It is my understanding that my car was converted from a coupe to a convertible at a different company than Gm (ASC?). What I'm curious about is how this was done.Did Gm have to prepare the car on the assembly line in any way before the conversion was made?Did it leave the factory as a complete car or were things like the headliner, back seat trim, rear hatch left off? Was the plant where the car was converted close to Van Nuys?These are just some of the questions that pop into my mind.It would be really cool if there was some kind of video footage or at least pictures taken of the process.

 

Damn, uh, I don't have the article with me now, but I can tell you the basics...

GM sent them to ASC as a t-top coupe, as the t-tops had the extra structural rigidity pieces added to them. They were shipped sans t-tops and headliners I believe (maybe even without hatches for that matter.) If you'd like Zedder, email me and I can find the article and let you know more about the conversion process. If you don't email me, then I'll be an idiot and forget

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Jason E
'89 Camaro RS 2.8
Hypertech chip/K&N filters/Accel 8.8 wires/RapidFires
Eclipse CD and 100x4 amp/Boston plates and 6x9s
Alpine Alarm w/ Keyless entry
IROC tailights/tinted windows

 

In addition to what was already posted... ASC added additional braces to the frame, stuck a 'ASC' sticker on the door jam, and added the convertible specific parts (ie. convertible top, truck, deck, spoiler, etc.

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The ASC conversion factory was located in the City of Industry on Gale Ave. just West of Azuse Ave. The cars were delivered by truck sans t-tops and rear window. Instead they had a cardboard piece with a small square cutout for the rear window. You could see several in their parking lot awaiting conversion right next to the Pomona (60) fwy. I kick myself for not asking for a tour of their factory before it closed. My 90 RS convertible and I still live only about 2 miles from where it was converted. Lon

 

Toured the Van Nuys plant Aug 7, 1992. Got to "ride" in a soon to be convertable RS on the road & roll test. The car had no headliner in it and no rear glass and I think it was a hard top car. There were no removable t-tops. Did have the previous mentioned cardboard with the square cut out. Did get some pics of a load of cars headed for ASC showing the cardboard rear window very well.

 

That's interesting, I would have liked to have toured Either Van Nuys or Norwood. and I'd like to tour Ste. Therese before they shut down Camaros there too. My '87 convertible was built at Norwood and sent to ASC's Michigan plant for conversion, probably begining in '88 they switched the Convertibles production to California since Van Nuys was the only producer then. It's kind of strange that Chevrolet did'nt start Convertible conversion in California from the start seeing how Norwood closed in August 1987. Chris