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1957 AC Ace Aceca

Fastback Coupe
Chassis number: AEX 607

This Aceca is one of just 49 examples constructed in 1957 and is believed to be one of just 169 that were fitted with the model's original AC engine. The car was restored through the late 1980s, giving it a proper interior renovation and complete mechanical rebuild. In December 2009, the owner commissioned a re-spray in dark blue. Currently, the car has less than 32,000 miles.

In 2011, the car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Amelia Island, Florida where it was estimated to sell for $100,000-$130,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $110,000 inclusive of the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Fastback Coupe
Chassis number: AEX607

This AC Aceca, chassis number AEX607, is one of 49 built in 1957. It is still fitted with its original 2-liter AC engine. Named after an AC-6 Aceca convertible coupe that won the Monte Carlo Rally of 1926, the Aceca was first shown at the Earl's Court Motor Show in 1954. With the Aceca Coupe and Ace Roadster, AC hoped to transform itself from a producer of conservative saloons to a marque that built fast and engaging sports cars. The original Ace and Aceca featured in-house coachwork similar to Touring's work for Ferrari. As AC's grand tourer, the Aceca was built with leather and burr wood trim.

Fastback Coupe
Chassis number: BE-603

The Aceca is the lesser-known ancestor of the AC Ace, the car which spawned the famous Shelby Cobras. The success of Cliff Davis' Tojeiro sports racer prompted AC Cars to put the design into production in 1954 as the Ace. It retained the bodywork of Davis's car, and the John Tojeiro twin-tube ladder frame chassis, along with the Cooper-influenced all-independent suspension system. The engine, however, was AC's 2.0-liter, long-stroke six-cylinder unit. This overhead-camshaft engine originated in 1919.

In 1954, at the Earls Court Motor Show, AC introduced a hardtop version (fastback-styled) Aceca Coupe. The hatchback body was built of hand-formed aluminum over a tubular steel framework. All major components were placed on rubber bushes to help reduce noise levels within the cabin.

In 1956, a more powerful 2.0-liter Bristol six-cylinder engine became available. Near the close of production, the 2.6-liter Ford Zephyr engine was also available.

The AC was well-engineered and lightweight cars GT car that enjoyed numerous successes in production sports car racing, including a First in Class and 7th overall finish at Le Mans in 1959.

This particular AC Aceca-Bristol left the factory on the 19th of March 1957. Its first owner was Jack Fernandez in Venezuela. In October of 1958, it returned to the United Kingdom, where it was registered VXW 26. It would remain in the U.K. for the following 35 years. The Aceca-Bristol was owned by Adrian Hall and participated in the Carrera Panamericana in 1991, and was also raced in historic events in the United Kingdom at venues like Silverstone until 1994 when it was purchased by an American collector.

Since 2000, the car has participated in the Copperstate 1000 and the California Mille and extensively raced in California at vintage racing events, including the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival, Monterey, HMSA, CSRG, and LSR events.

This car is powered by a non-matching Bristol D2 motor that offers approximately 145 horsepower and is mated to a 4-speed Bristol gearbox with overdrive. Racing equipment includes racing belts, a fire suppression system, a fuel cell, a roll cage, front disc brake, Perspex windows, an electronic rev limiter, and a Stack tach system.

The AC Aceca-Bristol was featured on a TV interview session at the Monterey Historic races with Jay Leno for his 'Jay Leno's Garage' series in 2011.