The Electrified AC Ace Classic

• AC Vehicles
• The Cobra Connection
• The AC Ace Traditional

As one of many oldest manufacturers within the enterprise, UK-born AC Cars can look again at fairly an unbelievable historical past. A historical past that spans two continents actually, as the muse of one of the vital prolific sports activities vehicles, the Shelby Cobra, was very a lot laid in London, England. By way of a number of monetary troubles, nonetheless, the corporate went bust a few occasions, but since 2022, it has been back in action building new cars! The following in line to roll out of AC Vehicles’ manufacturing amenities is the AC Ace Traditional, which marks a return of the curvaceous roadster that spawned the Cobra. And since we’re residing within the age of electrification, it has swapped out inner combustion engines for electrical motors and a battery pack!

AC Vehicles

AC Vehicles might be traced again to 1900 when John Weller based the Weller Brothers Engineering agency in West Norwood, London. Then simply 23 years previous, John Weller got down to construct a automobile with monetary backing from a butcher by the identify of John Porthwine. The 20HP Touring Automobile was proven on the 1903 Crystal Palace Motor Present, with plans to take it into manufacturing. Porthwine nonetheless, felt it could change into too costly and persuaded Weller to concentrate on gentle business automobiles as an alternative, which resulted within the Auto-Provider from 1904. By then, a brand new firm was fashioned; Autocars & Equipment.

By 1911, the agency was renamed Auto Carriers Ltd, with ‘AC’ already getting used earlier than that and discovering its manner onto the corporate’s new brand. Manufacturing expanded from the three-wheeled Auto-Provider to full-fledged passenger vehicles, and the corporate even turned to racing. A number of modifications adopted shortly after, together with one other new identify, AC Vehicles Ltd. A authorities contract popping out of WWII meant AC Vehicles Ltd nonetheless had a future, which might be vibrant going into the Fifties and Nineteen Sixties. After that, issues just about slowed down earlier than closing store within the mid-Nineteen Eighties.

AC Vehicles might be finest recognized for its Ace and Aceca (pronounced A-See-Ka) sports activities vehicles. Each share the identical ladder-type tubular body with a curvaceous roadster (the Ace) or hard-top coupe (the Aceca) our bodies on high of it. The Ace was launched first in 1953, with engines beginning at round 100bhp earlier than extra highly effective and quicker variations made their entry. The Aceca adopted a yr later, with a barely greater high pace thanks to higher aerodynamics. By the early Nineteen Sixties engine dimension elevated once more, with 2.6-litre straight-sixes producing 170bhp. At the moment, although, issues had been about to vary dramatically for AC Vehicles, which meant solely 37 of the two.6

The Cobra Connection

Carrol Shelby, the well-known Texas poultry farmer turned petrolhead, is a reputation we in all probability all know very nicely. Shelby carved out a real automotive legacy for himself by means of tasks equivalent to the Ford GT40 program, which led to profitable Le Mans 4 years straight, the varied Shelby Mustangs, and so forth. He was additionally a greater than succesful racing driver, profitable the 1959 Le Mans 24 Hours in an Aston Martin DBR1, though well being points sadly shortened his profession on the racetrack.

Throughout his time in Europe, he visited a number of producers and rapidly realised the potential of a European-American sports activities automobile. His first effort was to drop a 300bhp in an Austin Healey, but it surely was his connection to Ford and his request to AC Vehicles that led to the creation of one of the vital well-known sports activities vehicles ever: the Cobra! Shelby noticed the potential within the chassis of the Ace and ordered a number of of them on credit score, which had been then fitted with Ford’s 221ci and 260ci (3.6 litre and 4.3 litre) V8 engines.

The automobile was to be marketed because the Shelby AC Cobra, and manufacturing started in 1962. After the primary 75 vehicles had been constructed, a stronger 289ci (4.7 litres) V8 was launched. Simply two years after its debut, the Cobra grew in dimension and gained a extra pronounced exterior because the 427 Cobra was launched. This packed the monstrous 425-485bhp 7.0 litre V8 engine that will later energy the GT40 MKII, granting it Ford’s maiden Le Mans win. The Cobra was additionally an enormous success in racing, each in its roadster kind and later because the aerodynamically superior Shelby Daytona Coupe, dominating GT class racing within the mid-Nineteen Sixties. Shelby’s rise to fame is well-documented in the movie Ford v. Ferrari, which is a must-see!

The AC Ace Traditional

Now, again in Britain, with the AC Ace Traditional Electrical. Following the AC Cobra, a modernized model of the long-lasting barn-stormer pairing the most effective of British automobile manufacturing and the brute energy of an American V8, it appears it’s now time for a extra smart restomod. And by smart, I’m not saying it’s boring or mundane. Quite the opposite, I believe this factor is absolute magnificence! It’s styled to look very near the unique, principally a recreation of the AC Ace from the surface. It’s solely when turning the important thing that issues take you in a special course.

As talked about, the AC Ace Traditional Electrical is principally a continuation automobile of the unique AC Ace. From entrance to again, it’s all there. The lengthy bonnet, the slanted window, the one headlights, the attribute form of the grill, and, after all, these seductively curvy rear wheel arches. It truly is a surprising mixture of classical seems to be with fashionable, dependable tech beneath.

I can absolutely perceive the frustration this doesn’t include a small-displacement ICE engine, within the spirit of the unique 221ci, 260ci and even 289ci engines. Nevertheless, I believe we should always applaud vehicles that look pretty much as good as this to be placed on the highway basically, even whether it is packing an electrical drivetrain. It retains the Petrolhead spirit alive (minus the “Petrol” half, that’s) and can in all probability invite house owners to place extra miles on if in comparison with if it had been fitted with a V8.

And it’s not all present both, as there’s much more modernity to it than it appears at first look. The physique is drawn up in carbon fibre, as an example, plus a hand-finished inside. Every shopper can configure its personal Ace, however customary colors embody purple, white and blue, reflecting the Anglo-American heritage of the unique.

Tucked away underneath that gracious physique is a 300bhp drivetrain, mentioned to have a variety of over 200 miles. With it, the AC Ace Traditional Electrical hits 60mph (100kph) in just below 5 seconds. The highest pace is just 130mph, which equates to 210kph. Doesn’t sound like a lot, however such a automobile is finest loved on a twisty B-road within the countryside. On high of that, the comparatively low weight of 1,100 kilos and a 50/50 weight distribution are a particular bonus!

The bottom worth for the AC Ace Traditional Electrical is GBP 212,000 (approx. USD 275,000 or EUR 260,000), which definitely is some huge cash, however I used to be anticipating much more than that after I first noticed it. Restomods like this could simply command seven-figure sums sometimes, so in that respect, one other win for the AC Ace! Be fast, although, as solely 49 will probably be constructed!

For extra info, please go to AC.Cars.

Editorial Be aware: The data used for this text and the photographs portrayed are supplied by and used with permission of AC Cars until said in any other case.