AC Aceca - AE512 | radicalmag classics

The racing tourist

Mister William Thomas Clarke must have been a happy fellow. The Brit was an Olympian in the 1948 skeleton, he had been racing cars since the early 30s, including on Bugatti, he drove the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times (1935 , 1950, 1951) and came in eighth twice. He earned his money on the stock market and died young, at just 57, on the Caribbean island of Antigua. Clarke was the first owner of this AC Aceca, built in 1955 with the chassis number AE512.

He had big plans for his coupé, which was still powered by the classic AC six-cylinder engine. He and co-driver Keith Baker were part of the factory team for the 1956 Monte Carlo Rally, but just three days before the start, his mechanic put the AC in the back of a truck. The damage could still be repaired, but the excitement was great, the stress just before the start was also great. But Clarke/Baker were the only ones of the AC team to cross the finish line with the WPG7 registration, in a remarkable 57th place overall and a 6th place in their class. That same year, Clarke also drove the Tulip Rally (127th place) and a trip around Geneva, finishing in 36th place. He then dropped out of the Alpine Rally, just as he did at Liège-Rome-Liège. Slightly frustrated, Clarke bought a new Aceca, but this time with the more powerful Bristol engine.

AE512 then reappeared in 1989, without the original engine (which is now in the Ace AE37), but in the good hands of a Mr Burnage from Southampton. He started a comprehensive restoration, installed a 2.6-litre Ford Zephyr engine, turned the car into a real gem, and kept it until 2018. Now the AC Aceca is coming under the hammer at Historic Auctioneers – and will hopefully end up in good hands.