Highlights
- 4th from last of the 105 Thames Ditton cars built
- Owned and dry stored by renowned AC specialist Gerry Hawkridge for 15 years
- Recently recommissioned by Thunder Road Speed Shop at cost of £4,000
- Factory standard car in eye-catching yellow with black leather cabin
- Current MOT to March 2026
- Only 41,082 miles on the clock
- Extensive history file of ongoing maintenance
The Appeal
It could have been a giant-slayer. But for some interminable delays from concept to production, AC’s original ‘Diablo’ mid-engined sports car had every ingredient for success. It looked phenomenal, went well, and featured an innovative, Ferrari-esque mid-engined layout.
Things didn’t quite work out, partly due to a high purchase price and production issues. Not to worry now, because for contemporary buyers, that means the AC 3000ME is one of the rarest British mini-supercars ever built. Just 105 were built by the Thames Ditton minnow, and we love them.
By chassis number, this car was the fourth from last built by AC at the Surrey factory, before production transferred to Scotland. It began life red but was repainted eye-catching yellow in 1998 to match the factory brochures.
The vendor acquired the car last year from AC specialist Gerry Hawkridge of Hawk Cars, who had owned it for 15 years. It had been dry stored and little used during that time, so the vendor had it carefully recommissioned by specialist Thunder Road Speed Shop at a cost of £4,000. The work included replacing the belts, a service, new hoses, engine tune up and carburettor overhaul.
The vendor tells us that the low displayed mileage of 41,085 is correct. The car is very well presented and pleasingly factory-standard, right down to a period radio and those stylish Wolfrace alloys. It comes to market with a usefully long MOT to March 2026.
The vendor says:
“The car is a pleasure to drive with no faults. Great colour that really suits the car ( I dislike red so for me the colour change was good). What isn’t to like about this little pocket rocket…”
History and Paperwork
- First registered 20th June 1984
- One of the last Thames Ditton-built cars
- Final chassis number of those cars was 182 and this car is 178
- Nine registered keepers
- Current keeper since February 2024
- Originally red
- Repainted yellow in July 1998 by previous keeper
- He wished to replicate the colour of the cars in the original brochure
- Purchased from renowned AC specialist Gerry Hawkridge of Hawk Cars
- Gerry Hawkridge owned and dry stored the vehicle for 15 years
- Service history from 2002 to 2007 then dry stored
- Dry stored until purchased in 2024
- Recommissioned by Thunder Road Speed Shop at cost of £4,000
- Summary of work by TRSS detailed above and below
- Fresh MOT valid to 12th March 2026 with advisories to note
- Old MOTs and invoices as shown in photos
- 1 set of keys
- Factory brochure
- Eligible for but apparently not currently registered as a Historic Vehicle
- V5C in current keeper’s name
Recent work in March 2024 by Thunder Road:
- All belts replaced
- Full service
- Hoses replaced
- Carburettors overhauled
- Engine tuned
- New battery
- New speedo cable
- Other ancillaries checked and replaced
The Condition
- Well kept yellow paintwork following respray in 1998
- Car has been little used since restoration and respray so in good order
- Few indications of age to paintwork except as noted below
- Fibreglass bodywork in good order with straight panels and good panel fit
- Vendor reports that there is micro blistering on the engine cover
- Underside presents well, albeit with advisories to note on current MOT
- Wolfrace factory-correct alloy wheels in good order with light age to finish
- Matching Avon tyres fitted which appear to be in good order
- Lights in good condition with pop-up headlamps operating correctly as shown
- Black leather interior is factory standard with no obvious or advised modifications
- Leather trim is well kept with vendor advising a small split to driver's seat
- Black carpets through cabin and boot areas in very good condition
- Dashboard, door cards, headlining and switchgear are highly preserved
- Fitted with a pop-up glass sunroof as shown
- Fitted with a classic period-correct radio cassette
- We have no reports of faults with electrics, lighting, switchgear or dials
The Mechanics
- 2,994cc Ford ‘Essex’ V6 138bhp engine
- 5spd manual gearbox designed by AC using Hewland parts
- Documented low mileage car which remains matching numbers
- No reported running or driving issues
- The vehicle runs very nicely after a full service and tune-up by Thunder Road
- Original exhaust silencers replaced with Cherry Bomb silencers several years ago
- £4,000 of recent work by Thunder Road summarised above and shown in photos
- Engine re-tuned and a new battery installed by Thunder Road
- The vendor states the car is a pleasure to drive with no faults
- Long MOT to March 2026 with some advisories to note
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