I'm baffeled at this one...

[sleepercoupe]

I have in my hands a car...very unusal.

This is the VIN and door tag

1FABP12F9CF173728=1982 GLX Notch 5.0 Dearborn Active Belts

DSO=86=Ford Recrational Vehicle Pool
EA=Low-back Leather/Vinyl Buckets
A=A/C
Z=3:08 Locking Rear
66H=2-Door Notchback
1P=Med. Gray Metallic

It seems like a rare nice notch with interesting DSO right??
BUT WAIT, it's a convertible! The top looks identical to a McLaren top with the tri-window, There is no back seat only a area for the top to fold into. The whole conversion is VERY professional. I have many pictures but I dont know how to load them. Also the original owner from whom I bought it from said her mother bought the car in Dearborn and that they said it was a prototype convertible. But who knows?

Any thoughts?

BLake

[RedFox82]

Well, there are prototype vehicles out there. Such as this one
http://79-86.stangnet.com/Images/81vert2.jpg

1981 GLX Convertable Proto.

I don't beleive it has the back seat in either.

[sleepercoupe]

how do i post a picture??

are there production numbers out there for the prototypes?

Blake

[sleepercoupe]

ive seen that picture before and that that car is supposedly the only known one out there, the info is on gt-350 registry.

[Caprisvo]

To post a picture.
Click on the Img button, paste the full link, push the Img button again.

The picture has to be somewhere that allows remote linking.

[sleepercoupe]

what is a website that allows remote linking?

[evlgt85]

http://www.foureyedpride.com/articles/rare/cabrio.html

There's a LOT of ppl going around with the Cabrios that claim they are prototypes, or have been told they are, but really are not.

There were also other places that would do 'vert conversions.

Factory prototypes don't generally fall into the hands of the general public. Prototypes also are not given VINs and can not be licensed for use on public highways. At best a few get out and are track only or display only types, but most wind up being crushed/scrapped.

[sleepercoupe]

i thought about the cabrio possibility but it has no markings and the convertible tops are completly different. I was thinking, tell me if this sounds absurd, that the car being in the Ford Recreational Vehicle Pool, it also has EVERY option available. That maybe that Ford had someone convert the car to convertible so everyone could see if they liked the convertible idea. Now I know that sounds FAR fetched but let me know. Its my dads idea. Does anyone know anyone with a prototype or cabrio so I can compare the differences in the two or the simualaritys?

Blake

[sleepercoupe]

http://www.villagephotos.com/viewimage.asp?id_=2259807

thats the car, its rough but im workin on it

BLake

[sleepercoupe]

http://images.cardomain.com/member_img_a/343000-343999/343673_2_full.jpg

[RedFox82]

I would imagine somewhere on perhaps the convertable mechanism there would be something on it with Intermeccanica Cabrio on it. There ARE prototypes out there... but from what I have heard (only rumors) there are only 8. The one I posted above is 'supposebly' one of them.

[evlgt85]

Here's a copy of an email I just rec'd, and I am in agreement with it. It is from Sandy Block...

______________________________
I am not a member, but forwarded to me was the pictures of the Mustangs of 81/82 looking alot like ascMcLarens. I am founder of the ascMcLaren International Registry, and automotive journalist who has penned many articles on Capris/Mustangs & ascMcLarens. Both cars pictures by "Blake" & "Darcy" are NOT ascMcLarens.
There were 4 other companies making these cars in the 1980-1983 time frame. these companies names were:

AHA of Ontario Canada (Stood for Andy A. Hotton a converter of many Lincolns & Mercurys). Unknown how many were actually made, target was 1200. This product was called "The Pony Conversion" by AHA. Both Capri & Mustangs were made. The car in question is NOT this product.

Carson Concepts. I can find nothing on these to even prove any were made.

Bivouac Sport Convertible. Out of Vandalia, Michigan. This product was almost identical, but these are enough small differences to say with certainty that it is NOT the illustrated product on your site, pictured by Blake & Darcy.

The car pictured is a product of aytomobilli intermeccanica as pictured on your site. About 1200 were made.

I am looing for info on Carson Concepts 81 - 83 Mustang/Capri conversions, if anyone knows anything.
cigarsandy@comcast.net
SANDY
BLOCK

[sleepercoupe]

awesome i guess im going to check it out ill let you guys know what i find, anyone know where to look on the top? just on the frame? I have written emails to Sandy from the ASC McLaren website before. And thats what led me to think prototype, because she said it wasnt a mclaren to me too so ill check it out?

BLake

[RedFox82]

w00t I am wrong

[sleepercoupe]

how were you wrong? you said it was a intermechanica thing too

[negusm]

I posted this car on the ascMclaren site...I figured Sandy would respond. He's the MAN!

-Mike

[evlgt85]

Indeed. Sandy is an AWESOME resource. Wish I could pick his brain more often.

[86 50CPRI]

have you looked for the reinforcing subframe connectors,the tubes and plate that were mig welded in?Maybe that can shed some light on it.

Pete

[sleepercoupe]

I couldnt find the Intermechanica label or anything on the vert frame. But I looked at those ads in teh Rare Four Eyes section and I don't think that that is it. Look at the back seat in mine

http://www.mustangmods.com/data/1066/1982%20La%20Donna%204.jpg

There is no backseat only a little wall of the leather seating material and some speakers, that came in the car from whoever converted it. What do you all think???

Blake

[negusm]

Ok, post some REAL pictures...take the top down if you can. Get some good shots of the interior.

I'm curious as hell right now.

-Mike

[CarlsV6]

Not to dig up an old post (even though this is over a year old), but has anyone found any new information on this, any other pics of this car, I'm intrigued as hell right now and would like to see some more info.

[negusm]

Only what I posted in the FYI section...

Did you read this?

http://www.ascmclarencoupe.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=131

This is a Bivouac since it is a 2 seater....sorry no more pictures...


-Mike

[sleepercoupe]

yea, the deal on me getting the car fell through, i know where its at and has been sitting in the garage since this post. I wait patiently for when she calls to sell it.