A new special AC model made available beginning in 1956, the “hot” Aceca-Bristol was powered by a 1,971-cubic centimeter, six-cylinder Bristol engine, which was based on the famous pre-war BMW 328 unit that had hemispherical combustion chambers and an inclined valve train. Its greater performance unlocked the true potential of the chassis beneath, just as Carroll Shelby did later with his Cobra built upon the same AC tubular frame. The ‘luxe’ interior of the coupe version added a dash of comfort to the minimally equipped Ace roadster, welcome news to performance-minded drivers of a different stripe.

Only 171 original Aceca-Bristols were produced, making this model among the rarest Ace variants, and accordingly, very desirable to today’s enthusiasts. Just 83 of these were factory-built with left-hand drive, the car offered here among them.

According to the ACOC Register, BEX 670 was originally delivered to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where it remained for many years as part of the large collection of R.S. Jarvis, who considered it a favorite and used it on a daily basis for some time. Most recently, in 2013, it was imported into the United States from British Columbia, immediately landing at the renowned Kevin Kay Restorations of Redding, California, for a comprehensive restoration. The stunning result features concours-quality workmanship and detailing throughout, photo-documented, with an impressive list of mechanical refurbishments, performed as necessary and too numerous to list here (available upon request). The body was stripped to bare metal, revealing all-original panelwork and virtually no corrosion. It is finished to national show standards in the serenely evocative color of Elephant’s Breath Grey, with all brightwork re-plated or polished as appropriate. A peek into the new interior reveals rich navy blue Connolly type hides, gray wool carpets, new glass, expertly refinished wood and rebuilt gauges. This lovely package is set off with contrasting black-painted, rebuilt wire wheels, and brand-new Avon tires.

This freshly restored Aceca-Bristol retains its original 100D engine and is accompanied by a jack and hammer, original tray, owner’s handbook, and workshop manual.

The pleasure of firing up a fine-running Bristol engine cannot be overstated: throaty, responsive, and highly entertaining to drive, making this beautiful machine an ideal all-weather choice for tours and rallies. This is without a doubt one of the finest Aceca-Bristols ever to come to market, and as such invites close inspection.