Unique factory prototype
4.7-litre Ford V8 engine
Known ownership history
Professionally restored in the USA 2006-2010
Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance class winner 2010
Extensive history file

One of the British motor industry's more fascinating 'might-have-beens', this beautiful open roadster is an indication of what might have replaced the AC Ace had the company not been occupied building Carroll Shelby's Cobra. The car's curious 'MA' chassis number prefix is assumed to refer to AC's Polish engineer Zdzislaw Marczewski, a former RAF bomber pilot who had arrived at AC Cars from General Aircraft at Feltham. Despite being fully occupied with AC's many other engineering projects, which provided the lion's share of its income, Marczewski found time to design a range of horizontally opposed engines ranging from a 500cc twin to a 2.4-litre six. When thoughts turned to an Ace replacement, the 2.4-litre six was considered as a possible power plant. In the event, common sense prevailed and the MA-200 prototype was fitted with the (much cheaper and more powerful) 4.7-litre small-block Ford V8 that had proved such a success in the Cobra.
What emerged from the design process was a car larger than the Ace/Cobra featuring a spaceframe chassis (wheelbase 96") clothed in sleek Italianate aluminium bodywork. Beneath the skin there was coil-sprung independent suspension all round: by cantilevered upper links and lower wishbones at the front and struts and wishbones at the rear, the latter a departure from the customary live rear axle, together with inboard rear disc brakes and high-level rack-and-pinion steering. Indeed, in terms of its chassis and running gear, the MA-200 was one of the most advanced sports cars of its day.
Registered as '6000 PE' on 19th November 1963, the car was driven for many years by AC's managing director, Derek Hurlock, before being sold into private ownership in 1968, passing to Dr Roger Field of Bickley, Kent, who placed it in storage. AC Cars serviced MA-200 for Dr Field in July 1969 and a copy of their bill is on file. Before then, Road & Track magazine's December 1964 edition had published a photograph of MA-200, declaring: "a prototype AC Cobra has been seen on the roads of England, giving cause to many rumours." While in Dr Field's care the original engine was replaced with another Ford V8 (see below). When Dr Field died in 1983, the AC was purchased by Mr Peter Hague of Chichester. In 1985 the car was registered to Mr Jeremy Davidson of Callington, and then in September 1997 to Mr Robert James Edwards of Bristol.
Some years later, collector and SCCA member Mark Gold came across an advertisement for an AC V8 prototype, bought the car in July 2006 and had it shipped to his home in Miami, Florida. It was at this time that the Field-fitted V8 was discovered to be one used at the beginning of the Ford GT40 programme, and it was decided to replace this with one close in manufacturing date to the original: the latter was '1664' and that currently fitted is '1445'. Jason Wenig of The Creative Workshop in Dania Beach, FL was commissioned to undertake this most challenging project and return MA-200 to concours condition while using as many original parts as possible. The team's efforts were justly rewarded in 2010 when MA-200 won the 'Best in Class – Sports and GT Cars 1962-1970' award at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. The AC went on to achieve more top honours at the 36th 'Concours d'Elegance of America' at St John's in Plymouth, Michigan in July 2014, entered in the 'Evolution of the Sports Car 1900 to 1975' class. During Mark Gold's stewardship MA-200 was driven sparingly and carefully maintained by his museum's curator. The AC returned to the UK in 2021, finding a new owner in this country, and is currently registered as '603 UXT'.
MA-200 has featured in numerous publications over the years, including Classic ACs - Auto-Carrier to Cobra by John McLellan, and has its own The Lost Prototype chapter in the Shelby Registry. An important piece of AC Cars' history, this unique factory prototype comes with a massive history file of documents, drawings, photographs, MoTs, registration documents, shipping paperwork, photocopied literature, correspondence and numerous restoration bills, etc supporting its provenance (close inspection recommended).

Please note that this vehicle is from outside the UK. Our customs agents, CARS UK will manage all post sale customs administration. A fee of £350+VAT will be charged on the buyer's invoice to administer both import or export customs movements. If the buyer also chooses to ship with CARS UK, this will be quoted separately. If this vehicle is to remain in the UK, it will be subject to Import VAT at the reduced rate of 5% on the hammer price. This vehicle will not be available for immediate collection after the sale and will only be released on completion of customs clearance formalities. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Motorcar Department.