1958 AC Ace Bristol

The AC Ace first appeared at Earls Court in 1953 and epitomised a new era of British post-war sports car production. The owners of AC, Charles and Derek Hurlock, along with AC agent Ken Rudd, transformed the company's reputation by taking a racing special and putting it into production, with notable stylistic influences from Italian sports cars of the era. The result was a car that delivered both on the road and particularly on the track thanks to the input of racing chassis designer, John Tojeiro.

Tojeiro employed the same simple tubular ladder-type chassis with an aluminium body that he had used in his earlier specials, however the Ace differed by being fitted with all-round independent suspension by transverse springs (the first British sports car to do so), ensuring superb handling with minimal body roll and plenty of feedback. Such was the success of the Ace chassis, it became the foundation for the mighty Shelby Cobra with over three times the power of the original 105bhp, Weller-designed, six-cylinder engine.

The outdated AC unit eventually made way for the more refined Bristol straight-six, which had evolved from the pre-war BMW 328. The Bristol engine was far more suited to racing, as demonstrated with some success by Cooper and in its standard form developed 128bhp at 6,000rpm. Only 466 examples of the Bristol-engined Ace were built in total and consequently they are the most sought after by collectors, with very few coming to market.

This delightful Bristol-motivated Ace, #BE435, finished in Crimson with a grey interior, its original colour combination, is offered fresh to market after almost 60 years of continuous ownership. It was supplied new to its first keeper in May 1958, a Mr FD Parry who was the High Sheriff of Bristol, a ceremonial position representing the Sovereign in the county for matters relating to the judiciary and law and order. We understand that he may have enjoyed racing the car from time to time and there is evidence of an entry at the Goram Fair Race Meeting at Whitchurch Aerodrome in 1959. In May 1968, the AC was purchased by its current registered keeper, Mr Neville Collier, from the Gold Seal Car Company in London for the princely sum of £440 plus the additional £25 road tax and registered to his address at the time in Leamington Spa.

Pleasingly, the original registration number, 500 DAE, remains assigned to the vehicle helping tie in all the relevant detail and history that relates to #BE435. With a comprehensive and interesting bundle of paperwork and associated invoices and bills accompanying the car, it is easy to trace the lengths taken over the years to keep this now very desirable AC on the road, with letters to AC at Thames Ditton and to Bristol Car Services enquiring about parts availability for the rebuilds that have been required over the years. These include a documented engine rebuild by Bristol, (engine #100 D2/990 - previously #100 D2/806) dated 1970 and there are also hand-written notes that provide a restoration summary, undated, giving a full breakdown of a chassis-up rebuild carried out some years ago. It should be noted that the Bristol engine currently fitted is not the original unit but is the correct type and we believe that this change has been recorded by the AC Ace Registrar. Also remaining in the history file is the original handbook reunited with the car after being misplaced by the previous owner, now beautifully oily and worn, a testament to times gone by. Also supplied with the car are a spare engine (#100 D2/622 ) and gearbox together with the original hardtop, all of which we understand will require rebuild/restoration prior to use.

This venerable AC, part of one man's life for over half a century, will undoubtedly provide much enjoyment to its next custodian, however as can be seen in the images, it is presently partly disassembled so will require some detailed recommissioning and reassembly prior to being returned to the road, which is where this worthy Ace deserves to be. With that in mind we welcome and encourage your early inspection to satisfy yourself that all your expectations are fulfilled.