Story and History

Amazingly restored to an impeccable standard

The Aceca is a quintessentially British car. Developed after the success of the Ace but with a hatchback design, one of the first British cars to feature it and practical it is! Our car is a very early AC Aceca too, chassis AE506, engine CL2170-W, and first registered in only 1955 a year after they started production.

She is in absolutely pristine condition today, having undergone a complete restoration taking place between 2011 and 2018. She likely presents now better than her original fifties specification and condition. Cosmetically she's immaculate, and mechanically it is much the same.

Presented in a very deep Indigo Blue, reference 0088, and having been resprayed 2 times the colour pops out almost as a modern colour would, with a lovely combination of burgundy interior. The interior has been sympathetically restored so as to retain some lovely period feel & patina whilst driving. The original Borrani road wheels are fully refurbished, and fitted with period correct Michelin X tyres. All in all it makes for a fantastic feel on the road.

It helps that these cars are mechanically so pure. Starting one up, and driving even around London is an engrossing experience that is very difficult to replicate. The engine, having been used for a while before, is solid as a rock and even today provides suitable power and speed. The noise, is wonderful too!

She has had a rebuilt moss gearbox, with overdrive on 2nd, 3rd and 4th, which gives her 7 speeds !! Driving her is an absolute blast - helped somewhat by the ear splitting exhaust noise from her 6 branch exhaust manifold, fitted to the fully rebuilt original AC 6 cylinder unit together with triple SU carburettors. Of course, we can't forget the aluminium radiator to help in todays modern traffic conditions........

The AC wooden steering wheel helps the feel through the fingers and is a very delicate period was an optional extra, so nice to have.

Since the car has been completely rebuilt, only 1,500 miles have been traveled including 800 running in miles since and the engine was rebuilt by specialist, to iron out gremlins. There is a full history file covering the extensive restoration.

She comes with a Borrani spare wheel and tools in place below the rear compartment.

A complete joy to drive with feather light steering, a rasp from the dual exhaust (as mentioned earlier, but to have to hear this, it's so intoxicating), excellent cornering ability and more than adequate performance (the engine rebuild having included the high compression pistons and higher lift camshaft of the last iteration of the AC six to which 105/110bhp was attributed).

During a Highlands of Scotland Tour the current owner took it on, a year or two back, the Aceca racked up some 350 miles in two days and kept pace throughout with two Jaguar XK120s and a Healey 3000 all being driven in spirited fashion.

So she is ripe and ready for her next custodian to follow suit and rack up more miles in this complete honey of a car - we are in love, and am sure you will be too!