Today’s Nice Price or Crack Pipe contender is ultra-low milage, and will let you tell everyone that you drive a McLaren. That is if you drive it, which would possibly lower its worth. Before we get there however, let’s see what you think it’s worth now.
Yesterday’s 1972 Jeep CJ-5 may have been plastic, but according to its narrow 52% Crack Pipe loss, its price was anything but fantastic. You know what else had a lot of plastic? Nineteen nineties Pontiacs, that’s what. Let’s see how one of those fares.
Today’s 1990 Grand Prix does possess the heavy plastic cladding emblematic of its special model-dom, and which Pontiac so heavily embraced throughout that era. At least it’s ribbed, you know, for everybody’s pleasure. The specialness of this one is that is is the rare - and perhaps desirable (Hell, they have their own Facebook page) - ASC McLaren model. Not only that but it has less miles than a jazz haters club.
McLaren races in Formula One, otherwise known as the Grand Prix circuit, and Pontiac’s sporty personal coupe has long been the Grand Prix, so it’s a match made in heaven, right? Well, first off, it’s not exactly THAT McLaren, so don’t go looking for funny doors or carbon fiber on this Pontiac. ASC is American Sunroof Company and that brand partnered with McLaren originally to build a series of fancy-pants Capris and a little later, Mustangs.
The company also turned their attention to Pontiac’s W-body Grand Prix, resulting in a limited series of ASC McLaren turbo coupes which carried more aggressive cladding, hood louvers, and a 205-bhp edition of GM’s 3.1-litre OHV V6. A 4-speed automatic was the only transmission offered.
The McLaren Grand Prix also came with gold basket weave wheels and four-place seating rather than the plain jane car’s plebeian five. As you might expect, these were pretty much loaded, and yes this one does have a combination lock for the glovebox. Way to go, Pontiac!
With only 6,700 miles to its name, this arrest-me red over biscuit GP looks factory fresh, with only a dealer advertisement to mar the otherwise impeccable body. Stop doing that dealers! The unique badging and cladding is all intact.
The interior is likewise gorgeous, and exemplifies Pontiac’s freakish obsession with covering every available surface with grey plastic buttons, including the koumpounophobia-enraging steering wheel center.
Behind that leather-clad tiller, the full analog gauge cluster is flanked by a pair of equally button heavy modules that reach out at you from under the dash cover like the stuby-fingered arms of a fat kid, eager to wrap you in their sweaty embrace. Blech! Still, look at those seats! They’re like feaking Barcaloungers. And there are only four of them.
The ad notes that the car has been garaged its entire life and that it’s even running on its original tires. I don’t know why it’s such a big deal for people NOT to change the tires as they are probably no longer safe to use for anything other than burning during a riot or family reunion.
Considering Grand Prix special editions, they don’t come much rarer or more intriguing than the ASC McLaren. Only 2,700 were built in ’90, fewer than that in the year prior, and none after. Sure the Richard Petty edition - like we had a while back - is even more rare, but it lacks the hot mill and special interior accoutrements.
This one, the best you will find according to the ad, is asking $14,000 for the honor of keeping your eyes on the Prix. What’s your take on this special coupe for that kind of cash? Does that seem like a good deal? Or, does that price make this Pontiac a McLoser?
You decide!
Chicago Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to Juan V for the hookup!
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