This 1956 AC Ace is a left-hand-drive example that is said to have been brought into the United States by AC Imports of Arlington, Virginia and modified with Cobra-style bodywork and components in the 1960s. Featured on BaT in November 2011, the car was acquired by the selling dealer in January 2021 following a 2018 refurbishment that reportedly included removing and refinishing the aluminum bodywork in white over a red and black interior. Power comes from a 289ci Ford V8 paired with a four-speed T-10 manual transmission, a Dana 44 rear axle, and a Salisbury differential. Other equipment includes Halibrand-style wheels, front disc brakes, inboard rear discs, MGB-sourced front suspension components, a dual-coilover rear suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, a driver-side roll hoop, a carbon-fiber driver seat, and racing-style decals, as well as a modified nose, hood, and wheel arches. This custom Ace is offered by the selling dealer in Virginia with a removed factory-style driver seat and a clean California title.
The car is said to have undergone a refurbishment in 2018 by HRE Motorcars of Freeport, New York that included removing the aluminum bodywork and refinishing it in Wimbledon White, and the chassis was modified and refinished in black. Exterior features include a Cobra-style hood scoop, nose, and fender vents, plus modified wheel arches, Lucas tri-bar headlights, a black driver-side roll hoop with a forward brace, black vinyl “198” numbers, racing-style decals, and a bright-finished windshield frame, side mirrors, and bumper guards.
Kidney-bean 15″ Halibrand-style knockoff wheels feature bright-finished lips and are mounted with 215/70 and 245/60 Avon CR6-ZZ tires. Braking is handled by four-wheel discs featuring inboard rear units, and the suspension has been modified with knee-action front dampers sourced from a 1963 MGB and a dual-coilover Salisbury independent rear suspension. The selling dealer states that the brakes and suspension were overhauled during the 2018 refurbishment.
The left-hand-drive cabin is said to have been renewed and features a black carbon-fiber bucket seat for the driver and a factory-style passenger seat trimmed in red with matching door panels and carpets. Amenities include a center mirror, a locking glove compartment, latch-and-link lap belts, a shifter with reverse lockout, and a fire extinguisher.
A wood-rimmed steering wheel fronts a black dashboard that houses Smiths instrumentation including a 130-mph speedometer with an inset analog clock, an 8k-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges. The selling dealer states that both the gauges and the steering column were rebuilt during the 2018 refurbishment. The five-digit odometer indicates 400 miles, which reflects the distance traveled since the car was refurbished; true mileage is unknown.
During previous ownership the original inline-six was replaced with a 289ci V8 that is said to be a 1963-spec Ford “HiPo” engine. As a part of the 2018 work, the engine reportedly was rebuilt by Ernie Elliott, and the selling dealer states that the fuel, cooling, and electrical systems have been overhauled.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed T-10 manual transmission, and the Dana 44 axle and Salisbury differential both have been rebuilt. Additional images showing the condition of the underside are presented in the gallery below.
