1962 AC Ace Roadster

Most people know it as the 'Shelby' Cobra. Very few know it started with a British car company called AC (Auto Carriers) which has been around for over 100 years. They started before World War I by making the Sociable, which was a one-cylinder, three-wheel vehicle.

Over time they began to build cars. Eventually, after World War II, they produced the fine sports car known as the Ace. It was powered by a 1.9-liter 6-cylinder engine at first and later by a 6-cylinder Bristol engine. This engine had great power and delivered many victories for AC at racetracks around the world. Eventually, the Bristol engine was no longer available so Ken Rudd, a racer and tuner in the UK, developed various stages of tune for the Ford Zephyr 2.6 liter 6-cylinder engines. The lower engine height allowed AC to develop a sleeker design of the Ace with better aerodynamics. These cars were designated with RS (Rudd Speed) chassis numbers and only 37 were built.

In 2004, two RS model Aces were produced in the original AC factory at Frimley, UK on the original tooling before AC closed for good. One was completed by Steve Grey of AC Heritage and the other came to the USA and sat for several years. The current owner purchased the car in 2008. The car has been certified and registered in the AC registry as RS5038, the last RS car built.