1962 AC Ace

The AC Ace-Bristol was the forerunner of the Cobra. 241 of these hand-built sports cars were shipped to America before production ceased. The engine was designed by BMW and the cars were raced often during the 1960s. Although repainted in 1994, the rest of the car is un-restored.

Long before Carroll Shelby created his awesome Cobras by bolting Ford V8 engines under the hoods, the AC/Ace already had established itself as one of Britain's best roadsters. Much of the credit goes to John Tojeiro, a talented engineer and racing driver. The AC car company adopted Tojeiro's design and in 1956 Bristol's smooth, torque engine became available. Based on the inline six-cylinder engine that had helped make BMW's 328 such a fine car, it delivered 125 horsepower and made the Ace very quick to its day.

The current owners have had this car for 19 years. The car is all original except for a repaint in 1994. The car has 16,029 on the odometer. The car is so untouched that it has become the standard to use for other restoration projects, and gets photographed quite often including two different magazine covers. 241 of these hand-built cars were shipped to America before production ceased. This car was the last one to leave the factory.

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.

This 1962 AC Ace Bristol is currently in the condition as it raced in 1996 - as depicted in the book 'The History of AC Ace Racing'. It was originally ordered by G. L. Ranney for SCCA Racing in 1963. The car is documented from the initial order to the present day with the small exception the car was left off the factory ledger when shipped to the United States. The engine is a two-liter six-cylinder producing 135 bhp.

The Ace was introduced in 1953 at the London Motor Show and was produced beginning in 1954 and continuing through 1963. The vehicle consisted of lightweight tubular chassis with steel boxes in the front and rear which supported a transverse leaf and lower wishbone independent suspension system. The chassis was designed by John Tojeiro. Power was initially provided by a Welleter-designed engine and was mounted in the front of the vehicle but placed back far enough to take advantage of balance. The body and design of the vehicle were inspired by the 2-seater Ferrari 166MM Barchetta (little boat) made by Touring of Milan.

During the first year of production, there were fewer than 60 examples produced. These were all Aces - convertibles. The Aceca, a hardtop variant, debuted in 1954.

Due to the vehicle's lightweight, optimal weight distribution, responsive engine and handling, and stylish appearance, it attracted much attention.

The vehicles came equipped with front disc brakes, Girling hydraulic shock absorbers, rack-and-pinion steering, and a four-speed manual transmission.

In total, there were around 735 Aces and 326 Acecas produced. The AC Ace was the basis for one of the best-known sports cars of all time, the Shelby Cobra.

By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2009

The oldest British car manufacturer, AC has continuously produced vehicles since 1901 and the marque carries enormous prestige. The AC Aceca, a closed coupe, was unveiled in 1954 in London and only 328 prototypes were ever produced.

Production of the Aceca Coupe commenced in 1955 and Le Mans 1957 was a lucrative one for AC, with an AC Bristol finishing tenth overall. 1958 was an even better year as a special-bodied AC Bristol finished eighth and a standard car ninth. Produced from 1954 until 1963, the similar Bristol-engined Aceca-Bristol was also eventually available in the 1956 model year. Both of these models were hand-built GT vehicles in the British tradition, and both featured ash wood joining steel tubing into their construction. Following the 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4, the Aceca was only the second vehicle to incorporate the hatchback at the rear.

The differences between the Aceca and the Aceca-Briston lay in the engines. Though both were straight-6es, the Aceca shared its 90 hp 2.0 L engine with the lighter AC Ace, and the Aceca-Bristol utilized a 125 hp 'D-Type' 2.0 L unit sourced from Bristol Cars. One was also able to purchase the Aceca-Bristol with a milder 'B-Type' Bristol engine of 105 hp. The Aceca was priced at $5,400 in the U.S. but the Bristol specification added another $1000 to the price tag. A total of 151 Acecas were produced, while 169 Aceca-Bristols were built. Unfortunately, production was halted quite unexpectedly in 1963.

Also very innovative for the time, the AC engine was considered to be 'an engineering marvel', patterned after the powerful Bristol aircraft engine. The engine was an inline 6, aluminum block, overhead cam, double chain drive that was fueled by 3 inline SU downdraft carburetors, that each fed two cylinders. 6 straight-out header pipes were directly opposite and these allowed the combustion gases to enter the cylinder, do one rotation during combustion and exit oppositely, straight-out, without any resistance.

Enthusiasts consider the Aceca to be a great car to drive, though it rides a bit hard, due to the stiff suspension. Cornering and steering were done quite proficiently, but some complained that it tended to oversteer, but it was still 'solid and predictable' handling. Consumers also complained about the inadequate rear mirrors, a heating system not properly suited to colder climates, and inadequate soundproofing above 75 mph.

By Jessica Donaldson