1983 Z28 Conv by Coach Conversions Inc

Found this on craigslist, thought I'd share. There is a label in the door jamb listing the conversion company as "Coach Conversions Inc"

http://yakima.craigslist.org/car/645311287.html

1983 Z-28 convertible (68k miles) - $4500 (terrace heights) in Washington state

Reply to: see below
Date: 2008-04-16, 8:53PM PDT

this is a rare 1983 Z28 factory conv with 68K original miles. to my knowledge only 250 were made.
needs a new top,runs strong,will accept best reasonable offer. Reason for sale I need to go back to school. 4500.00 obo (509)969-2885

 

Ummm ... buy it!

 

Ahem . . . bulls%$t!

It's an aftermarket conversion. There were no Cheverolet sanctioned 3rd gen Camaro verts until ASC did them under contract for Chevy starting in 1987.
However, there were many aftermarket conversions done by almost half a dozen different outfits before then. This is one of them.

And . . . good luck ever finding any convertible roof parts. You may, by remote chance and dumb luck, find another by the same company but who's to say what condition it's in.
Plus, it doesn't really have any strong collector value and for $4500 (or a bit more) you could find a proper newer ASC conversion and save a lot of headaches and $$$ in the long run.

While I appreciate the uniqueness of the finer examples of these cars. I'd avoid this one.

 

I talked with the guy and he understands that it is "aftermarket", bought new from the dealership with the conversion. He just doesn't understand what he is typing. This is typical of most of the coach convertibles I check on, so it's no big deal. These look so well done, the owner just assumes it is factory correct. Don't hassle the guy, he is just a normal non-car-guy that doesn't understand the correct terminology.

I, for one, prefer the pre-87 convertibles for their uniqueness. I bet they were pretty special to cruise around in, before 1987. Anything that breaks on these can be fixed, though the owner must possess some resourcefulness. Just take care of it and don't store the car outside and very little will go wrong, unless it is your daily driver.

As for the number built of 250? He really has no clue, other than that was what somebody told him were probably built. This is only the second F-body I've ever seen converted by Coach Conversions Inc, so I doubt they even built 250 of them.

 

That would be an ASC car as in American Sunroof and Coach Conversions

 

An ASC Camaro built for the '87 model year and later is a "factory authorized conversion"
An ASC Firebird built for the '91 model year and later is a "factory authorized conversion"
All earlier ACS convertibles are "dealer options", as are all the AutoForms, Matrix3, Straman and all the rest of the conversions.

 

It's too bad someone did not snag some pix for the thread... nothing worse...

Oh well...

There was an "International Coach" that did some conversions...

ASC originally stood for "American Sunroof Company" later the name evolved into "Automobile Specialty Company" as they were doing more than just Sunroofs and later they changed their name to "American Specialty Cars"
sources:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...-brochure2.jpg
http://www.ascglobal.com/

John

 

John, I saved photos.......just for you:




There were about 10 different companies making convertibles for the '82-'86 F-bodies.

 

I have heard it was more than that. But the total number of cars allocated were very low. These conversions listed at about $3000 less than a Corvette, many people would spend the extra money for the Corvette, I think some of these cars probably apealled to many peopl that didn't like the new Vette body.