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Number: 3915
From: "Sandy Block"
Date: Tue Nov 4, 2003  10:45 am
Subject: [ASC McLaren ] Re: Please Read / History of PRE-McLarens

Body:
Oh, Brent - THAT would be so cool! Thanks!! If you see anyone, see
if they know ANYTHING about the Bivouac!! Like how many they made,
or whatever......

S A N D Y



--- In ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com, "Brent Abrams" <babrams@l...>
wrote:
> Sandy,
>
> Bivouac was a recreational vehicle company only about 22 miles from
me, they
> were mainly into conversion vans and were one of the largest
manufacturers
> of conversion vans in the Midwest . I believe that the went out of
business
> about 7 or 8 years ago.
> This weekend I'll see if I can drive by there and see if anyone is
still
> around.
>
> Brent
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Sandy Block" <cigarsandy@c...>
> To: <ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 12:14 AM
> Subject: [ASC McLaren ] Re: Please Read / History of PRE-McLarens
>
>
> Oh, absolutely. The ascMcLarens are definately copies of it. As a
> matter of fact, I have been wondering (but will never know) but I
> would not be surprised if Peter Muscat was the force behind the
> Bivouac. The simularties between the two are totally undeniable!
> The fact both are two seaters, both have the 3-window roof of the
> same style, and the "idea" of some sort of luggage or storage
> compartment behind the front seats, the style cut of the Tonneau
> cover as well. I don't think we'll ever know WHO the person was
> behind the Bivouac.
> I assume that you've tried to call the Telephone # (I didn't). I am
> still trying to locate the person, and have NOT run out of ideas of
> how to find them.
>
> Point 2. Yes, it is my opinion that the final design of the
> ascMcLaren's interior is neater, cleaner and looks closer to
> something that would reach final production. The stowing of the
roof
> is similiar, but the McLaren's design is not comprimised with the
> rows of silver snaps to secure the roof, when up, and the storage
> area in the rear can hold two types of baggage. The flat surface is
> good for like buffel bags, gym bags or even a large suit case or
two,
> when stacked. The twin compartments that are covered are good for
> smaller items. Yet, when empty of objects the look is clean &
> stylish. It's not unusual for an original design of anything to be
> improved upon later on. The original deserves the credit for
forming
> the fundamentials of the design and I surely do not desire to take
> that away from the Biouvac! IMO, the ascMcLaren took what the
> Biouvac created, and improved upon it. If this will print (work) (I
> doubt I can do it correctly) but if so, maybe this will show you why
> the McLaren took a good idea, and made it better:-
> V
> V
> V
> V
> V
> V
> V
> V
> http://public.fotki.com/ascmclaren/ascmclaren_capris/ascmclaren-
> _mustang-1/89109_11.html
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

--- In ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com, "fourspeed38852"
> <fourspeed38852@y...> wrote:
> > So.....I guess this is your opinion? "Overall it looks more "Back-
> > yard made" than does the
> > ascMcLarens, that look more professionally designed"?? I still
> think
> > the ASC/McLaren are just "copies" and "look-alikes" of the Bivouac
> > (the original 2 seater Mustang)......'course, that's just my
> > opinion! :) :)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >

