Description
The AC Aceca was the coupé version of the famous AC Ace roadster, hand built by the AC Car company Thames Ditton, Surrey from 1954 to 1963. The car was offered with the standard 2 litre 90hp AC engine or alternatively from 1956 with the more powerful 2 litre 6-cylinder engine from Bristol developing 125hp. The cars were very light owing to a tubular frame chassis, aluminium engine block and aluminium body panels, coupled with large 16” road wheels and near 50/ 50 weight distribution, AC had produced a car that was not only quick but had exceptional handling! Production of the Aceca was halted in 1963 by which time a mere 169 Bristol engine examples had been produced making it a very rare and sought-after vehicle today.
This AC Aceca left the factory in September 1956 and was the 6th Bristol engine car to be produced. Supplied with Blue paint, Cream Leather seats with blue piping and blue carpets, the specification it retains today. It was exported to the Eastern Auto Company Ltd, Singapore where it was bought by a W S Cowie from Kuala Lumpur. Mr Cowie put his new purchase to good use by competing in one of the supporting races of the 1960 Jahore Coronation Cup, loosely termed the Malayan Grand Prix. It was the pinnacle of motorsport in Singapore and Malaya at the time. The car was later bought by Mr King, an American businessman who lived and worked in Singapore. On retirement in 1972 he brought the car back to his home in the US to Carmel, California, a neighbour of Clint Eastwood! By this time the car was in need of restoration which was Mr King’s intention, however this stalled in its early stages and it remained in his garage for the next 40 years or so! It was eventually acquired by Englishman Mr Jones in 2016 and realising the Mille Miglia potential he returned the car to the UK and immediately commissioned a full nut and bolt restoration to fast road specification. With only 15 pre-May 1957 Aceca Bristol’s being built, this car was readily accepted into the 2017 Mille Miglia where it competed without mishap much to the delight of its owner. After his successful Mille Miglia Mr Jones decided he wanted to do it again but this time he had his eye on a Delahaye so he sold his Aceca to the current owner in 2018. The AC has since been exceptionally well cared for and maintained and remains in superb condition and is of course Mille Miglia eligible!
