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Number: 3821
From: ram_page97
Date: Thu Oct 23, 2003  6:17 am
Subject: Re: [ASC McLaren ] About the Firebird Notchbacks and ASC Firebirds.. ;)

Body:
Re: [ASC McLaren ] About the Firebird Notchbacks and ASC Firebirds.. ;)

There are 2 more if you keep following the link pages....



--- In ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com, ram_page97 <no_reply@y...> wrote:
> Here is another pic of a 'Notchback' look at the last pic on the
> page...
>
> http://www.transamgta.com/PhotoGallery/TransAmGTA/TransAmGTA3.html
>
>
>
>

--- In ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com, "Sandy Block" <cigarsandy@c...>
> wrote:
> > Sun Tour was never made! It was a one-off show car.
> >
> > By the way, he HAS a 130 AMP. Alt in that 1990 !! All
1989/1990s
> do
> > have it!
> >
> > S A N D Y
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >

--- In ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com, "Robert" <asc709@y...> wrote:
> > > I've seen one of these here in El Paso. It was seized by the
> > Border
> > > Patrol from a drug dealer and turned into a "promo" car (along
> with
> > a
> > > yellow Saleen SC). Really nice. Has all of the Border Patrol
> > > graphics and the light bar. I actually like this notch better
> than
> > > the regular version, having owned a reg. version.
> > >
> > > I have an ASC brochure for a Firebird Suntour. What was
this?
> Has
> > a
> > > glass roof!
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Robert
> > >
> > >
> > >

--- In ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com, "SNP Marq"
<infosyssec@i...>
> > wrote:
> > > > Hi Sandy
> > > >
> > > > From what I understand there are only about 120 of these
cars
> > left
> > > on the road from an original production run supposedly of of
> > 625.
> > > >
> > > > Here is a nice pic of a red 88 Notchback
> > > >
> http://www.gtasourcepage.com/ModelFeaturesPics/89RedNotchback.jpg
> > > >
> > > > Here is a nice group of pics of a black 88 Notchback
> > > > http://i.b5z.net/i/u/741720/i/88_nocthback_large.jpg
> > > >
> > > > The units were built during 1988 and 1989. The notchback
> option
> > was
> > > actually canceled before the start of production for 1989; a
> dealer
> > > bulletin in August 1988 announced its demise, instructing
> dealers
> > to
> > > recall any and all GTA orders with the Notchback code on them.
> > Still,
> > > PMD records show that one single car was built for
1989........
> > which
> > > it is suspected is the car pictured in the first photo link I
> > > provided in this message.
> > > >
> > > > Today these GTAs are very rare sights and are highly
> collectible,
> > > even though the style really did not catch on during their
brief
> > > production run. These cars were the only GTAs not to use a
> > variation
> > > of the rear aero-wing spoiler, since the notchback design
> changed
> > the
> > > layout of the hatch lid. PMD engineers simply installed the
> > standard
> > > flat Firebird spoiler instead of the usual aero-wing unit.
> > > >
> > > > The key thing to keep in mind about this particular model is
> that
> > > it was a GTA Trans Am.
> > > >
> > > > Now for the ASC connection ;).....
> > > >
> > > > Yet another interesting side note in the Firebird GTA's
> history
> > was
> > > the production of a small number of GTA convertibles for 1989
by
> > ASC,
> > > an aftermarket conversion company we all know and love...
> > > >
> > > > Yup....
> > > >
> > > > Here is a pic of an ASC modified red 89 GTA convertible.
Note
> > the
> > > hard tonneau style
> > > >
> >
http://www.gtasourcepage.com/ModelFeaturesPics/89GTAConvertible.jpg
> > > >
> > > > And here is a pic of an ASC modified white 20th Anniversary
> > > convertible
> > > >
> >
>
http://www.gtasourcepage.com/ModelFeaturesPics/20thTAConvertible.jpg
> > > >
> > > > The exact number of ASC GTAs built remains a mystery, but
> there
> > > were only 369 Firebird convertibles built that year and only
50
> > > examples had the 5.7L TPI engine, which was standard in the
GTA.
> No
> > > official production data has been verified by ASC but, still,
> the
> > > 1989 GTA convertibles remain some of the rarest examples built
> > during
> > > the GTA's five-year run. The only 1989 model GTA convertible
> that
> > can
> > > be verified as far as the number actually produced was the
1989
> > 20th
> > > Anniversary Indianapolis Pace Car edition, which was also
> converted
> > > by ASC. There were but two examples converted for
> 1989.............
> > > >
> > > > My notchback is the Sandstone taupe color and I have seen a
> white
> > > one. So that accounts for at least four colors of
notchbacks -
> > > white, taupe, red and black.
> > > >
> > > > The only other thing I can add to the story is this bit of
> > trivia.
> > > Apparently the notchback GTA's were originally put into
> production
> > > because California and various 'hot and sunny state' dealers
had
> > > complained that the large expanse of glass on the standard
> Firebird
> > > hatchback was making the interiors of the cars into ovens. So
> GM
> > > came up with the notchback to satisfy those 'hot state'
dealers
> > with
> > > a design that did not permit the sun to roast the insides of
the
> > > car. We only have a small heavily tinted window and the rest
> of
> > the
> > > hatch is fiberglass and painted to match the car. Anyhow,
from
> > what
> > > I gather or understand this notchback presented a problem for
a
> > > number of drivers because it created HUGE blindspots. You
have
> > more
> > > difficulty seeing out the back and to your rear sides with the
> > > notchback. Naturally GM only figured this out after a number
> of
> > the
> > > cars had been involved in accidents. Hence the reason why GM
> > > immediately cancelled the availability of these cars and
> recalled
> > any
> > > still on the car lots and cancelled all orders that were
> > outstanding
> > > at that time.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Marq
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: Sandy Block
> > > > To: ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com
> > > > Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2003 11:26 AM
> > > > Subject: Re: [ASC McLaren ] Looking for info! 82 'Stang 2
> > seater
> > > convertible!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Marq, my best buddy in college had one of those F'Bird
> > > notchbacks!
> > > > Cool Car, got lots of looks, but nobody would ever believe
> that
> > > it
> > > > was factory. I never knew how many were made, but we knew
> very
> > > very
> > > > few. Both he & I saw another one, but we were not
> together.
> > So
> > > > together, we saw his and two others. All 3 were Red. Was
> Red
> > > > mandatory?? How positive are you about the 120 number????
> > > > He kept it after college for several years. When he got a
> good
> > > job
> > > > he traded it in on a Lincoln Mark 7 ~ we never saw it
> again.
> > We
> > > grew
> > > > up in the same town & went to college in Washington DC.
He
> had
> > > the
> > > > F'Bird there, and it went to H as it lived on the street.
> Was
> > > broken
> > > > into a coulple times, paint faded, bumpers chipped, etc,
> etc.
> > > Man,
> > > > you brought back memories on THAT one.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >

