AC Ace

Die Sammlung

Die Geschichte der AC Ace und AC Aceca haben wir schon erzählt, hier – wir gönnen uns selbstverständlich auch noch die entsprechende Sammlung, hier die Ace, also die offenen Fahrzeuge, die als Vorlage für die Cobra dienten. Wir unterteilen diese in die drei verschiedenen Motorisierungen, die AC Cars über die Jahre anbot, also die 226 Ace (mit dem hauseigenen AC-Motor), die Ace-Bristol (466 Exemplare) und schliesslich die Ace-Ford, von denen nur 36 Stück entstanden sein sollen.

AC Ace:

Chassis-Nummer: AEX 138

Auktion: RM Sotheby’s, Arizona 2010, verkauft für 192’500 Dollar

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Chassisnummer: AEX160

Dieses Fahrzeug wurde am 11. Mai 1956 fertig gestellt und kam zu seinem ersten Besitzer, Irving Davis, nach Kalifornien. Irgendwie fand es nach einem Umweg über die Schweiz nach Florida, wo Walter Padow sich 33 Jahre an seinem Besitz erfreute. Leider gibt es nicht mehr viele Ace mit dem originalen AC-Motor.

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Chassis-Nummer: AE1061

Auktion: Bonhams, Goodwood 2024, Schätzpreis 120’000 bis 160’000 Pfund, angeboten mit folgendem Text: «Chassis number ‚AE1061‘ was one of only four right hand drive AC engine cars produced during 1959. The AC owners club register records that ‚AE1061‘ with engine number ‚CLB2421‘ was sold by the agent European Cars, of London to owner D.B. Cheneuix-Trench in Switzerland in July 1959. The car was supplied in bright blue metallic with a red leather interior and assigned the registration number 10 KPL. In June 1964 the car transferred to Mr Zavieh of Earls Court, London. Six years later in September of 1970 the car transferred to Mr D R W Brown of Warlingham in Surrey with whom it would stay for the next 53 years until August 2023. Mr Brown assembled a small collection including a second Ace, an Aceca and a brace of E-Type Jaguars. The odometer still shows a mere 26,000 miles. Indeed, the portion of the ignition key which was inside the barrel when our vendor purchased the car gives a wonderful glimpse to the condition of the car when it went into storage. Most notably the car is equipped with front disc brakes and 16-inch wheels. The current owner purchased the car, along with an AC Aceca, from the collection last year. Our private vendor, who races an AC Cobra, bought the Ace with the idea of restoring it as part of his eclectic classic car collection and to replace a left hand drive Ace he sold a short while ago. Unfortunately, his upcoming house build for 2024 has enforced a rethink, and so this AC Ace is offered for sale. The car is complete, albeit the interior and seats and tonneau are in poor condition, along with hood frame and side screens».

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Chassis-Nummer: AE1190

Dürfte eines der letzten Exemplare (1963) noch mit dem hauseigenen 2-Liter-Motor (gern als «Weller» bezeichnet) gewesen sein. Steht bei Car-iconics zum Verkauf (Dezember 2023), Preis: 194’995 Pfund.

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AC Ace-Bristol:

Chassisnummer: BEX223

Nein, die Farbe ist nicht original, es ist Almond Green von Aston Martin. Aber es passt gut zu diesem schönen Exemplar mit dem 2-Liter-Sechszylinder von Bristol, der in seiner stärksten Ausbaustufe auf 128 PS kam.

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Chassis-Nummer: BEX389 (1958)

Auktion: RM Sotheby’s, Monterey 2024, Schätzpreis 250’000 bis 300’000 Dollar, mit folgenden Informationen: «Shipped by AC Cars Group Ltd., finished in black with red interior, on 20 December 1957, it was sold new by AC Imports of Arlington, Virginia, and remained in the Washington, DC, area for most of its life. In 1968 the 11-year-old roadster was purchased by Gerald F. Curtin, Jr., of Wilmington, Delaware, a vice-president of the Petrochemicals Division of Du Pont. Mr. Curtin drove the car for about a year before other activities took his attention, and the AC was put away in his family’s garage, where it remained with about 33,000 miles on the odometer for the next 41 years. Following Mr. Curtin’s passing in 2010, the Ace-Bristol was sold to the noted enthusiast Jim Taylor, and joined his prominent sports car collection in Gloversville, New York. During Mr. Taylor’s ownership the car had the original engine (100 D 738) rebuilt by the noted British sports car restorer Paul Tsikiris, and the exhaust re-routed by the passenger door to improve its note. Never restored, the car retains most of its original paint, with the remainder skillfully touched-up as necessary so as to be indistinguishable from the factory finish. Within is the amazing original interior with its seats, door panels, carpeting, and dashboard, and the car is also complete with its original side curtains, tools, grease gun, and jack. It had recorded 33,827 miles at the time of cataloguing».

