1959 AC Aceca

First registered in March 1959, this matching-numbers, AC-engined Aceca, is one for the purists. With only three prior keepers, the previous keeper had it in his care from 1968. The recorded mileage of just over 50,000 miles is believed to be genuine.

As you can see, it’s been cherished and pampered in its 64 years, including a restoration and respray in the 1990s. Repainted bright red, the AC still presents very well.

This is not surprising as it was kept in a heated garage and recommissioned in 2021 before being bought by the vendor a year later. Ideal for attending events such as Goodwood and classic Le Mans, this elegant post-war classic sportscar is a proven concours winner and will be much missed by its current owner.

What can we say? As you can see for yourselves, the panel fit is excellent, with tidy and consistent shutlines, ripple-free flanks, and good swage line alignment; it’s clear that not only was it assembled uncommonly well in the factory but that whoever restored it in the nineties really knew their stuff.

The coachwork benefits from re-chromed window surrounds and quarter lights, new front and rear side lights, and new tripod headlights with a halogen conversion.

The wire wheels are in an excellent condition and they’re fitted with matching Pirelli tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Other joyful details include good window seals (always a good sign) and an excellent grille.

If you’ve been paying attention it won’t surprise you to hear that it scooped third prize in the AC Owners’ Club concours last year.

There are a couple of minor points for the new owner to address if they’re even more fastidious than the seller. There is a light mark where paint has been over-polished on the nearside front wing, some light bubbling on the offside wing, and a small mark on the nearside door.

The interior has been re-trimmed with black leather being used for the seats, door cards, and dashboard. As a result, they look amazing and the seats themselves are still supportive and comfortable.

The original woodwork has been re-veneered and is looking fabulous and it’s accessorised by the most gorgeous Moto-Lita wood-rim steering wheel we’ve seen in a while.

The headlining was replaced with West-of-England cloth and this has been supplemented with Wilton carpeting on the floor. Sound deadening material has also been applied, which helps keep road noise down.

Other items that have been renewed include the interior and exterior door handles; the window winders; gas struts to the tailgate; and the door pull handles, locks and striker panels.

The tachometer and odometer were re-calibrated by Speedograph Richfield, but the mileage was not altered and the total displayed is believed to be correct.

Other notable features include plus a period Philips headunit below the glove compartment, a set of delightful AC pedals, a Smiths heater, and green Perspex sunvisors.

Oh, and the adjustable diagonal cables have been replaced in the front doors and a new wiring loom has been fitted.

Flaws are few. There is light cracking to the veneer around the minor instruments (#159) and a leather door strap has snapped (#249).

Still featuring the original AC engine and gearbox - the chassis and engine numbers are AE727 - it has been comprehensively rebuilt over the years.

The work is too fulsome to detail here and can be seen on the attached invoices but the headlines are:

• Rebuilt with new shell bearings with the crankshaft still being the original size.
• Camshaft rollers replaced.
• Pistons are the standard 9.1.
• Rebuilt water pump with two bearing conversions and Vulcan ceramic gland seal.
• New CNC dynamo pulley.
• New SU Fuel pump.
• Radiator re-cored with correct age-related core.
• Fabricated stainless-steel manifolds and full stainless-steel exhaust assembly.
• All new silicone hoses.
• The gearbox is the original with overdrive on third and fourth gears
• It is fitted with modified Jaguar Mk7 remote short shift gear selector.
• Modified clutch slave cylinder support bracket.
• Dipstick for gear box oil level.
• New rear and front seals.

There are many improvements too, including:

• Oil cooler with thermostat.
• Kenlowe electric fan.
• Electronic ignition.
• Stainless-steel petrol tank and supports.
• Shock absorber top mounts enhanced.
• Top tube replaced.
• Additional hand brake supports.
• New bearings and metalastic bushes to all suspension joints.
• New hydraulics complete with Kunifer brake and clutch lines.
• New slave and master cylinders, re-conditioned disc calipers with new piston seals. Aeroquip flexible brake and clutch hoses, silicone brake and clutch fluid.
• Re-conditioned propshaft and halfshafts with new roller spiders.
• Steering steady bar.
• Revington adjustable steering box cover.

As you can see, the engine bay presents very well.

It also starts, ticks over and revs as it should. The oil pressure gauge reads well too, and it makes an amazing noise, doesn’t it?

Despite not needing one by virtue of its age, the AC’s MoT certificate is valid until March 2024. If you’ve been following the seller’s cars – he’s selling a few with us as he’s thinning his collection – it won’t surprise you to hear that this ticket, the first recorded electronically, was gained with no advisories following a little fettling.

Not that it’s been short of attention. The owner’s local garage, E K Motors, has looked after this with the same diligence it does the rest of his collection.

It also comes with the original buff logbook, a thick wad of old invoices and bills including some from the 1960s through to the 1990s from AC Cars itself, the original ‘General Instructions’ booklet, and some old MoT certificates.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

Only being sold because of a bad hip, the seller says of the Aceca that he “loves it”, and it’s not hard to understand why, is it? Even our assessor, not usually known to be overly effusive, describes it as “overall a truly lovely car”.

Sadly, the low seating position exacerbates that hip problem, which forces this reluctant sale.

Ah, but how much? we hear you ask. Well, cars of this quality are always in demand, which works both for and against you. Against is the fact we think the virtual hammer will settle somewhere between £75,000 and £95,000.

However, that self-same reasoning means it should do nicely for you when the time comes to pass it on, so the purchase price needs to be set off against what it’ll bring when you sell, so it may turn out to be more affordable than it looks at first glance.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.