1939 AC 16/80 March

Sports Tourer

Auto Carriers, later A.C. Cars, Ltd., began as a builder of diminutive three-wheeled commercial vehicles prior to World War I. Located in Thames Ditton outside London, the company introduced its first car in 1919. In 1933, the first four-seat touring body was designed by the Earl of March, who in the 1960s became the owner of the Goodwood racing circuit. The design was further refined in 1935, though it remained virtually unchanged through production of the last Sports Tourer in 1939. Just 42 were produced from 1935-1939 when factories switched over to military equipment production.

AC Cars of Thames Ditton near London had a long tradition of building beautiful sports cars, and it consulted a motoring enthusiast, Freddie March, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, to style its new sports model, the handsome 16/80. Launched in 1935, it is the epitome of the prewar British sports car. The 16-80 has a 2-litre, six-cylinder, 80 bhp engine that was pretty quick in its day.

This car was ordered just as the war broke out and, sadly, its first owner, RAF Wing Commander Grevel Cavendish, never got to see his dream car. It was ordered on May 29, 1939. It was delivered to his widow in 1945 after it had lain unfinished at the AC factory during the hostilities. Ordered at first in bright red, it has now been restored to the more somber color that Mrs. Cavendish preferred. This was the last 16-80 built. It has recently been restored to its original build-sheet specifications.

One of the oldest car marques still founded in Britain, AC Cars Group Ltd. was formerly known as Auto Carries Ltd. AC was a British specialist automobile manufacturer with the most recent manufacturing location of AC being in Hal Far, Malta, but this plant is now closed. The company name was changed to 'AC (Acedes) Cars Limited' in 1927. By 1929 AC was in deep financial straits, and the factory was closed and went into receivership, though the service department continued to operate. One year later AC sprang back to life. William Hurlock and his brother Charles took over the company.

Originally the company ran for servicing only, but they then decided to resume production of the Magna. By 1933 rolled around, so did an improved range that featured a chassis under-slung at the rear which gave a low gravity center along with very attractive lines with every version of the model. AC was building their cars in very small numbers; each of them specifically tailored to the particular customer's requirements.

AC carried a slogan as 'The Saville Row of Motordom'. Their style included drop-head coupes, pillar-less saloons, fixed-head, and short chassis sports. It would be nearly impossible to find two AC's of the 1930s that were virtually identical. Along with high build quality, AC vehicles show proof of much attention to detail. The pedals had pivoted heads and the AC logo. To prevent slush from rebounding onto the outside of the bodywork wire mesh lined the insides of the wings. Additional silencers were mounted on the exhaust manifold by 1936. Almost every year the body styling was updated, and more practical improvements included more room in the passenger compartment space. Originally optional, triple SU carburetors were now made standard by the mid-1930s. Power output in the AC was between 60 and 80 bhp, or a few of the short wheelbase sports models there was a 90bhp option with an Arnott supercharger.

By 1937 AC began to export cars to the USA. Keeping up with AC's reputation for competition success, the short chassis 16/80 sports model was nicknamed 'The Flea'. It featured a wheelbase of 8ft 10 inches, and it was short compared to the longer chassis in production, one of 9ft 7 inches. AC 16/80, or, The Flea weighed around 1010g and was capable of achieving 90mph.

A total of forty-four AC 16/80's were produced from 1936 until 1939.

by Jessican Donaldson