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‘Of them all, the Ace was the truest sports car: it could be used fordaily commuting or for high-speed long-distance touring, but it couldalso be driven to a race meeting, campaigned with distinction, anddriven home again - even if that race was the Le Mans 24 Hours.’ -AC Heritage, Simon Taylor & Peter Burn.An influential and widely imitated design, the AC Ace (and its Cobraderivative) could trace its origins back to a one-off sports-racer builtby chassis engineer John Tojeiro for Cliff Davis in 1952. The successof Davis’ Tojeiro sports-racer prompted AC Cars to acquire therights to the design, which was put into production in 1954 as theAce. The Davis car’s pretty Ferrari 166-inspired barchetta bodyworkwas retained, as was Tojeiro’s twin-tube ladder frame chassis andCooper-influenced all-independent suspension, but the power unitwas AC’s own venerable, 2.0-litre, long-stroke six.Designed by AC co-founder John Weller, this overhead-camshaftengine had originated in 1919, and with a modest 80bhp (later100bhp) on tap, endowed the Ace with respectable, if notoutstanding, performance. Nevertheless, in tuned form the Aceenjoyed great success in production sports car racing, winning itsclass at the Le Mans 24-Hour Race in 1959. In 1955 AC addeda hardtop version - the fastback-styled Aceca - and both modelslater became available with the more powerful Bristol engine beforeproduction ceased in 1963. Towards the end of production the Acewas also available with the 2.6-litre overhead-valve Ford Zephyrengine installed.AC Ace Registrar Tim Isles has kindly confirmed that this left-handdrive Ace left the factory on 20th February 1958 and was originallyfinished in red with black upholstery interior and matching carpets.The car was exported to the USA’s East Coast, finding its first ownerin Maryland, and retains matching chassis and engine numbers.The current vendor purchased the Ace at Bonhams’ GoodwoodRevival sale in September 2011 (Lot 264) at which time it was said tohave been discovered recently in Philadelphia by a previous owner.Believed acquired in Ohio in 1972, the car had been in storage forsome 35 years. The Ace was treated to a complete mechanical‘going-over’ in 2010, which is documented by accompanyingreceipts totalling in excess of $37,000. Works carried out includeoverhauling the engine and brakes, fitting a new exhaust system, andreplacing the tyres.Since acquisition by the current vendor, the Ace has benefitedfrom further extensive restoration and is described as in generallyexcellent condition. Works carried out include a bare-metal resprayby Roxwell Racing and painstaking stem-to-stern detailingby Tower Garage, Marlow, whose detailed invoice for £8,022 is onfile together with a bill from another specialist for £3,275. A designclassic in its earliest and purest form, this beautiful AC Ace isoffered with sundry restoration invoices, current road fund licenceand V5C registration document.£135,000 - 165,000€160,000 - 200,000Motor Cars | 275