1955 | AC Aceca

This is a great fun, seriously fast AC Aceca. Several Aceca have seen their original engines replaced with a V8, but few if any have had this level of engineering, design, and professional execution applied to the process. Almost all such conversions focus on little beyond the engine transplant, often ignoring braking, steering and suspension, key to the ultimate driving experience.

Fitted with the ‘Boss’ 302 H.O. engine, developed originally in 1968 for the SCCA’s Trans-Am road racing Series and fitted to the contemporary Factory-made Boss 302 Mustangs, AEX534 benefited from a very thorough engineering exercise to transform the car with:

• Ford ‘Windsor’ small block ‘Boss’ 302 H.O. five litre
• Four barrel ‘Edelbrock’ performance carburettor
• Ceramic coated exhaust manifolds
• Ford Tremec five speed manual gearbox allowing 70 mph at 2,000 rpm
• Vented disc brakes on all four wheels
• Dayton 5J centre-laced 60 spoke chrome wire wheels
• ‘IN Racing’ SPAX front shock absorbers
• Solid bronze-bushed front suspension
• Twin stainless steel exhaust
• Stainless steel radiator
• Stainless steel header tank
• ACCEL electronic ignition
• Electric fan
• Air conditioning

The AC Owners Club Registry lists the car as manufactured on October 21st 1955 with AC engine number CL2199-W, and with Left Hand Drive specification was exported to Holland.   Sourced forty four years later from Fantasy Junction in San Francisco the conversion  process was part of an extensive restoration conducted over a three year period with many original AC parts sourced from two of the leading AC specialists:

• ‘Sports & GT Motoring’, the business of Ron Leonard who for several decades was the North American Representative of the AC Owners Club, and
• Brian Eacott, the UK-based supplier of original AC spares and parts

Imported to the United Kingdom in May 2021 the car was inspected by the DVLA and registered as an Historic Vehicle with registration number ‘284 XVS’. Just serviced by the Project Workshop in Bicester at a cost of £6,595, excellent compressions were recorded across all cylinders and issued with a new MOT without advisories.