AC Ace and Aceca. For a decade after its introduction in October 1953, when it caused a stir as the

That the well-balanced lines of the Ace recalled early Ferrari barchettas was no coincidence, for they came directly from a Tojeiro sports-racing car so bodied at the behest of Cliff Davis. John Tojeiro collaborated in the design of the Ace, which followed his cars in having a ladder-type chassis with two large-diameter longitudinal members carrying welded-up supports for the wish-bones and transverse leaf springs front and rear. This arrangement made for roadholding of a high standard, with first-class controllability and a good ride. The open body was practical as well as attractive, and in 1954 the Aceca coupe was added to the range, with curved screen and hinged rear window panel (in anticipation of a later wide-spread fashion). The 160kph (100mph) four-seat Greyhound followed in 1959, but was built in small numbers. It had a longer wheelbase, revised nose and separate boot lid, and coil and wishbone ifs and revised irs similar to that on the Ace which Bolton and Stoop placed eighth at Le Mans in 1958 (although this suspension was not used in any production version of the Ace). The first Aces were powered by that famous AC 1991cc (65 x 100mm) ohv six designed by John Weller in 1919, in this use modified to give 85bhp at 4500rpm. This would be available as an option until the end of Ace production in 1963, when it was rated at 102bhp in competition tune. In 1956, however, AC responded to customer demand for more performance by offering the pushrod-ohv Bristol six, initially in 105bhp and 120bhp forms; these were listed until 1961, when a Ruddspeed-modified 2.6-litre Ford six became the alternative to AC's own venerable unit, in states of tune giving from 90bhp to 170bhp (and allowing the nose lines to be made a little finer). The earliest cars had a 103mph top speed, while the standard Bristol-engined version could exceed 185kph (115mph). An all-round sports car, the Ace had a good record as a produc-tion competitions model. A racing highlight was seventh place at Le Mans in 1959, following an eighth and a ninth in 1958. The Ace did not date rapidly, and AC maintained an excellent quality control reputation with it, but production ceased almost suddenly as demand for Cobras became almost overwhelming ...

Specification (Ace-Bristol) Engine: Bristol straight-six 66 x 96mm, 1971cc; pushrod ohv; three Solex carburettors; 125bhp at 6000rpm. Gearbox: four-speed manual, with optional overdrive. Chassis: tubular; independent suspension front and rear, by wishbones, leaf springs and dampers; disc front/drum rear brakes. Dimensions: wheelbase 229cm/90in; track 127cm/50in.