varied from one year to the next. "Ford shipped the cars, sually finished in silver or black, o in most cases the door sticker--which would have the paint code--will not match what ASC/McLaren ultimately applied. The underside of the hood should still exhibit the original Ford color," cautions Henry.

Interiors were also extensively modified. With the rear seat removed, dditional storage was made available, la Corvette, elow the stowed top and corresponding cover. The front seats were given extra padding and re-covered in embroidered leather; door panels and the armrests were also redesigned. Standard Mustang GT instrumentation remained, owever.

Standard features included power steering, inted windows and even air conditioning later in the series; however, ptions such as a Whistler radar detector and Recaro bucket seats were few.

Engine
Providing plenty of grunt for the sporty ASC/McLaren was a standard-issue Mustang GT high-output 5.0-liter engine rated for 225 hp, hich was an improvement of 25 horses implemented in time for the 1987 models. No performance mods were made by McLaren.

Brakes
Stock Mustang GT equipment, ncluding a power front disc/rear drum system was used during all four years of ASC/McLaren conversion production. Rear disc conversions are available, s are stock systems from earlier SVO and later Cobra Mustangs.

Transmission
No surprises here, s each of these unique custom-built Mustangs was equipped with a Borg Warner T-5 five-speed manual as standard equipment.
Interior
A standard Mustang interior was converted into a custom--and true--two-seater, omplete with embroidered leather bucket seats, engthened center console, ustom armrests and rear stowage compartments. Stock Mustang instruments were retained.

Chassis
On the surface, o modifications were made to the standard Mustang chassis. GT equipment, eaning the stock performance suspension system, as bolted into place at the Ford factory. Only the rocker panels were reinforced by ASC/McLaren.

Body
Interior aside, he body received the bulk of the alterations. Each started life as an LX notchback coupe before the top was cut off, he windshield tipped back and a custom top and metal tonneau cover added, long with side skirts and taillamp covers.
ENGINE

CodeCu.In.HorsepowerTorqueComp.Bore & StrokeM302225 @ 4,000 RPM300 @ 3,000 RPM9.0:14.00 x 3.00TRANSMISSIONS

CodeType1st2nd3rd4th5thRev.Available25-spd man.3.35:11.93:11.29:11.00:10.675:13.15:1Std. '87-'8925-spd man.3.35:11.99:11.33:11.00:10.675:13.15:1Std. '89-'90T4-spd auto.2.40:11.47:11.00:10.667----2.00:1OptionalDifferential

YearTransmissionStandard RatioOptional Ratio1987-'905-speed man.2.73:13.08:11987-'904-speed auto.2.73:13.27:1Brakes

Standard Rotors: FrontStandard Drums: RearOptional Rotors: Rear10.84-inch diameter9 x 2.00 inchesN/A
1987:
"LX" Option Code 240-A:
"Special Value Climate Control Group"
Included:-
Air Conditioning / Am Fm Electronic Stereo, assette & Premium
Sound / Tinted Glass / Power Lock Group {Pwr. Door Locks, runk
Release and Fuel Door}. Deleted from this group were the Speed
Control & Tilt Wheel, hich moved onto the OPTION list.
Listed Options, ' la carte:-
Automatic Transmission with 3.23:1 Axle Ratio
Speed Control
Tilt Wheel
and MANDATORY Power Windows.
Not Available on the D32, ut normally in the 240-A Group was the
Graphic Equalizer.
Interiors were: Regatta Blue / Scarlet Red / Titanium Grey or Sand Beige