You'll forgive me, I hope, if I feature one of my favorite sports cars in this blog. Since the AC Ace was the very car that Carroll Shelby chose as the basis for his Cobra my taste is in good company… although I prefer the 6-cylinder Ace Bristol to the ferocious Ford V-8. "Handling over power" is my mantra, even if such philosophy may not impress the 0-60 crowd. My first glimpse of an Ace Bristol (Bristol referring to the engine, itself based on a pre-war BMW) was at a hillclimb in southern Ontario. Perched on a safe viewing area halfway up the course I heard, before seeing, the white Ace Bristol driven by Peter Hayes. With a sound that only a jazz tenorman could replicate and a shape that only an artist could paint, Peter oversteered his Ace through the gravel road's curves, winning a class victory. It left an indelible impression. The Ace Bristol featured here can be purchased at the H&H buxton sale in England on November 21. This particular AC was owned by Ken Rudd, who built the famed Ruddspeed performance add-on organisation. Rudd finished 7th overall in an Ace Bristol at LeMans in 1959. Classic Driver magazine made me aware of this opportunity but I'd be happy with a 1:24 model. "Dream on," she said.
I agree that the 427-engined Cobra was overkill, but the 289 was not much heavier than the Bristol 6. Do you remember how much?
On a completely different, and not only classics, subject do you have any idea why suicide doors are so popular onconcept cars, but seldom make it into production?
November 19, 2007 @ 3:03 am