This resurrected AC Ace isn’t a restomod, but rather a brand-new car from the ground up (Image: AC Cars)
The AC Cobra might be the better-known vehicle, but the Ace which came before it is being resurrected by AC Cars’ new Classics division.
Originally produced from 1953 to 1963, with under 700 built during that period, what you see here isn’t a restomod but rather a brand-new vehicle.
Built around a three-inch tubular steel chassis, it’s draped in gorgeous carbon fibre bodywork – originally, this would have been aluminium – with all the right cues from the original design.
Two designs will be available, featuring the styling of the earlier Ace Bristol or later Ace model (Image: AC Cars)
Or should I say designs, because there are two versions on offer. The Ace Bristol Classic features the ‘smiling face’ design of the earlier Ace models, while the Ace Classic resembles those made later in the original production run.
Regardless of which you go for, both ride on 15-inch wire wheels with suitably chunky tyre sidewalls, while the underpinnings also remain the same.
Under the bonnet, you’ll find a tweaked version of Ford’s 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-pot which serves up 300hp (224kW). It’s backed by a six-speed manual and rear-wheel drive, and there’s a side-exit exhaust to ensure it sounds the part.
Despite the new carbon bodywork, the designs are kept true to the originals like those pictured above (Image: AC Cars)
Considering this new Ace only weighs around 1100kg, that power figure is enough to get it from 0-100km/h in a spritely 4.6 seconds. Mind you, that figure is over 200kg more than the original Ace weighed despite the new carbon bodywork.
The order books are already open, with prices starting at a hefty £175,000 (A$338,775). The first examples are expected to be delivered to customers from mid-2025 onwards.
