ascMcLaren Enthusiasts

MHISSTC · Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 44 Location: Goodland, KS

I've had a lot of fun with other folks "discussing" my interesting '85 Capri GS with CFI 5.0L V8 during the past couple of months. I thought I'd ask the experts here for some additional input.

No one seems to know what some of the remaining buck tag codes are and that's fine. I've still been able to figure out most everything about the car. Here are the items I would still like to figure out in order to start acqiring a couple original type items.

First, the radio. It has radio code "6" which is the electronic search AM/FM stereo cassette. As I interperate the dealer literature and ordering guides this radio was available either with or without the "Premium Sound" option. With the "Premium Sound" option, Premium Sound was printed on the face of the radio and an additional amp was located under the dash pad in the center speaker location. Am I correct? I've had others tell me ALL code "6" radios were "Premium Sound".

Second, the wheels. The original wheels were not on my car when I got it. A factory type locking lug key was in the glovebox and a McGaurd locking lug nut sticker is located on the spare tire cover. From what I have been able to figure out from the literature, if a car was equipped with aluminum wheels from the factory, it came with locking lug nuts. The 10-hole wheels were not available on the GS, so those are out. The only other options would be the Polycast or the TRX rims. I am leaning towards the Polycast since I thought if the car was equipped with the TRX package, it had TRX embossed on the buck tag and my car does not have that. Is this correct?

I haven't yet received the "999" History report I orderd from Ford on this car. Assuming all the information on the report is correct when I get it, will it give me the answers I'm looking for?

Thanks.

Scott

85McLaren · Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 178

Scott,
I have owned 3 86 capri 5.0s aside for my 85 capri mclaren, but my friend had an 85 GS 5.0 CFI auto. His car did in fact come with the 10 hole 15" rims. Don't know about the radio yet. One of my 86's has the digital premium sound and my other had the regular non-digital radio.

Trouble is with these capris (more so as you get closer to 86), the factory seemed to start piecing whatever parts they had in their wharehouse as they got closer to the last year just to get rid of parts. A friend of mine confirmed this as his 86 capri was delivered at the dealership with all options that I had and his and mine were alittle different. Mine had the 4 - 6 cylinder chrome grill where his had the correct charcoal grey grill. Remember, these cars were new and they had these weird flaws (discrepencies). Seems that items were on certain cars or ordered with certain cars that the brochure said YOU couldn't get, but in fact were on the car(s) - rather a lot of mistakes or not. Our cars were the same colors and everything...

Jason

MHISSTC · Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 44 Location: Goodland, KS

Thanks for the response.

My car is on the other end of the spectrum of '85 production. Being about one of the first 250 or so Capris produced, it has the seats and exhaust from '84.

If I remember correctly, the 10 holes were available on the GS in '86 so it doesn't surprise me if a late '85 model year production GS has them...or is this car one of those controvercial RS equipped cars with the GS badge on the hatch?

I guess one way to tell if my car has the premium sound is to check under the dash pad for the amp. I've been avoiding taking it off, but I guess I'm going to have to do it sooner or later since the heater core was bypassed when I got the car and I'm assuming it leaks.

I'm just hoping I get my "999" report soon and that it can shed some light on the radio and wheel options.

Scott

negusm · Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2005 11:23 pm Post subject:

Well...all I can do is point you to what the "books" say:

http://www.ascmclarencoupe.com/Literature/DealerOnly/85_Mercury_ProductFactsBook_11.jpg

http://www.ascmclarencoupe.com/Literature/DealerOnly/85Sep_Mercury_SalesmanGuide_030.jpg

P205/70VR14 BSW Tires came with the 5.0 automatic package. Does anyone know the size/width of the polycast wheels?

What's interesting is that the books say the V8 GS even could get the TRX wheels...while the "5.0" could not.

-Mike
_________________
1985 ascMcLaren Coupe - Midnight Blue
Under Restoration

MHISSTC · Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 44 Location: Goodland, KS

Yup, those were some of the references I was writing about.

The Polycast wheels are 14" x 5.5".

75coug · Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 995 Location: Van Alstyne, TX

My car is one of the mysterious 1985 RS-equipped cars with the GS badge on the trunk, and mine came with ten-holes. It's an automatic, if that makes any difference.
_________________
Robert

1989 ascMcLaren convertible - royal gold
1986 ascMcLaren convertible - red
1984 ascMcLaren convertible - white

85McLaren · Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 178

That was how my friends was. A red 85 with a GS badge on the rear with 10 hole wheels with the 5.0. Auto as well....

Jason

MHISSTC · Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 44 Location: Goodland, KS

It's my opinion that all of the mysterious RS/GS cars that are equipped as RSs, have CRS on the buck tag, but have GS on the hatch, are really RSs with a GS badge mistakenly put on the hatch. That would explain why it was equipped with the 10-holes.

MHISSTC · Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 44 Location: Goodland, KS

S W E E T !

I got my "999" History report from Ford yesterday. It appears all of the information is correct. And, YES, it does finally answer the wheel and radio option questions!

75coug · Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 995 Location: Van Alstyne, TX

Yes, I secured my 999 report a while back, and from what I recall, it differs markedly from yours. I will dig it out tonight and post what it says.

A lot of folks have warned that the 999 reports are notorious for inaccuracies, so be careful not to take everything that it says as gospel.
_________________
Robert

1989 ascMcLaren convertible - royal gold
1986 ascMcLaren convertible - red
1984 ascMcLaren convertible - white

negusm · Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 4:15 pm Post subject:

There were a bunch of "premium sound" radios.

I have one right now in my garage. It came from a Mustang and says "premium sound". However, it has a dial and is an AM/FM radio only. There was a cassette version and an "Electronic" cassette version that came later (I think in 86).

1986:
http://www.ascmclarencoupe.com/Literature/DealerOnly/86_Mercury_ProductFactsBook_14.jpg

Note that there are TWO ordering codes. One to get the Electronic Cassette radio and one for the premium sound option which has the amp and better speakers.

1985 appears about the same:
http://www.ascmclarencoupe.com/Literature/DealerOnly/85_Mercury_ProductFactsBook_11.jpg

-Mike
_________________
1985 ascMcLaren Coupe - Midnight Blue
Under Restoration

MHISSTC · Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 44 Location: Goodland, KS

negusm · Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 5:02 pm Post subject:

Yes it is stereo....or then it wouldn't be marked "Premium Sound".

In 1984 you could still get the base AM radio. The Premium Sound option was not available unless you opted for at least the AMFM radio.

4 radios sound about right....

Here is a shot of a Premium Sound Cassette Radio without the "Electronic" script:
http://www.ascmclarencoupe.com/Literature/FordBrochures/85FordMustangBrochure_22.jpg

The same picture is in the 1986 brochure. It's quite possible that the Cassette unit with "Electronic" script on it, is NOT a premium sound radio.

-Mike
_________________
1985 ascMcLaren Coupe - Midnight Blue
Under Restoration

MHISSTC · Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 44 Location: Goodland, KS

negusm · Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 5:55 pm Post subject: