American Specialty Cars

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.

Founding

The company was founded by Heinz Prechter in Los Angeles, California as the American Sunroof Company in 1965. The company soon expanded its operations into Detroit by 1967. The company first supplied OEM services for the Ford Motor Company's 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7.

Innovations

In the industry, ASC became well known for converting standard coupe automobiles into convertibles on an OEM basis. The company also engineers convertible tops for automakers to build themselves. Other original-equipment firsts for ASC include the mobile video system (on the Chevrolet Venture) and the powered sunroof.

Currently

The company changed its name from American Sunroof Company, in 2004, to highlight its new corporate focus on being a complete specialty-vehicle development partner for the world’s automakers.

All employees were terminated June 27, 2017 and ASC ceased operations. Major manufacturing operations were sourced to other suppliers, mainly Toyota and FCA, effectively shutting down production operations.

Products

Recent ASC concepts
  • ASC Jeep JL Bag Components
  • ASC Toyota Tacoma Tonneau
  • ASC RAM Tonneau
  • ASC / MV-1 Ramp Systems
  • ASC / Jeep Sky Slider
  • ASC Cosmos
  • ASC TriLite
  • ASC Diamondback
  • ASC-Suzuki Wave (convertible concept car based on the third generation Suzuki Vitara)

Past ASC products
ASC Saab 900 convertible prototype
ASC/McLaren Ford Mustang

References
  1. Long, Brian (May 2004). Nissan 300ZX and 350Z: The Z-Car Story. ISBN 9781904788041.

Notes
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