1959 AC Ace Bristol Roadster

Auto Carriers began life as a builder of little three-wheeled commercial vehicles prior to World War I. The factory was located in Thames Ditton, outside London in Surrey. AC introduced its first car, the A.C. Six in 1919. The name was changed to A.C. Cars in 1921, all the while the firm developed its racing successes. AC surprised the motoring world by announcing the sporty Ace in 1953. Perhaps, most famously, it later served as the basis for the legendary Shelby Cobra.

Original owner **** McDonald purchased this car in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1959 (for a whopping $6,495) in order to be more competitive in club racing. It worked, as he won 12 races in two seasons starting in the spring of 1960. In the spring of 1960, he won his first two races: at the La Junta airport course in Colorado and at Continental Divide Raceway near Denver. He placed second in his third race and won his class in the feature. He raced for two seasons winning a total of 12 races with the ACE.

After a stint in the military, his ACE became a road car until 1972. It sat in a garage until 1999 when the owner and his wife restored it in its original interior and exterior colors including the painted white wire wheels.

During 1961, when Bristol ceased building the six-cylinder engine used in the ACE, AC Cars received a query from American Le Man's winner (1959) Carroll Shelby who conceived a project replacing the six-cylinder engine with a new small-block Ford V-8. AC Cars were receptive to Shelby's plans and history was made.

Finished in its original combination of Old English White over red leather, this Ace is powered by the 1,971cc, 130 horsepower OHV in-line 6-cylinder Bristol engine that owes its heritage to the prewar BMW. It is estimated the 360 was built using the Bristol engine.