1995 AC Brooklands Ace: Rare 90s V8 Roadster
Only 58 examples of the AC Brooklands Ace were built before the company's 1996 receivership. This 1995 model, with its 260 bhp Ford V8 and five-speed manual, is a low-mileage survivor from the short-lived revival of the classic British marque.
Just 58 examples of the AC Brooklands Ace were built before production ceased and the company entered receivership in March 1996. This 1995 model is a rare, largely factory-standard Series 1 car, showing 27,000 miles and powered by a 260 bhp Ford 5.0-liter V8 paired with a five-speed manual transmission.
The Brooklands Ace combined a hand-formed aluminum body with a unique stainless steel chassis. Its mechanical components were largely Ford-sourced, a decision that made parts sourcing straightforward. The car's development was a long and troubled process, beginning with Ford-backed prototypes in the late 1980s before the rear-wheel-drive V8 production version finally appeared in 1993.
Development and Demise
The revival of the AC Ace name was spearheaded by Brian Angliss, who acquired the AC name in 1986. Initial prototypes, developed with Ford's involvement, featured four-wheel-drive and V6 power. The relationship with Ford reportedly soured, and between 1990 and 1992 Ford tried to wind up AC Cars six times. After buying out Ford's shareholding in 1992, Angliss continued the project alone.
The production car that debuted at the 1993 London Motor Show was a simpler, rear-wheel-drive V8 roadster. It was built on a stainless steel monocoque chassis designed by Len Bailey. Reviewing the car in 1993, Richard Bremner called it "a thoroughly professional effort." However, it launched into a weak economic climate. High production costs and poor sales ultimately contributed to the company's financial collapse.
Specifications and Performance
The Ace was powered by Ford's 302 cubic inch (4.9 liter) pushrod V8 from the contemporary Mustang. Early cars, like the 1995 example featured, were rated at 260 bhp. Later production switched to a 240 bhp version. Buyers could choose between a Borg-Warner five-speed manual or a Ford four-speed automatic transmission.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine | Ford 4.9L (302 ci) pushrod V8 |
| Power (Early Cars) | 260 bhp @ 5,250 rpm |
| Torque (Early Cars) | 320 lb ft @ 3,250 rpm |
| Transmission Options | 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic |
| 0-60 mph | 5.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | 144 mph |
| Curb Weight | 3,175 lbs |
Suspension used unequal-length wishbones and coil springs on all four corners, with a Salisbury differential. The car featured a parts-bin approach common to low-volume British manufacturers, using components from BMW, Citroën, Peugeot, and Ford.
Historical Legacy: From Ace to Cobra
The Ace name dates back to the lightweight AC Ace of 1953, a car whose design was influenced by Ferrari's Touring-bodied Barchetta. The original Ace is best known for providing the foundation for Carroll Shelby's Cobra. Shelby approached AC in 1961 with the idea to fit a Ford V8 into the Ace chassis, leading to the creation of the iconic Cobra.
AC built the chassis for every Cobra until production ended in 1968, with a total of 998 cars completed. The lineage split into two main groups: 655 leaf-spring cars (260 and 289 cubic inch models) and 343 coil-spring 427 models. This history gave the revived Ace of the 1990s a formidable legacy to live up to.
The featured 1995 Brooklands Ace has had three owners from new and has remained with its current keeper since 2001. Priced new at £49,995, it was positioned as a more affordable alternative to rivals like the Jaguar XJ-S and Mercedes-Benz 500SL. Today, it is an obscure footnote from the final chapter of the original AC Cars company.