--- In ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com, "SNP Marq"
> <infosyssec@i...>
> > > wrote:
> > > > > Well..... I could be wrong, but for the Mustang family,
> they
> > > have
> > > > always referred to the 'trunk' model of the Fox body
> Mustangs
> > > > as 'coupes' and the rear glass models as hatchbody or
> > hatchback.
> > > I
> > > > don't know if this is 'Ford' terminology or just the way
it
> is
> > > > referred to by the majority of the 'common folk'.
> > > > >
> > > > > In the 82 to 91 Firebirds, they always referred to the
> glass
> > > backed
> > > > models as 'hatchbacks'.... but when they put the 'Ferrari'
> > style
> > > > hatch instead of the all glass back on to a limited run of
> > > Firebirds
> > > > they referred to them as 'notchbacks' ( they only produced
> > about
> > > 120
> > > > or so of them.... and I got one ;).
> > > > >
> > > > > I wonder where that leaves the convertibles, like the
TR6
> and
> > > > Spitfire, that could be ordered with a convertible 'hard
> top'
> > > that
> > > > basically turned them into 'hard tops' although it was not
> > > physically
> > > > manufactured into the integrity of the body. TR6 hardtops
> are
> > > > probably the sexiest TR6's running around on the road ;)
> > > > >
> > > > > But they even have such pop on, pop off hardtops for the
> > > Mercedes
> > > > which look pretty wicked. So even though they are
> basically a
> > > > convertible, once they put on their 'hard top' does that
> make
> > > them
> > > > coupes ?
> > > > >
> > > > > When I think of the word 'coupe' I always fall back to
the
> > > Beach
> > > > Boys and their little ditty about "Little Deuce
> Coupe'...
> > > That is
> > > > probably where I associated a 'hard top' car - with a
trunk
> as
> > > being
> > > > a coupe.
> > > > >
> > > > > And Ford seemed to have stuck with that in the original
> 60 /
> > > 70's
> > > > Mustangs... where they had 'coupes and they had fastbacks
(
> > yeah
> > > yet
> > > > another 'back' name'.) And it is interesting to see how
> the
> > > public
> > > > has preferred the 'fastback' over the coupes in the early
> > > generation
> > > > Mustangs, but in the Fox body generation the taste swung
> from
> > > > the 'hatchback' over to the 'coupe' models.
> > > > >
> > > > > I must have been couped up in my office too long to
babble
> so
> > > long
> > > > on this subject
> > > > >
> > > > > Marq
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: ecstacycustomz
> > > > > To: ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com
> > > > > Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2003 10:06 AM
> > > > > Subject: Re: [ASC McLaren ] Looking for info!
82 'Stang
> 2
> > > seater
> > > > convertible!
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > there have been many a hardtop convertible. ford
> fairlane
> > > had a
> > > > > retractable hardtop convertible, cadillac alante has a
> > > removable
> > > > > hardtop(and a rag, just in case), so do the older
> benz's,
> > and
> > > t-
> > > > > birds. im sure there are many more, these are just
the
> > ones
> > > > fresh
> > > > > in my mind.
> > > > > i always thought coupe meant 2 seater, and hardtop
> usually
> > > meant
> > > > no
> > > > > pillar(and easily broken into). my 76 deville is a
4dr
> > > hardtop.
> > > > >
> > > > > jdawg
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >

