Description
This striking AC Ace 2. 6 Litre Ruddspeed is a carefully built recreation of the iconic early 1960s British sports racer. The original Ace Ruddspeed (1961–1963) is widely acknowledged by automotive historians as the bridge that directly inspired the legendary Shelby Cobra, offering a thrilling, lightweight sports car experience.
Tuned by famed racer and dealer Ken Rudd, it resolved AC's engine supply crisis by replacing the outdated Bristol engine with a highly modified Ford Zephyr straight-six. It were the Ruddspeeds’ that Shelby took notice of and in February 1962 he had one flown to California to be the first recipient of the small-block Ford.
While this is not an original factory Ruddspeed Ace, it definitely is a high-quality reconstruction, visually and mechanically faithful to the period-correct specification.
Chassis & Construction
The car is built on a steel tubular chassis with aluminium bodywork, consistent with the original Ace architecture. It carries chassis identity EL1558, linking it back to an original AC saloon from 1951. It was built over 19 years by well-known specialists Bill Monk and McFarlane Prototype Panels, and refinished again in 2022 in a deep metallic blue that suits the shape very well. Fewer than 4, 560 miles have been covered since.
The aluminium body was newly constructed in 1994 and presents very well throughout.
Mechanical Specification
At its core sits a Ford-based Ruddspeed Stage 5 inline-six engine (2, 553 cc), fitted with a ‘Raymond Mays’ aluminum cylinder head and triple Weber 45 DCOE carburettors which produced approximately 170 hp in atmospheric form. That’s 101hp less than found in the 289 Cobra, but the Ruddspeed weighed 350 pounds less than the small-block Shelby. The engine is of the correct type for this build and carries engine number 26783.
Power is delivered through a 4-speed manual gearbox with overdrive, driving the rear wheels for an authentic analogue driving experience.
Driving Experience & documentation
With its front-mid mounted six-cylinder engine and low overall weight, the car offers excellent balance and a classic near-even weight distribution. Period-correct suspension and disc braking at the front ensure predictable handling and confident stopping power, while the overdrive gearbox makes it suitable for relaxed touring as well as spirited driving.
On the road, these cars don’t isolate you from the experience. You sit low, the bonnet stretching ahead, the soundtrack somewhere between a mechanical snarl and a well-rehearsed piece of music.
Over €25. 000 has been invested over the past four years, with invoices present. The car also benefits from an FIA Historical Technical Passport, FIA Car Pass, Belgian registration and an official valuation report. There’s a partial historical dossier with photographs of the 1994 body construction and the 2022 repaint. Also included are the nearly new soft top and tonneau cover. The past years it has participated in top-class events like Zoute GP, Le Mans Classic, etc...
Purpose and Opportunity
And that brings us to the point. This isn’t trying to replace an original, nor should it. What it offers is the chance to enjoy the same character, the same balance, and much of the same performance without the quiet anxiety that comes with an original specimen. If you own an original and prefer not to test its limits on a circuit, this makes a very convincing accomplice. If you don’t, it’s a rather good way into the world without needing to apologise for anything.
Marreyt Classic Cars will be glad to introduce it to you at our new showroom in Ternat, Belgium. Just don’t be surprised if a quick visit quietly turns into a longer stay than planned.
