Frequently described as the more sophisticated older brother of the Cobra, the AC Ace Bristol is an embodiment of the quintessential British sports car. Featuring a beautiful and elegant aluminum body, the car weighs less than 2,000 pounds, making it a very lithe and sporting car to drive. The AC was styled closely after the Ferrari 166 Barchetta and remains a beautiful and striking shape. The specification was remarkable for the late 1950`s and included the triple carbureted BMW-derived 120hp inline-6, interesting independent suspension design with hydraulic shock absorbers, and Girling front disc brakes.

This particular car is a stunning and absolutely unrepeatable find. Believed to be the sixth from last AC Ace Bristol built, this car shows mileage of just 6,315, which is substantiated by records from the AC Owners Club and Previous advertisements stating the mileage. The cosmetic condition of the car seems to reconfirm this ultra-low mileage.

Sold new to Robert M. Gubbins of Detroit, Michigan, this car was special ordered in primer, with factory roll over hoop, and front and rear wrap around bumpers. Mr. Gubbins requested that the car be delivered in primer as ``He liked to have cars that he raced painted in his own colors``. It is believed that Mr. Gubbins choose copper with a racing strip as his colors, and the car has subsequently been repainted in its current blue livery.
The Ace was a very successful racing car and in no place was this more evident than in the USA. An AC ACE Bristol won the Sports Car Club of America`s E production class championship in 1957, 1958, and 1959. To try and give the Aces some competition, the SCCA moved them up a class in 1960, but to no avail; an ACE Bristol won that class also. In desperation the Aces were put into a higher class still, the C production category, but Pierre Mion and his Ace won it! It is likely that Gubbins did in fact race the car in the US after taking delivery in February of 1963. Minor performance enhancing changes were made to this car during the period including a Mallory distributor and coil, parts not available after the mid 1960s. The rear suspension has been de-cambered to improve handling characteristics while corning aggressively.
With exception of the minor performance enhancements of the era, the car remains ultra original. The interior, chrome, underside, and engine compartment are all in truly outstanding original condition. The paintwork is of very high quality, and aside from two areas of cracking, is in excellent condition. The bumper chrome shows the very lightest of surface haze, and remainder of the chrome, including the windscreen surround, wheels, trunk plinth and light trims shows as new. All glass and lights, including the original windshield, are in excellent condition. The roll hoop and wrap around front and rear bumpers are rare factory items, and in fine cosmetic condition

The interior appears to be entirely original and has survived marvelously. The leather on the seats shows some patina in the form of creasing, but is intact and in generally excellent condition. The dashboard, steering wheel, and gauges are all in outstanding order. The carpets are intact and primarily unworn, but do show some fading. There was an accessory heater fitted when the car was new, and it is still intact and present.

The engine compartment and trunk are both unrestored and in extremely fine original condition, showing almost no wear from use. They present very nicely and the trunk contains the jack, spare wheel, and full weather equipment, which is in excellent order. The weather equipment includes the top, side curtains, curtain bag, and full tonneau cover, all of which are in absolutely time warp condition, with the exception of some yellowing to the rear window. The engine compartment also contains the original glass washer fluid bottle, and the grease gun. The underside is in similar condition and is of course completely solid.

With this mileage and originality, this car is a true one of a kind find. This is a genuinely unmolested and honest example of this interesting and historic sports car, and with just 466 Bristol-engined Aces built (and considerably fewer surviving today), these cars are very difficult to find today in any condition.

Price € -,-