Beschreibung
This early Ace ‘AEX95’ left the Thames Ditton factory on the 19th of September 1955, it was the first of only four AC engined Aces that were imported into the country by AC Dealer Juan ‘Jack’ Fernandez.
The original specification was ivory with a red leather interior, paired with AC engine ‘CL2194W’.
As with many of the Venezuelan Ace’s after leaving the factory the ownership history was very limited until discovered in Caracas in a poor state, engineless and missing exterior panel work.
With its Venezuelan heritage, it was considered an ideal Ace to convert into a replica of the Famous Renny Ottolina Ace - Bristol.
Racing in Venezuela in the 1950’s and the Ottolina Car
Post war oil revenues greatly assisted Venezuela to develop its economy. The wealth created gave the country the means to enjoy, among much else, a rich and exciting period of road racing throughout the 1950s.
During this time European cars were the mainstay of motorsport in Venezuela.
Italian cars abounded, as did Britain's Austin-Healeys, MGs and Triumphs, all of which played their part in making up the grids. But there were many far more powerful and expensive cars to fill the start lines.
Together with Aston Martin, these included several privateer Ferrari Testa Rossas, Monzas and Mondials, along with Maserati's 200 and 300S sports racing cars. Such cars were rarely seen in austere post-war England, unless brought over by the respective factories for international races.
Other prominent manufacturers featured too - Mercedes-Benz exported 40 Gullwings to Venezuela. And the small AC factory in Thames Ditton, west of London, exported no less than 42 cars. Of these cars, 32 of them were the firm's highly competitive 2 litre Ace-Bristol, many of which took to the race track following importation by the Caracas AC dealer Juan Jack' Fernandez.
One car from the first batch of Ace-Bristols imported in 1956 (the first year the Ace-Bristol was available) was bought by Renny Ottolina.
He was a colourful character, being a talk show host as well as a champion of the poor. On taking delivery he had the car's nose and tail modified by a German artisan Karl Pentz, in the search for greater speed.
Renny Ottolina enjoyed much success with his modified Ace-Bristol in Venezuela during 1956 and 1957. He was at the forefront of the 2 Litre class in numerous events and was usually only headed by the purpose built 2 litre Ferrari Mondials and Maserati 200S cars that were in the country at the time.
Perhaps the pinnacle was qualifying for the 1957 Caracas Grand Prix, the penultimate round of the World Sports Car championship that year. This race attracted the world's greatest drivers - Moss, Hawthorn, Brooks, Hill, Collins, Behra, and Gregory, to name but a few - and teams from around the world, including the strongest entries from Ferrari and Maserati.
Renny Ottolina, together with his co-driver Fredy Brandt, brought his Ace-Bristol home in 21st place, a very respectable position given the opposition from the works teams.
After this race, Renny Ottolina parted company with his Ace-Bristol and bought a Maserati 200S to further his racing career.
The Ottolina car continued to be used in competition, but as it became less and less competitive it continued to be modified. In its final years, it was fitted with a V8 motor and used as a dragster, before finally being parted out and written off in the 1980’s.
AEX95 in its current form
On arrival from Venezuela ‘AEX95’ was subject to a rebuild to Ottolina specification with a 160bhp 100D2 specification Bristol engine built by specialist Gregg Margetts.
The bespoke bodywork was constructed using a lightweight 18 gauge aluminium referencing a large number of photographs of the Ottolina car in action during the 1950s. Built to FIA specification holding valid papers until 2026 and UK road registered.
Sporting a similar colour scheme to leaving the factory in off white with red quilted leather. The Venezuelan Flag accommodates the centre line of the car, paired with its CADV badging, it serves to recall and remind of a highly exciting time when road racing on the South American continent was just as highly contested as it was in Europe.
It has been a highly competitive participant in notable race meetings, debuting in the 2016 race season at the Goodwood Revival in the Lavant Cup, the Bentley Drivers Club race at Silverstone and the Castle Combe autumn classic in the FISCAR Intermarque series. Most recently the owner achieved a well deserved 7th place finish in the Madgwick Cup at the 2022 Goodwood Revival, its fourth race at the Chichester based circuit
The Ace is eligible for many of the notable events, including the Mille Miglia, Goodwood and the Tour Auto.
To find out more about this significant motorcar please contact our sales team for further details, viewing by prior appointment.
£299, 995