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Chassis-Nummer: BEX340

Auktion: RM Sotheby’s, Gene Ponder Collection 2022, verkauft für 280’500 Dollar, angeboten mit folgendem Text: «According to research obtained from the AC Cars archives, this Ace-Bristol was completed on 30 October 1957. One of 466 Bristol-powered examples produced, it retains its numbers-matching engine, number 100D 671. It was restored under prior ownership in its highly appealing bright red; this pairs nicely with its beautifully finished tan interior, including floor mats emblazoned with the AC logo. Exterior details include Marchal headlamps, and the car rides on Borrani knock-off wire wheels with two-ear AC spinners. It benefits from front disc brakes, with drums in the rear. This AC was acquired by Gene Ponder in 2009 from well-known former racer and racing instructor Skip Barber. After adding the car to his collection, Ponder has used the AC on premier events including the Colorado Grand and California Mille—outings for which the car continues to be both highly eligible and very well-suited. Throughout his ownership tenure Ponder has carefully maintained the car. In 2018, the car’s numbers-matching Bristol engine was completely rebuilt, with subsequent mechanical work detailed by invoices on file. It is now accompanied by an AC Cars Certificate of Authenticity, service invoices, side curtains, a tonneau cover, and a tool roll».

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Chassis-Nummer: BEX373

Einfach, damit man auch ein bisschen eine Preisidee hat: 399’000 Euro. Wird an verschiedenen Orten angeboten, wie das heute anscheinend üblich ist.

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Chassis-Nummer: BEX374

Ein frühes Exemplare mit dem 2-Liter-Bristol-Motor, kam schon Ende 1957 in die USA. Der spätere amerikanische Besitzer setzte diesen Ace 40 Jahre lang bei Rennen ein. Steht zum Verkauf bei Brooklands Cars für 315’000 Pfund (Dezember 2023).

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Chassis-Nummer: BE 1120

Motoren-Nummer: 100 D2 977

Auktion: RM Sotheby’s, London 2021, verkauft für 252’250 Pfund, angeboten mit folgendem Text: «This example, which benefits from the more powerful Bristol engine that can be identified thanks to the “BE” suffix of its chassis number, was registered for the road on 10 March 1960 under the registration “400 MTJ” that is retained to this day. Of the 463 examples of the car made with the Bristol engine, this is one of 100 built in right-hand drive, and one of 14 from the 1960 model year. The Ace-Bristol was said to have been delivered to its first owner who—without registering the car in her name—decided not to keep it and sold the car to a friend, who owned the car for an incredible 38 years. The long-term owner would take great care of the AC’s condition and keep hold of numerous workshop receipts and invoices, amounting to a sizeable history file that dates back to 1965. The Ace-Bristol was sold again in November 1998, then acquired by its incumbent owner in July 2000, who has kept it in fine condition since. Notably, the AC underwent restoration work in 2002, with body-off repairs carried out between the specialist technician Aubrey Finburgh of Kings Langley; Graham Dean, an interior trimmer based in Ilkeston; further to engine tuning by Ric Wood after being rebuilt; and upgrades to brakes, lighting and steering performed by INRacing of Nottingham».

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AC Ace-Ford:

Chassis-Nummer: RS5022

Wurde am 20. April 1962 ausgeliefert. Steht privat zum Verkauf (Dezember 2023), 325’000 Pfund. (Oder dann bei Brooklands Cars, wo es immer schöne AC Ace/Aceca gibt.)

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Chassisnummer: RS5030

Eigentlich waren diese 37 AC Ace, die mit dem 2,6-Liter-Sechszylinder aus dem Ford Zephyr ausgestattet waren, die besseren Cobra. Sie hatten bis zu 170 PS (mit drei SU-HD6-Vergasern und Alu-Zylinderkopf), waren aber fast 200 Kilo leichter als die 289er-Shelby.

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