1958 AC Aceca-Bristol

1,991cc SOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
3 Dual-Throat Carburetors
Approximately 134bhp at 5,250rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission with Overdrive
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
Front Disc – Rear Drum Brakes

* The very first AC Aceca fitted with a Bristol engine 122 BHP D2
* Full matching numbers example, engine, gearbox, and chassis
* 3 Owners since new with a comprehensive and documented history
* Subsequently won the ACECA Class at the 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 ACOC Events

AC CARS

The success of Cliff Davis' 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 body work 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-liter, 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. A hardtop version - the fastback-styled Aceca Coupe – debuted at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1954. The Aceca's hatchback body was constructed in hand-formed aluminum over a tubular steel framework, while the tubular chassis was more substantially built than the Ace's. To reduce noise levels within the cabin, AC mounted all major components on rubber bushes. The result was a well-engineered, light in weight and extremely pretty GT car in the best AC tradition.

Very few alterations were made to the Ace and Aceca apart from a change of engine for 1956 when the more-powerful (up to 130bhp) 2.0-liter Bristol six-cylinder engine became available, while towards the end of production the 2.6-liter Ford Zephyr engine was on offer also. The combination of a fine-handling chassis and a decent power-to-weight ratio - in Bristol-engine form the car could touch 120mph - helped the Ace version to numerous successes in production sports car racing, arguably its finest achievement being a 1st-in-class and 7th overall finish at Le Mans in 1959.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

First registered in summer of 1958, the auction car remains fully matching numbers including its original engine, gearbox, and chassis. The car further benefits from known ownership history, having resided with the second owner from 1966 until 2005 before changing hands to our vendor.
The car was partially disassembled in 1967, and remained so until the culmination of an extensive, sympathetic, high-quality restoration effort on Christmas day, 2014. According to our vendor, during restoration it was discovered that the engine had already been rebuilt by Bristol, and that the chassis had been modified to accept Jaguar Mk II wheels–this charming quirk was deemed to have historical value and is the car's only notable deviation from standard specification.

Now delivering a dyno-tuned 134 hp, the car was entered in 2015's AC Owners Club National Concours and promptly won first place within the Aceca Class–subsequent 2016, 2017, and 2018 wins cemented its lofty reputation among AC marque enthusiasts and lovers of fine vintage sports cars, worldwide.