A year after the Ace roadster's 1954 debut, a hardtop version - the fastback-styled Aceca coupé - arrived, powered by the same 2.0-litre long-stroke six. The following year the more powerful (up to 130bhp) Bristol six-cylinder engine became available, and thus equipped the Ace/Aceca could touch 120mph, its combination of a fine-handling chassis and decent power-to-weight ratio making for delightful motoring. From 1958 front disc brakes were fitted and later models had AC's own gearbox in place of the earlier Moss 'box. The design's ultimate expression, though, was the Cobra. Brainchild of Texan racing driver Carroll Shelby, the latter successfully combined the Ace's simple twin-tube chassis frame - supplied with four-wheel disc brakes for the Cobra - and a small-block Ford V8 to create one of the all-time great classic sports cars. AC Cars never got around to building a closed, Aceca-style version of the Cobra, though the Frua-styled AC 428, introduced in 1966, did use a lengthened Cobra MkIII chassis frame. This unusual car represents one unknown individual's attempt to construct a 'closed Cobra' using an Aceca-Bristol coupé re-engined with a 289ci (4.7-litre) Ford V8, which is coupled to a Borg Warner T10 close-ratio manual gearbox and a Salisbury limited slip differential, and thus offers an intriguing glimpse of what AC themselves might have achieved. Chassis number 'BE575' was exported to the USA in 1958 and is believed to have been converted in 1965 using contemporary parts. Of left-hand drive configuration, the Aceca was purchased in 2009 in California, USA by the current vendor, who knows of only two previous owners. Finished in dark blue metallic with black leather interior, the car is described as in generally excellent condition and offered with tool kit, sundry recent bills and copies of the FIVA identity card, Swiss Carte Grise and technical inspection. A wonderful opportunity to acquire a unique V8-engined AC Aceca in the Cobra's 50th anniversary year. AC ne produisit jamais de version style coupé Aceca de la Cobra, mais cette voiture exceptionnelle représente une tentative isolée de produire une Cobra « fermée » à partir d'un coupé Aceca-Bristol équipé d'un moteur Ford V8 de 4,7 litres accouplé à une boîte de vitesses Borg Warner T10 à rapports courts et d'un pont Salisbury autobloquant. Le châssis n° BE575 exporté aux Etats-Unis en 1958 aurait été converti en 1965 en 289ci. Cette Aceca à conduite à gauche a été achetée par le vendeur en 2009 en Californie. Peinte en bleu métallisé avec intérieur en cuir noir, est accompagnée de son outillage, de factures récentes, de copies de la carte d'identité FIVA, de sa carte grise suisse et de son contrôle technique. Une belle occasion d'acquérir cette unique AC Aceca V8 pour le 50e anniversaire de la Cobra.
A year after the Ace roadster's 1954 debut, a hardtop version - the fastback-styled Aceca coupé - arrived, powered by the same 2.0-litre long-stroke six. The following year the more powerful (up to 130bhp) Bristol six-cylinder engine became available, and thus equipped the Ace/Aceca could touch 120mph, its combination of a fine-handling chassis and decent power-to-weight ratio making for delightful motoring. From 1958 front disc brakes were fitted and later models had AC's own gearbox in place of the earlier Moss 'box. The design's ultimate expression, though, was the Cobra. Brainchild of Texan racing driver Carroll Shelby, the latter successfully combined the Ace's simple twin-tube chassis frame - supplied with four-wheel disc brakes for the Cobra - and a small-block Ford V8 to create one of the all-time great classic sports cars. AC Cars never got around to building a closed, Aceca-style version of the Cobra, though the Frua-styled AC 428, introduced in 1966, did use a lengthened Cobra MkIII chassis frame. This unusual car represents one unknown individual's attempt to construct a 'closed Cobra' using an Aceca-Bristol coupé re-engined with a 289ci (4.7-litre) Ford V8, which is coupled to a Borg Warner T10 close-ratio manual gearbox and a Salisbury limited slip differential, and thus offers an intriguing glimpse of what AC themselves might have achieved. Chassis number 'BE575' was exported to the USA in 1958 and is believed to have been converted in 1965 using contemporary parts. Of left-hand drive configuration, the Aceca was purchased in 2009 in California, USA by the current vendor, who knows of only two previous owners. Finished in dark blue metallic with black leather interior, the car is described as in generally excellent condition and offered with tool kit, sundry recent bills and copies of the FIVA identity card, Swiss Carte Grise and technical inspection. A wonderful opportunity to acquire a unique V8-engined AC Aceca in the Cobra's 50th anniversary year. AC ne produisit jamais de version style coupé Aceca de la Cobra, mais cette voiture exceptionnelle représente une tentative isolée de produire une Cobra « fermée » à partir d'un coupé Aceca-Bristol équipé d'un moteur Ford V8 de 4,7 litres accouplé à une boîte de vitesses Borg Warner T10 à rapports courts et d'un pont Salisbury autobloquant. Le châssis n° BE575 exporté aux Etats-Unis en 1958 aurait été converti en 1965 en 289ci. Cette Aceca à conduite à gauche a été achetée par le vendeur en 2009 en Californie. Peinte en bleu métallisé avec intérieur en cuir noir, est accompagnée de son outillage, de factures récentes, de copies de la carte d'identité FIVA, de sa carte grise suisse et de son contrôle technique. Une belle occasion d'acquérir cette unique AC Aceca V8 pour le 50e anniversaire de la Cobra.
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