AC Ace Bristol left-hand drive (1958)

During the fifties the genius of race chassis designer John Tojeiro caught the attention of many. Among the many was Ernest Bailey, in charge of Buckland Body Works which supplied bodies to AC: it was he who prompted AC to enlist the aid of Tojeiro in designing a sports car to boost sales of the marque. The creation was the Ace, which first appeared at Earls Court in 1953. The Ace had a simple tubular ladder-type chassis with all-round independent suspension by transverse springs - the first British sports car to be thus equipped. Fitted to the chassis was the famous Weller-designed six-cylinder engine, now producing 105bhp at 4,750rpm and giving a top speed of 105mph. The unladen weight was only 16.5cwt and the roadholding and handling were of a very high order - one contemporary road test said that all who drove the car were enraptured with its responsive handling! The car could easily out-pace many of its bigger rivals and soon established an enviable reputation in sporting events all over the world. The Ace 'Ferrari-style' open two-seater was followed in 1954 by the Aceca coupé, a beautifully-proportioned early example of a GT type body. The Ace line eventually became the Cobra, the chassis being able to handle more than three times the power for which it was first designed. During its production life the Ace was available with the AC, Bristol or Ford engines. However it was the Bristol engine, along with its elegant bodywork, that has made the Ace one of the all-time great classic cars. Found in highly original condition in the USA, chassis number BEX1126 was initially owned by a Mr Stephens of Atlanta, Georgia who kept the vehicle for over thirty five years. Having been in contact with the Stephens family, the current vendor has discovered the car was virtually untouched for the majority of Mr StephensâEuro™ ownership, thus explaining its wonderful originality. Once returned to England for the first time since it left the factory, this Bristol engined AC was taken down to the bare chassis and treated to a comprehensive restoration. The bodywork was meticulously stripped to bare metal, primed and painted in the attractive colour scheme of Oxford Metallic Blue with Ruby hide interior. Mechanically, the Engine was totally overhauled, which included: new bearings and seals, rebored cylinder block to +020, new pistons and rings, rebushed conrods, powder coated rocker covers, hardened and polished cam shaft, new crank, thrust and spigot bearings and modified flywheel. In addition, a complete gearbox rebuild was commissioned, with the inclusion of overdrive and new gearbox mounts, and an all new suspension, bushes, uprights, kingpins etc were all replaced. The carburettors were also reconditioned, new brakes fitted and all wiring was removed and replaced with new wiring harness. Complete with new hood, new carpets, new fittings, re-chromed bumpers, reconditioned instruments and new tyres, this effortlessly beautiful English sports car has just been finished to the highest standards by English marque specialists. With recent bills totalling £70,000, this matching numbers (engine number 985D2) AC is sold with an impressive history file containing photographic evidence of the restoration. Also included in the sale is a very rare factory hardtop, which accompanies the motorcar and is finished in Oxford Metallic Blue.