A rather special AC!

[cc8s]

Yesterday, I went out to the Fennel Restaurant in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire for breakfast in the passenger seat of Paul (a fellow PHer)'s beautiful Sagaris. Because the route was through Aberdeen we passed a fairly usual sprinkling of interesting cars including this stunning XK R-S Convertible.


Loads of TVRs turned up for their club meet including four Tuscans of various sorts, three of Aberdeen's 5 Sagaris, this Cosworth-engined S

and these two beasts.

This American muscle car did a drive by (fortunately no shooting!) too.


For me, the highlight was most certainly the AC Ace Le Mans Prototype parked nonchalantly at the side of the road.



What a piece of kit! It ran Le Mans in 1958, coming 6th. It has no amenities and an interior that makes an F40 look like luxury.


I saw this car early this year at a local event (the Alford Speedfest) but this was the first time I experienced it (the faces are blurred - the driver's, for his privacy, and mine for your sanity )


It was incredible to experience, even for a few minutes, and has made itself firmly into my lottery list of cars! It is raw like almost no car I have experienced - loud, visceral and smells like a real car should.




A massive thank you to the owner and I should have some more pictures to post soon.

I leave you with a short clip in traffic just before we headed out to some beautiful roads.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzQOwIlvWek

[nicanary]

Mr Pedantic says - it was actually 8th overall. But no matter, what a lovely car, and what history. Those were the golden years of endurance racing, when mildly modified showroom cars (AC actually took one out of a showroom one year to use in the race), took part and could still win their class.

I think there were instances of Jaguar and Aston martin driving their cars to the track when the transporters broke down or crashed. Today's cars may be exciting to watch, but they lack soul. Sorry.

[cc8s]

nicanary said:

Mr Pedantic says - it was actually 8th overall. But no matter, what a lovely car, and what history. Those were the golden years of endurance racing, when mildly modified showroom cars (AC actually took one out of a showroom one year to use in the race), took part and could still win their class.

I think there were instances of Jaguar and Aston martin driving their cars to the track when the transporters broke down or crashed. Today's cars may be exciting to watch, but they lack soul. Sorry.

Oh, I have memorised it incorrectly. I must check up on that.

I do think it is an era where cars are incredibly beautiful!

[CapriV6S]

Thx for pics, saw this at Alford, you just don't see this every day. It is very special.

[Captain Cadillac]

That American car is a 55 Chevrolet Bel Air sedan. Back in the 50s/60s no self respecting hot rodder would have been caught dead in a 4 door . Oh, before I get flamed I have a 54 Ford "Fordor" myself haha.

That AC is absolutely amazing, thanks for posting the pics! This reminds me of what I love about the classic car scene in the UK. You have a priceless and irreplaceable car that actually ran at Le Mans. In America it'd be restored to absolute perfection, better than new and would travel in a trailer. Meanwhile in Britain it's showing wonderful patina and actually gets used in anger. Wonderful

Edited by Captain Cadillac on Tuesday 11th September 04:25

[v8250]

What a great thread...ex Le Mans car out for a weekend blat. Had not seen this AC before. Has similar lines to the Elva Courier and some from Lotus MKIX & X's.

For interest, here's a link with more info: http://www.acheritage.co.uk/TDworks~23.html

[Willptb]

So glad you blurred my face