--- In ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com, "negusm"
> <negusm@y...>
> > > wrote:
> > > > > > I doubt it. The end result is what defines what the
> car
> > is
> > > > called.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Even though all early Fox bodied Mustang verts
started
> > life
> > > as
> > > > > > coupes, you don't call them coupes now. They are
> called
> > > > > > convertibles. Can you call them "convertible
> coupes"?
> > > Maybe.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Now whether a vert can be called a "hardtop vert", I
> > don't
> > > > know.
> > > > > > Looking on the web, it appears there was a "hardtop
> > > > convertible"
> > > > > back
> > > > > > in the 50's. It appears to be a car that looks like
a
> > > > convertible
> > > > > > but the top won't retract.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
http://ca.geocities.com/rfhowells/nhpfiles/hardtops.htm
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The only nit I had was when people refer to
hatchbacks
> > and
> > > the
> > > > > like
> > > > > > as hardtops.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -Mike
> > > > > >
> > > > > >

--- In ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com, "fourspeed38852"
> > > > > > <fourspeed38852@y...> wrote:
> > > > > > > OK, what about this -- what if the vert started
life
> as
> > a
> > > 2
> > > > door
> > > > > > > hardtop? Would it count then?
> > > > > > >

--- In ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com, "negusm"
> > <negusm@y...>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > Arghhh...I think I meant to say that a
> > > > convertible "doesn't"
> > > > > > > > count....but to be honest I don't know if a vert
> can
> > be
> > > a
> > > > > hardtop
> > > > > > > or
> > > > > > > > not.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > -Mike
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >

--- In ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com, "negusm"
> > > <negusm@y...>
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > The definition of a 2 door hardtop:
> > > > > > > > > A "hardtop" is a vehicle that does not have
> the "B"
> > > > pillars,
> > > > > > > which
> > > > > > > > > are the pillars normally behind the front doors
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > A convertible counts even though a convertible
> > > doesn't
> > > > have
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > posts. Hardtop usually refers to a coupe. I
> have
> > > never
> > > > > heard
> > > > > > it
> > > > > > > > > used for a convertible. However, I think it
can
> be
> > > > applied
> > > > > to
> > > > > > a
> > > > > > > 4
> > > > > > > > > door sedan...
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > http://home.wanadoo.nl/shaul/cf/cf70/cf70b.htm
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > The way it bugs me is when people refer to any
> car
> > > with a
> > > > > metal
> > > > > > > > roof
> > > > > > > > > as a hardtop.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > -Mike
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >

--- In
> ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com, "fourspeed38852"
> > > > > > > > > <fourspeed38852@y...> wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > OK, just what is a 2 door hardtop? Can a
> > > convertible
> > > > be
> > > > > > > > > a "hardtop"?
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > -- In ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com, "negusm"
> > > > <negusm@y...>
> > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > The misuse of "hardtop" bugs me to no
end.
> > Just
> > > > because
> > > > > > > > > its "hard"
> > > > > > > > > > > doesn't make it a hardtop.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > -Mike
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > >

--- In ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com, Tom G
> > > > > > <speedracer815@y...>
> > > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > http://mclellansautomotive.com/photos/B24833.jpg
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > Interesting that they chose to call a
> > > convertible a
> > > > > > > > > > > > coupe. The misuse of terms like sedan,
> coupe,
> > > > hardtop,
> > > > > > > > > > > > roadster, etc. is one of my pet peeves
in
> the
> > > > > > > > > > > > automotive world.
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > Tom G.
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved
> > product
> > > > search
> > > > > > > > > > > > http://shopping.yahoo.com
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
Terms
> of
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > Terms
of
> >