Drivetrain
Chassis
Body
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
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