Description
This beautiful car was made to order. The woman who ordered this car had one big wish, and that was that it should be painted in this color. The result is that there is only 1 AC Acceca coupe driving around in this color on this planet!
The success of independent race car builder John Tojeiro's sports racer prompted AC Cars to put the design into production in 1954 as the Ace. The car's beautiful Ferrari 166-inspired barchetta body was retained, as was John Tojeiro's twin-tube ladder chassis and Cooper-influenced, fully independent suspension, but the powerplant was AC's venerable, 2,0-litre, long-stroke six. This overhead camshaft engine emerged in 1919 and with a modest 80 hp (later 100 hp) on tap, the Ace delivered respectable, if not excellent, performance.
A hardtop version – the fastback-style Aceca – arrived in 1955, and the following year the more powerful (up to 130 bhp) Bristol six-cylinder engine became available. So equipped the Ace/Aceca was capable of 120 mph, and the combination of a fine-handling chassis and a decent power-to-weight ratio made for a delightful drive. Chassis number 'AE822', the last AC Aceca to leave the factory, was delivered to its first owner, Mrs Ellis, via the Keswick Motor Company on 5th March 1962. Mrs Ellis had been an AC enthusiast for many years, and the Aceca replaced her ageing 2-litre saloon. She specified that the car be finished in Mist Green Metallic ('AE822′ is one of only six in this colour), as it is today.
The interior was finished in matching skin and the Aceca was also equipped with the AC six-cylinder engine; secondary fuel pump with dual fuel lines; chrome bumpers; screen washing machine; and heater/demister. In early 1969, Mrs. Ellis sold the car to the son of a family friend, Mr. Timothy Goss Edwards, who drove the car until he suffered a serious injury sometime in 1976. The AC was then stored until it was purchased by Malcolm Storey, a waterman. well-known AC collector living in Cockermouth, on 4 July 1987 (see letter on file). Malcolm completed a lot of mechanical and chassis work, but was unable to get the car running. On May 19, 1996, the Aceca was purchased by Martin Phillips, who began the lengthy and sympathetic rebuild that was required. To this end, many new parts were purchased from old stock to improve the car and keep it period correct. Much of the work was photographed as it progressed, and these photographs are now part of the car's fascinating history file. Restoration works carried out during owned by Mr Phillips have included replacing the bodywork in the following areas: sills, cockpit and boot floors, 'B' pillars, inner front/rear wings, headlight pods and the front grille. The tubular frame was replaced in all these areas where necessary and the floor was reinforced to ensure proper attachment of the seat belt mountings and to increase the stiffness of the sills. A new battery holder was also made. The woodwork in the door, the tailgate and the 'B' post were replaced with newly seasoned ash.
Other major works included removing and overhauling the cylinder head; remove the pistons and install new rings; retrim a sympathetic interior; reconnect the wiring; carburetor rebuilds; modification of the water pump; installing copper brake and fuel lines; mounting a stainless steel fuel tank; and conversion of the fuel pumps to solid state operation.
It is clear that Malcolm Storey did a lot of work on the engine and gearbox before Mr Phillips was bought, but evidence for this is scant. Still, the Aceca reportedly gave good service on long continental trips to the Le Mans Classic, Pau, Angoulême , etc. Mr Phillips then sold the AC to School Garage, who sold it on to a new owner in Austria in 2011. It later returned to the UK and was sold to its current supplier in August 2016. There are several invoices for maintenance in the UK in the 2000s, including a top engine overhaul by GF Beck in 2000 (new piston rings, valves, valve seats, cylinder head gasket, etc); suspension and brake work; new intermediate shafts, etc; and a new exhaust system. The body was rebuilt by JJS Engineering in 1998.
Described by the private seller as being in generally excellent condition, this rare AC Aceca is offered with various restoration invoices; the original green logbook; a quantity of expired MoT certificates; numerous maintenance and service invoices; Austrian registration paper; a V5C registration certificate; and an original manual.
