1959 AC Ace Bristol

AC was Britain's oldest independent automobile manufacturer and is best known for providing the foundation of Carroll Shelby's Ford-powered Cobra. The success of Cliff Davis's Tojeiro sports racer convinced AC Cars to put the design into production in 1954 as the Ace. It was given a twin-tube ladder frame chassis by John Tojeiro, a Cooper-influenced all-independent suspension, and AC's own 2-liter, long-stroke six. The origins of the single-overhead-camshaft engine dated back to 1919, with the 1950s version delivering a modest 80 horsepower, providing respectable performance.

A year later, a hardtop version called the fastback-styled Aceca, joined the lineup. From 1956, the models were powered by the more powerful 2-liter, six-cylinder engine with pushrod-operated inclined valves. The BMW-based Bristol had a superior cylinder head design and down-draught carburetors. In road trim, the engine offered up to 130 horsepower and a top speed of around 120 mph. The racing versions had around 150 horsepower.

The introduction of the Bristol-engined Ace in 1957 also brought a change in price, having increased by 22 percent of the AC-engined version. By the time production ceased in 1963, a total of 723 examples had been built with 465 (or 466) of those fitted with the Bristol engine.

The AC's enjoyed considerable success at LeMans with a 10verall finish at the 1957 event including a 2nd in class. A year later, an AC finished 8th overall and 2nd in class. For 1959, it achieved a remarkable 7th overall and 1st in class. They were dominant in the Sports Car Club of America's production championship for classes E from 1957 through 1959, the D Class Championship in 1960, and the C Class Championship in 1961.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: BEX 1090
Engine number: 100 D2 1000

The AC Ace was based on a sports racing car designed by John Tojeiro. It was equipped with a four-speed independent suspension and sleek bodywork reminiscent of contemporary Ferrari barchettas. The Bristol 'six' became available in 1956, which upgraded the standard Ace to 'Ace Bristol' specifications. This gave the 103 horsepower engine a boost in power to 125 in its ultimate D2 specification.

The Bristol-powered Aces did well in competition, winning three successive SCCA E-Production championships between 1957 and 1959, followed by two D-Production championships in 1960 and 1961. It scored second in class at LeMans in 1957 and 1958 and a sterling class victory and seventh overall in 1959.

This AC Ace Bristol, chassis number BEX1090, is a left-hand example that was originally finished in white with a black-trimmed cockpit. It came equipped with factory-original options that included a heater, oil cooler, and oil-temperature gauge. Charles Kaleta purchased it directly from the AC works for his son Charles J., who planned to study in Switzerland. Charles later brought the car to the United States. It was sold in 1962 to a University of Chicago professor. This was followed by several more owners before eventually coming into the care of an AC marque specialist named Jerry Bensinger. At that time, it required a complete restoration, though it remained in complete and unmolested condition.

During the restoration process, the engine was completely disassembled, but the body was not removed from the car's tubular chassis. All aluminum body panels were repaired or replaced. Once completed, the car was refinished in dark blue and re-trimmed with black upholstery.

The restoration process was completed in the late 2000s.

In 2011, this car was offered for sale at the RM Auction sale in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was estimated to sell for $175,000 - $225,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $217,250 inclusive of the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: BEX447

Although the AC Ace was never built in large numbers, they are one of the most victorious post-war sports car ever conceived. This particular AC Ace-Bristol roadster was purchased new by Ron Leonard from Motorsport Corp., the authorized AC dealer located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He traced another Ace, chassis number BEX358, for BEX447 in September of 1959. At the time, it was painted white and was factory-equipped with front disc brakes, and was devoid of an optional heater. Mr. Leonard added a bolt-in roll bar and raced the Ace in a number of SCCA races at El Paso, Tucson, and Palm Springs, as well as in hill climbs, earning a class win at the Jerome, Arizona hillclimb.

Over the following decades, Mr. Leonard would own 15 Aces and 10 Acecas. He eventually had the Ace repainted in red and then in late December of 1963, he sold BEX447 to Ron Goodman.

Years later, the Ace was offered back to Mr. Leonard from an owner in Florida, with the original Bristol six-cylinder engine having been replaced by a small-block V-8 engine. Around 2000, BEX447 was restored and given a bare-metal repaint in dark blue while it was with a private owner in Santa Barbara, California.

It has been part of the current caretaker's collection since 2004. It currently has a V8 engine and an upgraded five-speed gearbox. It has dark blue paint and red upholstery. There is a new Robbins soft top, new tires, side curtains, a spare wheel and tire, and a 'knock-off' wheel hammer.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: BEX 1045

This 1959 AC ACE Bristol BEX 1045 is shown as it was most well known the 'Mongoose'. The transformation from a British sports car to a high-performance speed racer was the brainchild of Jerry Scheberies and Walt Peterson who replaced the factory Bristol six-cylinder engine with the perfectly fitted F85 Oldsmobile V-8 and Corvette transmission in the early 1960s. Documentation can be verified in the article 'Mongoose' in the August 1963 edition of Hot Rod Magazine. The current owner has personally spoken to Jerry Scheberies for specifics during the body-off restoration. Jerry also provided hand-written documentation of his original build of the Mongoose. It was competitively raced in rally events in the early 1960s and then moved on to show. The car is shown in its original factory color, Svecia Red with a black interior. Thumel's Abacus Racing acquired the car in 2013, and it has been under restoration since.

Roadster
Chassis number: BEX 1003
Engine number: 100D2 881

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.

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.

In 1956 the Bristol-engine version was introduced, replacing the Welleter-designed motor. The Bristol 1971 cc, six-cylinder engine was capable of producing 125 horsepower at 5750 rpm and propelling the lightweight car to a top speed of around 180 kph. Production of the Bristol engines ceased around the end of the 1950's and AC began using a British Ford Zephyr engine. It was a heavier engine and produced less power. There were only 47 of these 2.6-liter examples produced from 1961 through 1963.

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 Dan Vaughan

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.

Certain design specifics in the Aceca were taken from the exquisite design work by Pina Farina for the AC Company in the 1940s, these included in the front-end styling. The grille was simple, but the curves were perfectly executed along with the hood and around the headlights. The Aceca had a superbly low weight due to the tubular frame, and aluminum body panels, and aluminum engine block. Other weight-saving features were in the 16' spoked wheels and nearly perfect weight distribution in the fore/aft which also contributed to the exception handling on loose, dirt tracks. The Aceca exhibited its distinctive engineering with the front-wheel disc brakes, articulated rear half-axles, transverse 'de Dion' leaf rear suspension, worm-gear steering, curved windshield, electronic overdrive in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gear The bucket seats were also very well-designed and encased in leather in true 1950's vintage auto style.

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 Jessican Donaldson