AC Ace is a car made by AC Cars of Thames Ditton, England.
AC came back to the market after the Second World War with the staid Two-litre range of cars in 1947, but it was with the Ace sportscar of 1953 that the company really made it's reputation in the post war years. Casting around for a replacement for the ageing Two 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 outstandingly pretty, open two seater alloy body, clearly inspired by the Ferrari Barchetta of the day.
Early cars used AC's elderly two litre, overhead cam, 100 bhp, straight six engine (first seen soon after the end of the First World War) which gave a top speed of 102 mph and 0-60 (96 km/h) in 13 seconds. 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. Thus, from 1956, there was the option of Bristol Car's superb two litre 120 bhp straight six engine with 3 downdraft carburettors and slick four speed gearbox. Top speed leapt to 116 mph (186 kph) with 0-60 (96 km/h) in the nine second bracket, and response was much sweeter and modern. Overdrive was available from 1956 and front disc brakes were an option from 1957, although they were later standardized. With the engine well back in the chassis, the Ace handled well and was successful in competition. 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.
The car raced at Le Mans in 1957 and 1958.
When Bristol ceased building their 6-cylinder engine in 1961, AC's owner, Charles Hurlock, was approached by Carroll Shelby to use a Ford V8 in the Ace chassis, producing the AC Cobra in 1962. Production of the Ace ended the same year.
In the final years of productions some Ace models were fitted with the MKII Ford Zephyr 2.6 litre straight-6 engine.
As with the AC Cobra, some AC Ace replicas have been made but are much rarer.
The Ace name was reintroduced in 1999 with a radically new design. The new Ace offered an option of a 305 hp Ford V8 "Quad Cam" or a Lotus 350 hp engine. The car has features such as air conditioning, full hide interior and GPS navigation.
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