Clénet Series III Asha

Production period:	1981 to 1987
Class:	Luxury Car
Body versions:	Coupe, convertible
Engine:	4.9 litres
Length:	204.50 in, 519 cm
Width:	74 in, 188 cm
Height:	54 in, 137 cm
Wheelbase:	124 in, 315 cm
Curb weight:	3,740 1b, 1,696 kg
successor	Clénet Series IV

The Clénet Series III Asha was a luxury Coupe and convertible model of the American manufacturer Clénet Coachworks.

History

The range of Clénet was supplemented in the fall of 1981 by another model, the Series III Asha. The additional designation took up the name of Alain Clénets 1978 born daughter. The car was like the Clénet Series IIa four-seater in the neo-classical style, but was a little more compact. The model was more independent than its predecessors; the passenger compartment, for example, was now a separate construction by Clénet. The roof line was more angular, on the side of the bonnet escaping exhaust pipes has now been omitted.

The car continued to use Ford drive technology. The engine had been downsized again compared to its predecessor. For the Asha Clénet moved to an only 4.9-liter eight-cylinder, which gave 136 hp this gave it a Beter weight distribution of 50% front, 50% rear. Thus, the car reached a top speed of 145 km / h with its Select-Shift C-4 automatic transmission, hydraulic torque converter and planetary gears with 3 ratios and overdrive. 

The equipment was still complete and essentially corresponded to the predecessor models. A sales leaflet from 1985 mentioned Italian walnut wood, Connolly leather bucket seats, British carpets and a crystal ashtray.

The total production of the Series III includes - depending on the source - 51 or 52 vehicles. As with the Series II, the production is divided into a phase and a phase after the acquisition of the company by Alfred di Mora:

• Between autumn 1981 and summer 1982, 36 new Asha models were produced at the new plant in Goleta. The first 14 were hardtop coupes, the following 22 were convertibles.

• Between 1984 and 1986, 15 or 16 more Ashas were produced in the Carpinteria factory. Although the sales prospectus also offered a hardtop version, only convertibles were sold.

The successor Clénet Series IV created only a few vehicles.