--- In ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com, "Sandy Block" <cigarsandy@c...>
> > wrote:
> > > All of the sales brochures from all 1980-1983 aftermarket
> convertor
> > > Mustang Convertibles have arrived, and I've made a study of
> each.
> > > Herewith the findings:-
> > >
> > > Each were substantially different, allthough upon a glance they
> all
> > > looked very, very similiar.
> > >
> > > Bivouac (Bivouac - P.O. Box 279 - Vandalia, Michigan 49095
(616)-
> > 476-
> > > 9794). There car was the only 2-seater of the bunch. It
sported
> > the
> > > 3-window rear top design, but the small triangular small wrap
> > around
> > > windows were considerably larger than what was used on the
> > > ascMcLaren. The cars were 1981 & 1982s, from what I can tell.
The
> > > working of the roof was similiar, but different! There was a
> > fairly
> > > large "chest-type" of a storage container behind the front
> buckets
> > > that had chrome chest-type clamp closures on top of it, near the
> > hard
> > > fiberglass tonneau cover, that was very, very similiar to our
> > > ascMcLarens. The convertible top appears NOT to have the power
> > pull-
> > > down, but rather to snap on snaps on the tonneau cover to hold
it
> > > down. (Seems easily broken into, since thesnaps were on the
> > > exterior)!! Overall it looks more "Back-yard made" than does
the
> > > ascMcLarens, that look more professionally designed.
> > >
> > > automobili intermeccanica C`abrio (a.i.c.) - 18475 Bandilier
> > Circle,
> > > Fountain Valley, California 92708 (704)-556-1011
> > > Factories also in: Sacramento, Calif. / Hillsdale, Michigan /
> > > Toronto, Canada and Monterey, Mexico.
> > > The C`abrio is easily mistaken for the Bivouac. However there
> are
> > > many differences. The C`brio leaves the rear seat intact, therby
> > > making it a 4-passenger car. The convertible roof has the large
> > rear
> > > center window of the Bivouac, BUT the C`abrio lacks the two
> corner
> > > small triangular wrap around windows. The "C" pillar of the
> > > convertible roof is solid vinyl, very traditional. Like the
> > Bivouac,
> > > the "C" pillar area features chrome snaps to snap the
convertible
> > top
> > > down onto. This car was made between 1980 & 1982. A handfull of
> > 1983
> > > may have also been made. Total Production was around 1,200
> units.
> > >
> > > "The Pony Convertible" by A.H.A. (Andrew A. Hotton
> > > AHA Manufacturing / 5309 Manigate Drive, Mississauga, Ontario
L4W
> > 1G6
> > > Canada (416) 625-6860.
> > > Sad to say, compared to the high quality, factory looking
stretch
> > > sedans and limousines and Continential convertibles that were
> tour-
> > de
> > > force impeccably made by AHA, this here Pony Convertible was a
> mess!
> > > It sported AHA made vent windows, but they did NOT open.
> > The "boot"
> > > was 10 miles long in looks and bore maybe 30 snaps. The
> > convertible
> > > roof (when in the "UP" posistion, also snapped onto the 30
> snaps!)
> > > In an attemp to cut down on the blind spot created by a
> > gigantic "C"
> > > pillar area, AHA actually placed in that area a clear plastic
> > window
> > > in the shape of an upside-down pyramid. The rear window was
> large
> > > plastic. Being kind, the total effect of the car was "unusual
and
> > not
> > > balanced in appearance". 1980-1983. Unknown # made.
> > >
> > > In a prior note, I mentioned the "Swift Edition by Tomaso" as
> well
> > as
> > > an "American Pullman" Edition. Since that time, I have learned
> > > exactly what this was. Neither company had anything to do with
> the
> > > making of these cars. They were mearly middle-men or thinly
> > > disguised vendors masquerading as manufacturers. They,
(probably
> > > along with many others that I have not found) were merely
> fronting
> > > for a company called "Classic Coachworks, Inc." of Orlando
> > > Florida. "C.C." was the actual manufacturer of this product that
> > went
> > > by whatever name the vendor decided to call it. Tomaso of
> America
> > > (11125 Arcade / {POB # 5692} of Little Rock, Ark 72216 (501)
227-
> > 0284
> > > was one of the dealers down south. The President at the time
was
> a
> > > Russell E. Swift as well his brother Tom Swift. Therefore they
> > > called theirs the "Swift~Edition". Another vendor was a
> limousine
> > > convertor in New York City, named American Pullman. A.M. was
> known
> > > for their Cadillac Limousines. They too were a vendor for the
> C.C.
> > > product. All orders filtered thru Sun State Ford (Owner: Bill
> > > Krebs). Sun State Ford was at 3535 West Colonial Drive,
Orlando,
> > > Fla. They were the closest Ford dealer to C.C. and Sun State
> > charged
> > > C.C. $65.00 over invoice for each Mustang. The ordered cars
from
> > > dealers/customers from all around the country all went thru Sun
> > State
> > > Ford, and were delivered there for C.C. to pick-up.
> > > American Pullman was located at 1700 Eastern Parkway in
Brooklyn,
> > > N.Y. 11233 (212)-485-1090.
> > > This C.C. example took a little from each of the above. The
> > > convertible roof from the C`abrio; the rear window design from
> the
> > > Bivouac and the inclusion of the rear seat, from the C.C. as
well
> > as
> > > the C`abrio. They too were made from 1980-1982. No available #s
> on
> > > total production.
> > >
> > > Convertible tops on all of them were available in black, dark
> blue,
> > > dark brown and light tan. Body paints were anything Ford
offered
> > in
> > > any particular year. Likewise any options available were good
to
> > > go. Examples came with the 4-Cyl, the Turbo-4, the six & the V-
> 8,
> > > any transmissions and many different seats, from cloth to velour
> to
> > > leather to Recaros. All cars began as a 2-Door Sedan. Rear
> > > Defrosters and Vinyl Roofs and T-Top or Sun Roofs were the only
> > items
> > > that were taboo to order.
> > >
> > > When Ford unveiled the 1983 "Factory made" {Yes, I know it was
> made
> > > by Cars & Concepts of Brighton, Michigan) but it was touted as
> > > Factory Made by Ford....it pretty much overshadowed all of the
> > > herewith aforementioned products and ran them out of business,
> > > literally overnight. No longer did a product have to take 90
> days
> > to
> > > arrive, it could be delivered from Ford in 30 days, and be 100%
> > > warranteed by FORD. This spelled doomsday for all of the above
> > > companies Mustang Convertible Projects.
> > >
> > > S A N D Y
>
>
>
> >
>
>
>
>