The NEC Classic Motor Show Sale 10th - 12th November 2023

+ buyers premium of 12.5% plus VAT (15% incl VAT) on the first £300,000 of the hammer and 10% plus VAT (12% incl VAT) thereafter 91 Registration: TXF 912 Chassis No.: TAE 618 Estimate: £90,000 - £120,000 Specialist: Rob Hubbard Telephone No: 07775 511825 Lot 177 1957 AC Aceca The fastback-styled Aceca coupé debuted at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1954. The Aceca’s hatchback body was constructed in hand-formed aluminium over a tubular steel framework, while the tubular chassis was more substantially built than the Ace’s. In 1956, the more-powerful (up to 130bhp) 2-litre Bristol six-cylinder engine became available while, towards the end of production, the 2.6-litre Ford Zephyr engine was also on offer. The Bristol engine was fine but expensive, and AC were keen to try and find a cheaper alternative that was powerful enough to propel the Aceca to a decent velocity. In 1957, a 2-litre Triumph TR3 power unit was adapted and fitted but, for whatever reason, it wasn’t to be. That particular Triumph-engined car, #TAE 618, was technically a ‘prototype’ and being surplus to requirements, was prepared for sale. It came out of the factory on 2nd July 1957 finished in Gunmetal with red leather and fitted with a 4-speed gearbox with overdrive on third and top and was duly delivered to dealers R.N. Rudd Ltd. who quickly found a customer. An enthusiastic young airman, Wing Commander G T Dale, was the lucky buyer, and he was to enjoy the AC for a few years before selling it to its second owner who in turn sold it to the third. In October 1971, it became the property of our vendor who used it as his daily transport until 1981 when it was laid up in the garage, prior to finding time to fix one or two things and we all know how that ends. Anyone familiar with the program Car SOS will know that a relative of the car’s owner, who might be ill or a little infirm and unable to face the task of restoring their beloved motor car, comes up with a plan to secretly spirit it out of its resting place to be collected by Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townsend and sent off for a full restoration which is fully documented and edited down to a one-hour television program (this episode was first broadcast in April 2016). The owner (in this case our vendor) believed the car was being taken by his son to display at an AC event in 2015 and was expecting it back in its original state until all was revealed at the end. Members of the AC Committee were at the reveal and it wasn’t until after the show when they got involved, that they found out that this was a one of a kind, factory-installed Triumph engine. Although the majority of the work was carried out by the SOS team , the engine was rebuilt by TRGB and pleasingly, the glorious red leather seats and door cards were retained but the carpets and headlining were replaced. It has since been displayed at the National Motor Museum 2015-16 and at Gaydon Motor Museum for the Car SOS show in 2019, and has been featured in Practical Classics , Classic Car Weekly and the AC Club Magazine (three times). More recently, the Aceca has been used and enjoyed on the odd occasion, but our vendor’s poor health now necessitates a sale. We understand that it’s mechanically very good but the paint in places suffers from micro-blistering. It’s supplied with a copy of the original logbook, a continuation logbook, some older MOTs and items of correspondence. The AC Aceca is undoubtedly one of the 1950s most attractive cars, and is still a head-turner now, however the added cachet of being a unique experimental model and a televised restoration take it to another level. A unique Aceca, fitted with a TR3 engine by the factory and more recently the subject of a televised restoration on Car SOS. More Details Lot 177 Bid On Lot 177