Lot details
Registration No: KWM 451
Chassis No: AE51
Mot Expiry: May 2009

Introduced in October 1953, the AC Ace was essentially a reworked version of 'LOY 500' the handsome John Tojeiro designed sports racer with which motor trader Cliff Davis had notched up six wins and four seconds that season (in addition to placing ninth overall at the Goodwood Nine-Hours). Lured into collaboration with the Thames Ditton manufacturer by the promise of a £5 per car royalty fee (capped at £500), Tojeiro ensured that the new model's ladder-framed tubular chassis enjoyed the same handling prowess as its competition forebear by equipping it with all-round independent transverse-leaf suspension. Styled after 'LOY 500' (itself modelled on the Carrozeria Touring clad Ferrari 166 MM Barchettas), the Ace was arguably even more handsome. Initially powered by AC's own 1991cc OHC straight-six engine, the aluminium bodied sports car could be had with Bristol's 1971cc OHV unit from February 1956 onwards.

According to information kindly supplied by the vendor, this particular example - chassis number AE51 - was about the twentieth Ace to leave the factory. An early AC-engined car, it was road registered as 'KWM 451' on January 24th 1955 and reportedly propelled first owner G. Smithies Esq. to a class win at a Lancashire Automobile Club event. Passing via Paul Jackson to Ken Rudd's motorsport-orientated garage, the Ace was then bought by Michael Webb who raced it quite extensively until the end of 1957. Subsequent keepers showed little appetite for competition and the two-seater had not run in anger for the best part of forty years when the vendor acquired it during 1996. Suitably prepared, 'KWM 451' took to the track again in late 1997 and the last eleven years have seen it contest over eighty races but retire on just four occasions.

Well travelled, the AC's historic career has spanned the following meetings: Le Mans Classics (three times), Spa Six-Hours, Tour Auto, Coupes des Alps, Goodwood Revival and Grand Premio Nuvolari as well as numerous VSCC and ACOC 1950s Sportscar races (including the Birkett Six Hours etc). Crowned the fastest AC-engined car no fewer than four times at the ACOC's Goodwood Sprint, the Ace boasts an enviable specification. Built up by Dave Harris, the engine retains its original cylinder block and head but benefits from a Midlands Crankshafts-supplied crank / rods / flywheel, Hepworth pistons, steel caps, David Newman camshaft (complete with direct oil feed), competition valves / springs, Phoenix rockers, lead-free seats, triple SU H4 carburettors, balanced length exhaust manifold primaries, extra sump baffling and an externally mounted Titan oil pump.

Upgraded with various period type modifications, 'KWM 451' currently sports a lightweight four-speed manual plus overdrive gearbox, 5/8-inch front anti-roll bar, rack and pinion steering, front disc brakes (utilising BR aluminium callipers and carbo-tech pads), Alfin rear drums and Spax adjustable shock absorbers not to mention an aluminium radiator and foam-filled petrol tank that both mimic the shape of the originals. Inspected by Marcus Pye and issued with FIA HTP papers in March 2004, the Ace is offered for sale with the following components: original fold-flat windscreen, hood / sidescreens / tonneau cover, refurbished steering box (plus steering arms), horn button / stator tube, two 16 x 4.5 60-spoke wheels, five 16 x 4 48-spoke wheels (original and restored), five Michelin X tyres, original seat, mesh radiator grille / gum shield, two sets of main / big-end bearing shells, crankshaft damper and Moss gearbox (any of the above components not delivered to the Haynes International Motor Museum can be collected from the vendor by a successful purchaser).

Exhibited on the H&H stand during the VSCC's SeeRed meeting in May (a meeting at which it competed), the AC has also enjoyed outings to the Le Mans Classic, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power and Goodwood Revival this year. Eligible for numerous historic events, this highly appealing Ace apparently comes with "a complete log of all owners and extensive files going back to the 1950s" as well as "data sheets, photographs, invoices, MOT certificates and assorted correspondence".