Pontiac once turned to McLaren for a helping hand in building a sports car
- Pontiac partnered with McLaren to enhance the Grand Prix
- The Pontiac Grand Prix ASC/McLaren Edition featured upgraded performance
- A limited production of 3,714 units made this a unique sportscar
Published on Dec 27, 2024 at 4:28 AM (UTC-5)
by Daksh Chaudhary
Last updated on Dec 27, 2024 at 9:23 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Tom Wood
A very fascinating incident in automotive history saw Pontiac turn to McLaren for help building a sports car, resulting in the iconic Pontiac Grand Prix ASC/McLaren Edition.
In the late 1980s, Pontiac was looking to boost the performance of its Grand Prix model, which had become a bit dull compared to the company’s earlier high-performance offerings.
So, to make the Grand Prix more exciting, Pontiac sought the expertise of McLaren.
However, this brand wasn’t the same one behind the F1, but a partnership between ASC and McLaren.
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The making of Pontiac Grand Prix ASC/McLaren Edition
The collaboration project started by adding wider wheel arches and unique wheels to the Grand Prix’s design, giving it a more aggressive look.
Under the hood, the car featured a 3.1-liter turbocharged V6 engine, which was tuned to produce more power than the standard version.
The engine also got upgrades like a Garrett T25 turbocharger, a higher-capacity oil pump, and a revised crankshaft to zoom past other beasts on the track.
A total of 3,714 units were built between 1989 and 1990, making this a limited-edition model.
The supercar was ahead of its time
The interior wasn’t any less impressive than the exterior.
The Pontiac Grand Prix ASC/McLaren Edition featured upgrades such as leather seats, a digital center stack with a built-in compass, and even a head-up display.
The suspension was also upgraded by the company to offer better handling.
Four-wheel disc brakes and power steering further enhanced the car’s performance further.
After this collaboration, ASC/McLaren shifted their focus to building the Mustang convertible in the early 1990s.
While the sports car was ahead of its time, it’s a part of history that hardly anyone remembers, just like the Monteverdi Hai 450 SS built in Switzerland.
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