Description
The AC Ace was designed to be and remains today a thoroughbred sportscar held in the highest regard by anybody who has had the pleasure to own and drive one. AC as an entity dates back to circa 1904 when wealthy butcher John Portwine ‘sponsored’ brilliant young engineer John Weller to design a four cylinder 20hp car and AutoCarriers Ltd (AC) was founded. Many notable achievements including speed records and Monte Carlo Rally success were attributed to AC. The John Weller 6 cylinder overhead camshaft (OHC) dated back to 1919 and was continually developed right up to 1963.
The success continued after the war with the John Tojiero’s Bristol powered sports racing car formed the basis of the alloy bodied space framed based, independent suspension Ace launched in 1953 forming the basis of significant racing success for the likes of Jackie Stewart. During its evolution a Ford engine was to be used and this leading towards the 1964 arrival of the AC Cobra famously chronicled in print and film. The ‘blood line’ of AC continued on and on but the real step change came with the arrival of the Ace.
It is our pleasure to offer for sale this AC (Weller) powered Ace registered 808PF. Coming from a small but impressive collection of British sportscars. The car is offered to the open market for the first time in decades having previously been under the custodianship of the Tom McWhirter Elgin Moray Motor Museum since the mid 1980’s. Prior to that just 2 further long term owners have enjoyed this very significant AC powered Ace
Any Ace is a significant piece of British automotive history but this car is acknowledged as the last of 223 AC engine Ace to leave the Thames Ditton factory for personal use having been a factory demonstrator only registered for private use in August of 1963.
The car is presented in AC Sky Blue metallic which was a colour change documented in the history file from a solid powder blue colour. A photo of the original blue car is in the file with a hint to a competition history with a faded white 8 decal on the door.
Today the car presents very nicely with a lightly patinated bodywork becoming a car restored many decades ago with only a few thousand miles since. It’s a stunning car to look at. We took the photos on a sunny summers day and there are no ‘bad’ angles on this car. It’s just so beautiful whichever way you look at the car. It shouts out craftsman hand-made British sportscar loud and clear with the sort of shape and style only aluminium can deliver when placed over and ash frame matched to a space frame chassis. It is achingly beautiful, enough to make a grown man cry with desire! (well this grown man anyhow). The long rakish styling resemblance to the 155 Ferrari is apparent and the Ace holds court in those high esteemed surroundings of exclusivity and desirability
The history file accompanying this car hints at a cossetted and cherished life. Driven hard probably, maintained most definitely. A thick ‘folio’ leather file details owners back to the early 70’s maintenance and restoration by acknowledged experts and communication with various interested parties not least AC themselves who have supported the historical detail scribed here. It’s is a fascinating read and leads one to the conclusion that this is one of the most significant British sportscars of this golden age of post war small volume high quality manufacture. A time when style and engineering substance flowed from the engineering pens of Britain’s finest styling draughtsmen to create something that looked amazing and performed as good as it looked.
So, what’s it like to drive? A perfect seating position and comfortable seat are the first things you notice. Push the starter button and the 6 cylinders burst into life with a rasping roar. The dash is like a fighter plane cockpit of dials and switches. It really is a sensory throw back to post war times. Snick into first gear and we are off. On the road it’s thrilling and engaging is the answer. I am privileged to have driven hundreds of 1950’s and 60’s sportscars and the Ace sits up there with the very finest of them . You might think that 2 litres wouldn’t be enough to thrill but that would be a mistake. This car is light and nimble, it’s the sort of car you can steer with your thumb and index fingers only. No wrestling of the wheels needed here. Same with the gearchange as you snick snick through the gears in perfect harmony with throttle, steering and supported by disc front and alfin rear brakes. Set the car up for a corner and then depress the throttle to power drift through a corner is quite a thrill. Yes the car like all cars of this vintage doesn’t like rough roads. But set the car up for a nice piece of English countryside on a summers day and you are going to have a really nostalgic trip back in time to when Britian was arguably a better place to live than the somewhat constricted country we live in today. For sure the exhaust note is intoxicating to the point of making a 62 year old feel like a teenager driving again.
If the nostalgic reference to life in the 1950’s and 60’s is what you want then look no further. This AC Ace is the car for you. It is of course priced to reflect the exclusivity and desirability it represents. Mille Miglia eligible and because of its historical significance you can expect a very accommodating welcome from them or the other finest events world wide. You can find a much cheaper British sports car experience in an Austin Healey or Triumph TR for example. However, if you can afford to own an AC Ace then we encourage you most respectfully to consider a shrewd investment in your personal and asset wellbeing by bringing this historically significant AC Ace into your life. We do not think on either level you will regret it. It is that nice
