21st Apr, 2010 14:15
The Pavilion Gardens
1936 AC 16/80 Sports Special
Estimated at £60,000 - £70,000
Lot details
Registration No: DPL 840
Chassis No: L422
Mot Expiry: T.B.A.
Despite (or perhaps due to) nine years of stewardship under ebullient former Napier racer S.F. Edge, AC succumbed to receivership in early 1930. Snapped up by the Hurlock brothers to complement their thriving South London lorry, car hire, spares and haulage businesses, AC yielded a profitable servicing department and much needed factory space. Although, the new owners had no intention of becoming motor manufacturers, the infectious enthusiasm displayed by older staff members and the continuing orders placed by a fiercely loyal clientele saw them relent. Thus, in 1932 AC began to build a series of new cars based on a proprietary chassis fitted with a conventional ENV four-speed gearbox and their own fabulous John Weller designed straight-six engine. Something of an automotive milestone, this advanced powerplant featured an alloy block, pistons and sump, chain-driven overhead camshaft and five-bearing crankshaft. Notably light and powerful compared to its peers, it was in production from 1919 to 1963.
The embryonic `Hurlock ACs' quickly gained a reputation for performance and agility. In a showing reminiscent of the marque's 1926 Monte Carlo Rally victory, a four car team took 1st, 4th and 6th places in the 1933 RAC Rally as well as winning the event's Concours d'Elegance. Buoyed up by their success (Charles and William had piloted the 4th and 6th placed cars respectively), the Hurlock brothers booked a stand at the London Motor Show that October. Utilising a new 9'7" wheelbase chassis with underslung rear axle, the show cars in their various tourer, saloon and coupe guises were notably rakish and lithe (a characteristic shared by their subsequent production siblings). Priced at a third more than their nearest competitor, Sir William Lyons' SS range, their understated elegance and impeccable build quality drew comparisons among the contemporary motoring press with far more expensive machinery.
According to information kindly supplied by the vendor, this particular example began life as a long wheelbase touring AC before being converted into a special by Terry Rogers during the 1960s. Cut down and extensively lightened, its chassis featured an ingenious rear suspension set-up whereby control links and quarter-elliptic leaf springs provided far more predictable handling than the original semi-elliptics. Road registered as 'DPL 840', Rogers' creation was a familiar sight in Vintage racing circles up until the early 1970s. Deceptively scruffy-looking (reputedly in an attempt to gull the scrutineers), it proved highly effective carrying off a host of awards including the Brooklands Trophy. Passing to fellow racer Tony Bailey sometime thereafter, the two-seater was reworked once more gaining (a) sliding front spring trunnions, (b) a neat dropped front cross member which allowed the tuned engine to be moved further back in the chassis and (c) rather more aesthetically pleasing light alloy bodywork.
After achieving several notable results of his own, Bailey sold the special to Nigel Orlebar in the mid 1980s. The latter was well known for his AC-powered, GN special 'Rabelro' (Orlebar spelt backwards) and spent the next decade refining 'DPL 840' and installing a replacement AC straight-six etc. Following Orlebar's death, the car migrated to Germany where it was campaigned once more. Repatriated to the UK upon entering the current ownership four years ago, the special has reportedly been "prepared for the coming season". Finished in red with black upholstery, it is described by the vendor as being in "very good" condition with regard to its engine, electrical equipment, bodywork and paintwork, while he rates the four-speed manual gearbox and interior trim as "good" and "fair" respectively. With its Kenlowe fan, well-stocked wooden dashboard and flashing indicators, 'DPL 840' is said to be capable of road use as well as track outings.
The seller has raced the two-seater at Goodwood, while previous custodians have exercised it at numerous other famous UK and German circuits. Riding on silver painted wire wheels, this handsome and potent AC special is offered for sale with history file (including various bills and a VSCC buff form) plus a clutch of VSCC scrutineering tags attached to its dashboard.
Registration No: DPL 840
Chassis No: L422
Mot Expiry: T.B.A.
Despite (or perhaps due to) nine years of stewardship under ebullient former Napier racer S.F. Edge, AC succumbed to receivership in early 1930. Snapped up by the Hurlock brothers to complement their thriving South London lorry, car hire, spares and haulage businesses, AC yielded a profitable servicing department and much needed factory space. Although, the new owners had no intention of becoming motor manufacturers, the infectious enthusiasm displayed by older staff members and the continuing orders placed by a fiercely loyal clientele saw them relent. Thus, in 1932 AC began to build a series of new cars based on a proprietary chassis fitted with a conventional ENV four-speed gearbox and their own fabulous John Weller designed straight-six engine. Something of an automotive milestone, this advanced powerplant featured an alloy block, pistons and sump, chain-driven overhead camshaft and five-bearing crankshaft. Notably light and powerful compared to its peers, it was in production from 1919 to 1963.
The embryonic `Hurlock ACs' quickly gained a reputation for performance and agility. In a showing reminiscent of the marque's 1926 Monte Carlo Rally victory, a four car team took 1st, 4th and 6th places in the 1933 RAC Rally as well as winning the event's Concours d'Elegance. Buoyed up by their success (Charles and William had piloted the 4th and 6th placed cars respectively), the Hurlock brothers booked a stand at the London Motor Show that October. Utilising a new 9'7" wheelbase chassis with underslung rear axle, the show cars in their various tourer, saloon and coupe guises were notably rakish and lithe (a characteristic shared by their subsequent production siblings). Priced at a third more than their nearest competitor, Sir William Lyons' SS range, their understated elegance and impeccable build quality drew comparisons among the contemporary motoring press with far more expensive machinery.
According to information kindly supplied by the vendor, this particular example began life as a long wheelbase touring AC before being converted into a special by Terry Rogers during the 1960s. Cut down and extensively lightened, its chassis featured an ingenious rear suspension set-up whereby control links and quarter-elliptic leaf springs provided far more predictable handling than the original semi-elliptics. Road registered as 'DPL 840', Rogers' creation was a familiar sight in Vintage racing circles up until the early 1970s. Deceptively scruffy-looking (reputedly in an attempt to gull the scrutineers), it proved highly effective carrying off a host of awards including the Brooklands Trophy. Passing to fellow racer Tony Bailey sometime thereafter, the two-seater was reworked once more gaining (a) sliding front spring trunnions, (b) a neat dropped front cross member which allowed the tuned engine to be moved further back in the chassis and (c) rather more aesthetically pleasing light alloy bodywork.
After achieving several notable results of his own, Bailey sold the special to Nigel Orlebar in the mid 1980s. The latter was well known for his AC-powered, GN special 'Rabelro' (Orlebar spelt backwards) and spent the next decade refining 'DPL 840' and installing a replacement AC straight-six etc. Following Orlebar's death, the car migrated to Germany where it was campaigned once more. Repatriated to the UK upon entering the current ownership four years ago, the special has reportedly been "prepared for the coming season". Finished in red with black upholstery, it is described by the vendor as being in "very good" condition with regard to its engine, electrical equipment, bodywork and paintwork, while he rates the four-speed manual gearbox and interior trim as "good" and "fair" respectively. With its Kenlowe fan, well-stocked wooden dashboard and flashing indicators, 'DPL 840' is said to be capable of road use as well as track outings.
The seller has raced the two-seater at Goodwood, while previous custodians have exercised it at numerous other famous UK and German circuits. Riding on silver painted wire wheels, this handsome and potent AC special is offered for sale with history file (including various bills and a VSCC buff form) plus a clutch of VSCC scrutineering tags attached to its dashboard.
Auction: The Pavilion Gardens, 21st Apr, 2010
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