LOT 226

1955 AC Ace Bristol Roadster Registration no. WPL 750 Chassis no. AE69

Estimate: £250,000 - £300,000

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Lot 226

1955 AC Ace Bristol Roadster
Registration no. WPL 750 Chassis no. AE69

Goodwood Festival of Speed: Collector's Motor Cars and Automobilia|9 July 2021, 14:30 BST|Chichester, Goodwood

1955 AC Ace Bristol Roadster
Registration no. WPL 750
Chassis no. AE69

*A landmark sports car in its most desirable specification
*Formerly owned (since 1966) and restored by the late John Gardiner
*Offered for sale for the first time in 55 years
*Only 800 miles since the restoration's completion in 2007
*Outstanding condition

Footnotes

"Of them all, the Ace was the truest sports car: it could be used for daily commuting or for high-speed long-distance touring, but it could also be driven to a race meeting, campaigned with distinction, and driven home again - even if that race was the Le Mans 24 Hours." - AC Heritage, Simon Taylor & Peter Burn.

The success of Cliff Davis's Tojeiro sports racer prompted AC Cars to put the design into production in 1954 as the Ace. The Davis car's pretty Ferrari 166-inspired barchetta bodywork was retained, as was John Tojeiro's twin-tube ladder frame chassis and Cooper-influenced all-independent suspension, but the power unit was AC's own venerable, 2.0-litre, long-stroke six. This overhead-camshaft engine originated in 1919 and with a modest 80bhp (later 100bhp) on tap, endowed the Ace with respectable, if not outstanding, performance.

In 1955 AC added a hardtop version - the fastback-styled Aceca - and both models became available from '56 with the more-powerful (up to 130bhp) Bristol six-cylinder engine. The 1,971cc Bristol six was based on that of the pre-war BMW 328, which featured an ingenious cylinder head, designed by Rudolf Schleicher, incorporating hemispherical combustion chambers and inclined valves without recourse to overhead, or twin, camshafts. Instead, the earlier BMW Type 319 engine's single block-mounted camshaft and pushrod valve actuation were retained, thus avoiding an expensive redesign. Two rocker shafts were employed, one situated above each bank of valves, giving the engine an external appearance almost indistinguishable from that of a twin-overhead-cam design. Downdraft inlet ports contributed to the motor's deep breathing, and its tune-ability made it a popular choice for British racing car constructors, most notably Cooper, during the 1950s. Externally, Bristol's clone of the BMW motor differed little from the German original, the most obvious difference being the adoption of SU, rather than Solex, carburettors part way through production. The most significant changes made by the Bristol designers were metallurgical, their utilisation of the highest quality materials contributing to greatly increased engine life.

The combination of a fine-handling chassis and a decent power-to-weight ratio - in Bristol-engined form the car could touch 120mph - helped the Ace to numerous successes in production sports car racing, arguably its finest achievement being a first-in-class and seventh overall finish at Le Mans in 1959. Indeed, its basic soundness and versatility were reflected in the fact that relatively few major changes were found necessary when the Ace was endowed with Ford V8 power to create the legendary Cobra.

Towards the end of production the Ace was also available with the 2.6-litre overhead-valve Ford Zephyr engine installed. Only 223 cars were delivered with the 2.0-litre AC engine compared with 463 Bristol-engined cars and a further 37 Ford-powered examples.

An original, right-hand drive, UK-delivered car, the AC Ace Bristol offered here, chassis number 'AE69', is an early production model that left the factory finished in its present livery of Pacific Green. The Ace is believed to have been returned to the factory to have a Bristol D2 engine ('100D2 1179') fitted early in 1960.

In 1966 the Ace was purchased by the late John Gardiner of Crosthwaite & Gardiner fame. Many years later John undertook a complete 'last nut and bolt' restoration of the Ace, which was completed immediately prior to his passing in 2007. Since restoration the car has covered a mere 800 miles in the care of John's widow. Presented in outstanding condition in every respect, the Ace is offered for sale for the first time in 55 years. Well known in AC Owners Club circles, it comes with its original buff logbook and a history file, and is MoT'd to 2022.

A classic of sports car design in its most desirable form, with the superior Bristol engine, this professionally restored and well-documented AC Ace is worthy of the closest inspection.

Saleroom notices

Please note this AC Ace Roadster was delivered with an AC engine when new denoted by its AE chassis prefix, and it is believed to have been upgraded by the factory with its current fitment Bristol engine in the early 1960s. The Buff logbook on file stamped 1966 lists the engine number fitted to the car. It should therefore be titled AC Ace Roadster.

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