1959 AC Aceca – Classified of the Week

AC was more than just the Ace and the Cobra. It also made elegant, beautiful coupes, as this Aceca goes to show.

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Chris Pollitt

When you hear AC it’s only natural to think of the Cobra. But the British company was more than just that. It also made those weird little Invacar things before the days of Motability. And it also made this, the Aceca (pronounced A-seek-a in case you’re wondering). A small but beautiful coupe version of the AC Ace (the car that went on to become the Cobra once Carroll Shelby has dropped a V8 in it). Much like a Morgan, the Aceca boasted an Ash frame, but unlike the Morgan, the Aceca had a tubular steel chassis, rather than the conventional ladder chassis as was common at the time. Built from 1954 to 1963, the Aceca was the perfect solution for those who wanted a proper Grand Tourer, but with none of that wind in their hair nonsense.

What you’re looking at here isn’t just an AC Aceca. This is an AC Aceca Bristol. Some cars were built with a straight-six 90hp AC engine (the same as found in the Ace) while others were fitted with a much more powerful straight-six 125hp engine from Bristol. Both were built in incredibly small numbers. Only 151 AC-engined cars were built, while the Bristol engine found a home 169. What you’re looking at here is a very rare car indeed. Though not as rare as the eight that were built with a 2.6 straight-six Ford engine.

AC, AC Aceca, AC engine, AC Aceca rear

The car we’ve picked here is possibly one of the best out there. If you can find another, that is. It was subject to extensive work in 2015 including a full mechanical overhaul and also a full respray. The seller states that over 300 hours have been put into this car, and looking at the pictures, we can believe it. And doesn’t it look good? We don’t know what the colour was before, but now it’s back to the original dark blue with black interior.

This Aceca has not only been given an overhaul, it’s also been given upgrades. The headlights have been changed for brighter units, the radiator has been replaced for something bigger to better aid cooling and a new sports exhaust system has been made and fitted. So not only has this car been restored, it’s also better than new in some respects.

AC, AC Aceca, AC engine, Bristol engine

At £169,995 this isn’t what you’d call a cheap car. You could buy a flat for that. Or lots of other cars… at once. But that’s not the point. The Aceca is, as we’ve proven with numbers, a rare car. Of the 169 built with a Bristol engine, only a handful remain. You’re not just buying a car here, you’re buying genuine exclusivity. Take this out for a Sunday blast – and with the 125hp and four-speed manual ‘box, you’re going to want to – and you’re not going to see another.

Most importantly of all, however, is the fact you’re buying a British grand tourer from a time when we really were at the top of our game. This is a wonderful reminder of that. And it’s also a wonderful reminder that AC was far more than just the Cobra.

 

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