This post was originally published on Autocar
Bristol Classic (left) references earlier Aces while Ace Classic (right) draws on later examples
Precursor to the Cobra is revived for 21st century with four-cylinder turbo engine making more than 300bhp
AC Cars has revived the Ace, the precursor to the V8-powered Cobra roadster.
The new model is visually inspired by the original Ace of 1953 but underpinned by all-new mechanicals.
It’s based on a new steel tubular frame chassis shod with carbonfibre bodywork, which the company will manufacture itself in the UK.
That helps to contribute to a kerb weight of 1100kg – not far off the 989kg of the Ace road tested by Autocar in November 1958.
Whereas the original Ace was powered by a range of naturally aspirated straight sixes (first a 2.0-litre unit of AC’s design, then a Bristol 2.0 and finally a modified Ford Zephyr 2.6), the new car uses the turbocharged four-cylinder 2.3 from the Ford Focus ST.
It’s fitted with a new exhaust, fuel injectors and engine management system, taking its power output from 276bhp in the hot Focus to more than 300bhp.
Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, it enables the Ace to dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in a claimed 4.6sec. For reference, AC claims 3.4sec for the new Cobra GT Roadster.
Two versions of the reborn Ace will be offered: the Ace Classic, taking visual inspiration from the late Zephyr-engined Aces, made until 1963; and the Ace Bristol Classic, drawing on the earlier, Bristol-engined car.
Prices start at £175,000 and deliveries are scheduled to begin in summer 2025.
Every new Ace will be granted a chassis number “denoting it as a true AC” and reflecting its forebears, the Donington-based company said.