The Green, 1954, AC Bristol, of Mark Richardson and Ellie Birchenhough, competing in the MRL RAC Woodcote Trophy, during the 2023 Silverstone Festival
AC Ace is a car which was produced by AC Cars of Thames Ditton, England, from 1953 until 1963. About 220 AC Aces and 466 Ace-Bristol cars were produced during its 10 year run. AC came back to the market after the Second World War with the 2-Litre range of cars in 1947, but it was with the Ace sports car of 1953 that the company really made its reputation in the post war years. Casting around for a replacement for the ageing 2-Litre, AC took up a design by John Tojeiro that used a light, ladder-type tubular frame, all independent transverse leaf spring suspension, and an open two-seater alloy body made using English wheeling machines, possibly inspired by the Ferrari 166 MM barchetta. Early cars used AC's elderly 100 bhp (75 kW) two-litre overhead cam straight-six engine (first seen soon after the end of the First World War), which, according to a 1954 road test by Motor magazine, gave a top speed of 103 mph (166 km/h) and 0–60 mph (0–100 km/h) in seconds and a fuel consumption of miles per imperial gallon ( L/100 km; mpg‑US). It was hardly a sporting engine however, and it was felt that something more modern and powerful was required to put the modern chassis to good use. Joining the Ace in 1954 was the Aceca hard top coupé, which had an early form of hatchback rear door but used the same basic timber framed alloy body. From 1956, there was the option of Bristol Cars' two-litre 120 bhp (89 kW) straight-six with 3 downdraught carburettors and slick four-speed gearbox. Top speed leapt to 116 mph (187 km/h) with 0–60 mph (0–100 km/h) in the nine second bracket. Overdrive was available from 1956 and front disc brakes were an option from 1957, although they were later standardised.
Size: 3223px × 2141px
Location: Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8TN
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1954, 1971cc, 2-door, 2023, ac, action, birchenhough, bristol, circuit, close-, ellie, festival, green, mark, mrl, rac, race, racing, richardson, roadster, silverstone, towcester, trophy, woodcote
