1959 AC Ace Roadster

Chassis no. AEX1035

– Original left-hand drive

– The understated elegance of the Ace and the power of the Ford V8

– One of the most prominent sports cars of its time.

– Purchased from the collection of Emile Garcin

– A genuine AC ACE with an upgraded Ford 289 V8 engine

– Beautiful bodywork with stunning panel gaps and a black leather interior

The car on offer is a factory left-hand drive AC Ace, chassis number AEX1035. According to a letter from AC Cars Ltd dated November 15, 1991, it was delivered new to Competition Motors, based in San Carlo, California, on January 15, 1959. It was then equipped with engine CLB9-1 2398 and presented in Vauxhall Gray with red interior and black hood. The file with the car contains a handwritten note from 1991 with the name of the last known owner, a certain Mr. Murillo and stating "5/ 87 Action; owner/ current engine: Ford 289 Mills". An invoice issued on June 27, 1992 by a company called Restoration Associates, addressed to Joe McLaughlin, of Prestige Motor Cars (San Rafael, California) covers the restoration of the car.

In 1999 it was sold through a well-known Californian dealer to a collector from Lyme in New Hampshire, USA. At that time the mileage was 72 469 miles. He kept the car until 2012 when it was exported to Australia. Emile Garcin had long been looking for a roadster in good condition, very interested in the design of the AC Ace, and he became the new owner of this model that combined classic styling with a capable V8 engine.

It was most likely in the 70s that this car was equipped with a V8 Ford 289 ci engine, with a similar specification to that of the AC Cobra. More recently, in 2003, the car was fitted with a Borg Warner T5 gearbox.

Apart from the engine and the Cobra-style rear bumpers, the car has retained the appearance of a standard AC Ace. It was restored about 25 years ago and now has a beautiful patina, with paint that shines beautifully but inevitably shows some signs of use. The passenger compartment is impeccable and the seats, mats, and dashboard are beautifully patinated, as are the instruments and gauges. The T5 gear lever is the only non-standard part.

This AC comes with an extra chrome spoke wheel of different sizes and a red hardtop. It is missing the arches for the hood. Today the odometer shows 75 039 miles, which shows how sparingly the car has been used over the past 17 years, with only 2 570 miles! This is an interesting vehicle that combines the discreet elegance of the original AC Ace with the legendary power of the Cobra V8 Ford engine. An understated but explosive cocktail!

In the early 1953s, AC was on a mission to revive the brand and wanted to expand its range with a new sporty, modern and efficient car. The manufacturer turned to John Tojeiro (who had just proven the effectiveness of his chassis creation by winning the 166 Brooklands Trophy) and purchased the rights to his design. A few months later, the London Motor Show opened with the unveiling of an elegant barchetta with a design inspired by the famous Ferrari 4 MM. The public responded warmly to the launch and with good reason, as the tubular frame, 328 independent wheels, elegant alloy bodywork and brilliant AC engine (derived from the BMW 466) made it a powerful and efficient car. The AC Bristol ACE continued to enjoy success in motorsport, with famous driver Mike Hawthorn going so far as to call it "the closest you can get to a perfect sports car" at the time! Only XNUMX units were produced with the Bristol engine.

This car has British registration.