+44 207 937 8487
Sold

1968 AC428 -

Story and History

1968 AC428 - factory demonstration / road test car

Such a beautiful shape, so low to the ground, a wide stance, purposeful exhaust outlets, gills to the front wings, comfortable seats, astronomical acceleration (more of that later) and ground covering abilities make the 428 one of the best all round GT cars of the period - full stop

Based on the 427 chassis and stretched by 6 inches to gain useful cabin space

The powers that be (the FIA) had banned from racing the AC427 and the Ferrari 250LM as the manufacturers hadn't produced the required numbers (100 actually) to be eligible for the FIA's manufacturers World Championship

Hence the AC factory had to make use of 50 or so uprated chassis previously earmarked for Carol Shelby in the US

A number were used for the MKIII Cobra (ie the 427 chassis fitted with the 289cu / 4.7 litre engine for road customers in Europe

That would be enough to completely utilise the spare chassis and Charles & Derek Hurlock decided that their efforts with the uprated chassis couldn't be wasted

So in early summer of 1965 a chassis was sent to Pietro Frua in Turin

The chassis was clothed in rakish soft top body designed by Frua and sent back to Thames Ditton for finishing prior to being released at the Earls Court Motor Show in October of that year

It was an instant jaw dropper on the stand next to a normal Cobra

Our chassis, number CF7 was kept by AC for promotional and demonstration purposes

The press were clamoring to get their hands on a 428 and in 1968 they had just what they wanted

Autocar / Motor / Autosport / Motorsport and the Telegraph had use of CF7

(A copy of each is kept within the history folder)

The road testers liked what they saw, and also on the road too

Autocar states quite firmly:-

"Extremely fast and not too heavy on fuel. Plenty of adhesion; little roll, no dive or squat. Firm ride, comfortable seats. Positive steering, too much kick-back."

ie the chassis was extremely capable, the interior was hand made and the power train was, well like a train

Zero to 60mph was covered in 5.8 seconds - the fastest GT in the world in the time

Only the Daytona could keep up and that was with a manual gear box

The factory used CF7 for a few years before she was sold to a private user in the UK

Thereafter at about the same time as the Oil Crisis (October 1974......) CF7 was sold to the States - about the mid seventies

Fuel prices were not so sensitive there as here in mainland Europe

AC, Aston Martin, Jensen, Monteverdi, Iso and many other British & European small manufacturers were hit with rising costs, following the crisis

Some survived and others, sadly didn't

CF7 was kept for many years by one owner in the States, although, being hardly ever used (the daughter of the late owner, clearly states that Dad only drove the AC 3 times over the years he owned her)

The milometer still show only 33.000 miles and there are pictures of the AC in Carmel in street show - as they still do now, for the Pebble Beach Concours week

Returned to the UK (actually Scotland) a few years ago and still in original condition, save for a repaint in the US, in the original colour, she is in magnificent condition all round

The engine felt out of sorts when she arrived, so we have just completed a "full engine overhaul"

The internals of engine were correct for a 1968 Ford produced "Interceptor 428" and the number matches the chassis of course

Possible the most important AC 428 ever, in truly remarkable condition and running right on the button

Enquire

Call Us
Enquire

Specifications

Status
Previously Sold
Engine Size
Transmission Type
Miles Recorded
Chassis Number
Finance