Cars

Long before the Second World War, AC had acquired a reputation for producing very well-designed sports cars, offering excellent performance, thanks to the modern 2-litre 6-cylinder overhead camshaft engine designed in-house. With the post-war 2-litre model, AC managed to produce a more practical and comfortable saloon, while retaining both performance (still thanks to the same 2-litre 6-cylinder engine) and an elegant appearance. For the 1949 model year, a Drophead Coupe model was introduced. At the time, this model was considered a superb convertible car, described by Motor Industry magazine as follows: “Dream Car from Ditton”! Only 15 units were built in total, of which the AC club has recorded only 6 still existing. The car’s 1991 cc six-cylinder engine, with wet liners and an aluminum block, was the unit first offered in the AC 16 in 1922. From 1947, the engine was fed by three SU carburetors and produced 75 hp. The aluminum body on a wooden frame was mounted on a conventional steel chassis with rigid axles at the front and rear with semi-elliptical leaf springs with, for the first time on an AC, hydraulic shock absorbers. Until 1951, the car had a hybrid braking system, hydraulic at the front and cable at the rear with 305 mm drums. The car changed very little over its ten years of production, although the wheel size slightly increased to 406 mm in 1951. The AC 2-litre outlasted its engine, which continued to be offered in other AC models until 1963. This example is one of the 6 surviving units. Restored in the early 1990s, it underwent further refurbishment, including an engine overhaul in 2009, at a cost of £18,000. This car is extensively described in Leo Archibald’s book on AC saloons and sports cars, a copy of which is included with the car. A very comprehensive historical file is present with the car, with receipts kept in the file. The car has its original jack, starting handle, and a complete tool kit included in the trunk lid. The pedals with the AC logo and the oil can under the hood are some of the many features that make this car unique. The original semaphore signals still work, even though indicators have been added. The car is extremely well presented. It has been used regularly but sparingly over the years. The car is accompanied by a large number of historical documents, including the original registration book.